Arunachal Pradesh Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dr Mohesh Chai on Wednesday flagged off the 4th edition of India-ASEAN Friendship (IAF) Car Rally from the Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery here.
Speaking on the occasion Chai thanked International Friendship Car Rally Association for having chosen Tawang as the flag off venue and said that the event would go a long way in promoting the already well known place as the main tourism hub in coming days.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He further wished all the participants luck and good health.
Initiated by the Arunachal Pradesh government and supported by the government of India and the Royal Thai Embassy, the IAF car rally aims to promote friendship and to commemorate the 25 years of friendship between India and ASEAN countries.
The participants in the car rally on the other hand would be travelling through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam during the 21-day long competition.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The event also aims to showcase the potential of India, particularly the Northeast and attract investment, trade and tourism. It also seeks to promote people-to-people contact by rediscovering the historical link and cultural ties of the region to the ASEAN countries.
Business to Business (B2B) meetings have already been arranged at Vientiane on September 21 and at Bangkok on the 29th on the sidelines of the car rally to promote tourism of North East, particularly Arunachal Pradesh in the ASEAN countries. The Indian delegates will meet and exchange their views and ideas with local entrepreneurs in Laos and Thailand during the meet.
A team of 28 Thai delegates with 11 cars led by one Rachan Trairat had arrived Tawang on September 9 to join the Indian team consisting of 38 participants with 3 Rotary members from Russia.
The ministry of external affairs is providing support to the rally and Tata Motors is providing the vehicles and a team of technicians will accompany the participants. The Indian Oil Corporation would be fuel of cars in the rally cars for a distance of 7000 kms.
MLA Tsering Tashi, director of Youth Affairs D K Dinglow, director of Sports Tadar Appa, deputy commissioner Sang Phuntsok, SP S S Khalsi and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.