Thursday, July 6 2006 18:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Reopening of the Nathu La pass for Sino-Indian trade after 44 years will largely help the economy of the entire eastern region, including that of West Bengal and Sikkim, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said here today (July 6, 2006).

Welcoming the historic reopening of the Himalayan pass in East Sikkim district, the chief minister told reporters, "It is a very good initiative. The economy of the entire region covering the states of Sikkim and West Bengal will be immensely benefitted with the reopening of the pass for border trade with China".

He hoped the volume of trade between the two neighbouring countries would pick up shortly and help change the economic scenario of West Bengal and Sikkim in the long run.

"I had already discussed the matter with Union Ministerof State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh," he said referring to state's request for West Bengal's greater participation in the total trade from India.

Describing the initiative as a positive sign in augmenting the volume of trade between the two countries, Finance minister Asim Dasgupta said it would have a multi-dimensional effect on the state's economy.

With this, one of the three international trade routes in the region had reopened, Dasgupta said. The other two routes were through Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri to Bhutan that were yet to be made operational.