The trade route between India and China through Nathu-la is expected to be opened this year, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamlinbg said. Sikkim was also making necessary arrangements to use this trade route for economic development, he said. Mr Chamling, who arrived here yetserday from Gangtok to attend the north east chief ministers' meeting with Union Home Minister, praised the people of NE for accepting Sikkim as a member of the North Eastern Council.

He suggested that all the eight NE states could exchange their agricultural and other products for mutual benefit to each other. For example, he mentioned that other NE states could get richer variety seeds of cardamom and ginger from Sikkim and could grow those in their states.

Addressing a 'meet the press' programme at Guwahati Press Club, he said Sikkim would be an economically self-reliant state by 2015. He said his government would utilise its natural resources like water, power and tourism, forestry and medicinal plants to generate revenue to the tune of Rs 1800 crores annually from a little over Rs 300 crores at present.

 Regarding insurgency problem in the region Mr Chamling said though Sikkim is mostly covered by international border with Nepal, Bhutan and China, the people were maintaining a sustainable peace and tranquility for the last three decades.''This happened because the people are happy. Any instigation from outside would not have any effect on the minds of the people of Sikkim,'' Mr Chamling added.

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