Sikkim-Nepal Border Connectivity: Exploring New Border Prospects in the Region

The border between Nepal and Sikkim has been interchanged and redefined throughout history. The Treaty of Titalia, signed in 1817, fixed the border between Sikkim and Nepal, whereby the Mechi River and the Singalila Range were designated as the border. Sikkim’s Gyalsing, Soreng and Mangan districts share a border with Nepal’s Province No.1 districts of Taplejung and Panchthar. Sikkim and Nepal share a close culture and history but are not well-connected regarding trade and transportation infrastructure. These reasons, coupled with the region being a landlocked area, have been detrimental to the overall growth of the region. India has done a preliminary evaluation of India-Nepal borderIndia–Nepal relations trade prospects via Sikkim. Improved connectivity in the regional space would develop the region’s trade, tourism, education and numerous other sectors. Within this background, the study will look at understanding the nature of the border in the mentioned regional space through a historical lens. The study will then aim to locate the region’s prospects for trade and economic connectivity to bring out a policy prospect for the region’s development. These would be positioned under the larger structure of the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy of India’ and Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal Sub-Regional (BBIN) Initiative to improve the economic cooperation and connectivity in the region.