The opening of Nathu La and Himal's Positive Prognosis

Himal Magazine's July 2003 commentary, The Nathu La switch outlined how the establishment of a customs station at Nathu La, on the frontier of Sikkim and Tibet, basically accorded de facto recognition of India's annexation of Sikkim and China's control of Tibet. More importantly, the commentary also claimed that the trading post would allow China to have access to the sea via Highway 31 that passes a town called Silguri on its way to Calcutta's port. This vital trade link may figure prominently in any review of a resurgent border trade.

Here's a particularly telling passage that may indicate the potential of economic integration overtaking the lumbering state apparatus as the engine of economic development in the region:

...it is possible that uncharted developments may soon overtake the Indian Northeast, especially if an energised economy dilutes the sanctity of the internal state security apparatus that has been built up in this region. Who knows, even faraway Calcutta’s trade may see a revival of sorts as container trucks ply the distance to Lhasa via Siliguri and Yatung.

Today, if New Delhi is less apprehensive about China, it could very well mean that Nathu La is only the beginning, to be followed by the opening up of Jelep La and a lot of the other las (passes) in the Tibetan-speaking Himalayan rim of South Asia. The long-standing antipathy in New Delhi for Kathmandu’s desires for north-south roads within Nepal may also finally be overcome. The end result of this little switch on Nathu La could be the start of economic and human relationships across the northern frontier of South Asia.

Wow, this is what I have been looking for! [Himal Commentary]

The other two posts -- Gunji/Pulan through Lipu Lekh La (est. 1992) and Namgyal/Jiuba through Shipki La (est. 1993) is worth $100 million of official trade (2003) and looks to rise to $500 million in five years. This data was given in a Rediff article from 2003.