Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit: CEM Pramod Boro hopes for growth of Indo-Bhutan partnership

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Chief of BTC Pramod Boro, who is at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Businesses Summit in Guwahati, hoped for the growth of Indo-Bhutan economic partnership, through which the BTR is likely to get huge opportunities. Boro received Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with State Cabinet ministers at the airport on Monday evening and also shared the high table with the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Boro said after the special meeting with the Union External Affairs Minister in the evening ahead of the Advantage Assam 2.0 - Investment and Infrastructure Summit, 2025 that the stage has been set for fostering meaningful collaborations and growth opportunities for BTR and Assam. Boro, in his exclusive article in a local daily, said that the peaceful transition of Bhutan from a monarchy to a democracy without civil unrest is a testament to the wisdom of its leadership.

 “Today, Bhutan remains the only carbon-negative country in the world, highlighting its commitment to sustainability, an area where the entire world can learn and collaborate,” he said, adding that Assam, which shares a 267-km international boundary with Bhutan, has fostered a rich exchange of goods, people, and traditions since ancient times. The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) along this border has seen vibrant trade and cultural exchange since time immemorial. Goods like rice, areca nuts, dry fish, and meat from India are traded for oranges and Sichuan spice from Bhutan. Unlike many tensed-up international borders, the Indo-Bhutan border is marked by openness and goodwill, nurturing mutual respect and fraternity.

“Beyond economic ties, social practices like the Kurma system highlight the relationship. However, the encampment of revolutionary groups from Assam in Bhutan since the 1980s had threatened our regional harmony. Thanks to the wise leadership of former Bhutanese King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, peace was restored in the last one decade. Recent efforts by India’s Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam’s Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma have further solidified and sustained peace and harmony in our region,” said Boro, adding that the Bhutan India Friendship Association (BIFA) has also played a pivotal role in maintaining bilateral ties, exemplifying a unique model of peace and friendship. This partnership, deeply spiritual rather than transactional, indeed sets a global precedent. Assam is the natural gateway to India’s Act East Policy, and Bodoland is a critical hub for economic growth due to its border proximity.

Boro said that the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative, aiming to leverage global economic opportunities, will strengthen regional partnerships and foster prosperity. For instance, to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, plans are underway to establish a startup park in BTR by the BTR Council Government. This park will provide a platform for innovative and sustainable businesses in agritech, tourism, IT services, and renewable energy.

Meanwhile, the District Administration, Kokrajhar, arranged a stage at the auditorium hall of Kokrajhar Science College to watch the Advantage Assam 2.0 Business Summit where MLA Lawrence Islary, prominent citizens, intellectuals, and residents of Kokrajhar gathered and witnessed the summit.

Also Read: Assam Boxer Shiva Thapa Part of IOA’s Ad-Hoc Committee to Run Boxing Federation of India

Also Watch: