Kathmandu— Shipki La, the ancient Silk Route pass linking India with Tibet, reopened for border trade on Saturday after a six-year hiatus.

Himachal Pradesh Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi flagged off 16 traders from the border area. He presented them with traditional Khataks (ceremonial scarves) before they set out with their horses towards Shipki village in Tibet.

Trade will operate on a barter system. The traders are required to return after conducting business in the Tibetan region for 72 hours.

The minister also inaugurated the modern Chhuppan Trade Mart in the Shipki La area, located in the border Gram Panchayat of Namgya in Kinnaur district. Constructed at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore, the facility aims to support and streamline border trade activities.

Negi urged local traders to strictly follow the import-export regulations set by the Union Ministry of Commerce to ensure transparency and compliance. Preliminary details indicate that traders can take 72 types of items from the Indian side and bring back 30 types from the other side.

Responding to a request from the Traders’ Association to expand the list of permissible goods, the minister said the proposal would be placed before Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. It would then be conveyed to the Chinese government through the Ministry of External Affairs after following due procedures.

Negi stated that the resumption of trade through Shipki La would strengthen the economy of the border areas, generate employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth, and boost commercial activity in the region.

He added that the state government continues to prioritise the holistic development of border areas, with special focus on improving road connectivity, communication networks, and other basic amenities to ease the lives of people in remote regions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​