Darranga Trade Centre will boost Indo-Bhutan ties: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Sept 12: In a bid to strengthen bilateral trade between Assam and Bhutan, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated Indo-Bhutan Border Trade Centre at Darranga at Tamulpur in Baksa District.

As a result of the inauguration of the trade centre the volume of trade between Assam and Bhutan, which has been going on since long, specially through the nine gates is expected to reach new heights.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that inauguration of the trade centre will lead to strengthening of Indo-Bhutan relations. Saying that the inauguration of the trade centre is a spontaneous response of the people of Assam, specially the people residing in Baksa, Udalguri, Chirang and Kokrajhar districts, to the prevailing peaceful situation in the State, the Chief Minister said that the border trade centre is a result of cooperation of the people of the four districts extended to the state government.

He also said that for the development of the State especially the BTAD districts, the Centre has decided to construct 264 km of border roads touching four BTAD districts of the State. He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unleashing a new era of development in Northeast by enunciating Act East Policy with which he vowed to strengthen bilateral relation of India with ASEAN and BBIN countries. The Chief Minister also thanked both Bhutan and Bangladesh governments for opening their consulates at Guwahati which has given renewed thrust to the relations with the neighbouring countries with Assam.

Speaking on the buoyant Indo-Bhutan relations, Sonowal said that the newly introduced Druk Air flight connecting Paro-Guwahati-Singapore would take India’s relation with ASEAN countries to new heights. He also said that the state government with the active support of the central government would revive the Rupsi Airport in Dhubri and revival work would start from next month. The Chief Minister stated that the development trajectory of Northeast region will get new lease of life through synergistic impetus on the connectivity of the region by the centre and the state. Accordingly, he said that the State Government with help of the Centre has initiated various connectivity projects between the north and south banks of both Brahmaputra and Barak.

Sonowal also informed that for the educational development of Baksa district, state government would set up a new provincial college to cater to the higher education demands of the students of the area.

Acknowledging the tremendous grit and determination showed by the people of Assam belonging to all communities and ethnicities, Sonowal said that is because of the united effort of the people of the State, the age old identity of Assam based on peace, harmony, friendship and brotherhood has been strengthened to a great extent.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, while speaking on the occasion, said that the trade centre at Darranga besides strengthening the bilateral trade will help to economically empower the people on both sides of border.

CEM of BTC Hagrama Mohillary, MLA Tamulpur Emanuel Mushahary also spoke on the occasion. MLAs Maheswar Brahma, Thaneswar Basumatary, Maneswar Bodo, Additional Chief Secretary of Commerce and Industries Department Ravi Capoor along with a host of dignitaries were present on the occasion.