Sonowal inaugurates Bhutanese Consulate Office in Guwahati

Assam CM said that opening of the Consulate General’s Office will not only benefit Bhutanese and North Eastern tourists, pilgrims and students and businessmen but also strengthen friendship between people from Assam and neighbouring states and Bhutan.      

Sharing his intense pleasure on inaugurating the Consulate General’s Office in Guwahati, Sonowal said he was happy that Bhutan has opened its Consulate in Guwahati this year which commemorates the Golden Jubilee of establishment of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan.

“We look forward to jointly celebrate our friendship with series of activities in India and Bhutan,” Sonowal said.

Thanking Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay for accepting India’s invitation to attend the maiden Global Investors’ Summit ‘Advantage Assam’, Sonowal said that, the Bhutanese Prime Minister’s yet another visit to the state after Namami Brahmaputra shows the importance of bi-lateral relations both Bhutan and Assam attach to their respective neighbours.

Sonowal said that India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations which are unique and special.

“The deep-rooted relation is evident from the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Bhutan to be his first foreign country visit after he assumed office in May 2014. Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of ‘Act East Policy’ has repositioned North East at the centre of India’s relations with ASEAN and BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) countries,” the Assam CM said.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also commented that the historical and cultural linkages between Assam and Bhutan have made both the geographical entities their respective natural friends and partners.

Thanking Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay and Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji for announcing direct flight service between India-Bhutan and Singapore, Sonowal said that the move will propel inter-regional growth and connectivity in the backdrop of Act East Policy.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Damcho Dorjee while speaking on the occasion said that the inauguration of Bhutanese Consulate in Guwahati marks the collective commitment and unique desire of both Assam and Bhutan to strengthen socio, economic and cultural ties between the two entities.

He also said that Bhutan is keenly looking forward to deepen the bilateral relations and carry forward the mutual interests and people to people ties between India and Bhutan. Bhutan’s decision of introducing direct Drukair flight between India, Bhutan and Singapore has been taken to take the bilateral relations to a next stage.

Bhutan Minister of Economic Affairs Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Deputy Speaker Assam Legislative Assembly Dilip Kumar Paul, Minister of State for Labour and Employment etc Pallab Lochan Das, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

(Reporting By Hemanta Kumar Nath)