A new chapter dawns on Indo-Bhutan relationship with the opening of Bhutan Consulate General’s office in Guwahati on Friday.
The opening of the Bhutan Consulate general’s Office in Guwahati will also give a major boost to the already existing ties of Assam in particular and the north-eastern region in general with the Bhutanese kingdom.
The Bhutan Consulate General’s office is coming up at Panjabari in the capital city of Assam, considered as the gateway to the entire north-eastern region.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is already in the city for the grand occasion.
A huge contingent of Bhutanese delegates is also camping at Taj Vivanta for the inauguration of the Bhutanese Consulate General’s office in Guwahati on Friday.
The inauguration will also be attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonawal, couple of his ministerial colleagues, top officials and others.
High ranking officials from the External Affairs Ministry have also arrived in the city from the national capital for the occasion.
The building that houses the Bhutan consulate has been decked up colourfully showcasing the art and culture of the neighbouring nation.
Earlier on Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met the visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at the city hotel and held discussion on several bilateral issues.
Sonowal also thanked the Bhutanese Prime Minister for his sincere efforts in opening the Consulate General’s Office in Guwahati.
Sonowal said the inauguration of Consulate General’s Office in Guwahati will start a new beginning of trade, cultural and other relations between Assam and Bhutan.
Referring to Assam’s long standing ties with Bhutan, Sonowal vowed to nurture the bilateral relations with Bhutan with regard to business and cultural ties.
Sonowal while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expanding B2B (Bharat to Bhutan) relations, said both Assam and Bhutan must be prepared to use the full benefits of Act East Policy enunciated by Prime Minister Modi.
Sonowal also said Bhutan is inherently resourced with abundant natural resources. If these resources can be harnessed judiciously Assam will also be benefitted along with Bhutan. And the Bhutan Consulate General’s Office can act as the bridge for such future endeavours.
The opening of the Bhutan Consulate General’s office in Guwahati coincides with the 50th anniversary of India-Bhutan.
The Bhutan Consulate General’s office in Guwahati will also ease the challenges faced by the Bhutanese while travelling through Bhutan-India border.
The Central Government had approved the establishment of the consulate office in Guwahati in May last year. The consultation had taken place during the month of July in the year 2016.