GUWAHATI: Picturesque neighbouring Himalayan country of Bhutan has expressed interest in setting up collaboration with Assam in tapping the tourism potential of Assam and Bhutan.
The Royal Bhutanese Ambassador to India, Vetsop Namgyel who called of Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal as his office here on Monday, while highlighting the tourism potential of the Himalayan country proposed that both Bhutan and Assam could sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism sector.
“Considering the sprawling tea gardens, national parks and unique colourful tribal culture of Assam, the Himalayan country is looking forward to exploit the high-value tourism destinations in Assam, “Namgyel expressed before Assam Chief Minister Sonowal.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the meeting with the Bhutanese Ambassador, made a strong pitch for the growth of entire region including neighbouring Bhutan. The duo also discussed on issues like cultural and sporting exchanges including tapping the tourism potential of both Assam and Bhutan.
Sonowal while informing the Ambassador Vetsop Namgyel about the upcoming Global Investors’ Summit to be held in Guwahati on February 3 and 4 invited Bhutan’s participation in the event. Namgyel also expressed Bhutan’s keen interests in participating in the summit to present Bhutan in its entirety in Assam.
Sonowal also informed that given the sporting talents available in Assam, the State can help Bhutan in developing and promoting different sports in the Himalayan country. Ambassador Namgyel invited Sonowal to Bhutan which he accepted in principle and vowed to give a new dimension to Assam’s age-old relations with Bhutan for the growth of both the territories. Ambassador of India to Bhutan Jaideep Sarkar was also present during the meeting.
Himalayan Bhutan country of Bhutan shares 699 km long international border with India and adjoins the Indian states of Assam (267 km), Arunachal Pradesh (217 km), West Bengal (183 km), and Sikkim (32 km).
People from many parts of South Bhutan uses Assam’s territory to travel to rest of India by road. There are a few traditional border trading point between Bhutan and Assam. Horticulture products and gen stones from Bhutan are well sought after in Assam.