Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay will be attending the two-day Global Investors’ Summit that kicks off at the Sarusajai Stadium complex in the Indian state of Guwahati in Assam today.
Titled ‘Advantage Assam: Global Investors Summit 2018’, the two-day event will highlight Assam’s geostrategic advantages and core competencies in different sectors along with the policy initiatives taken by the Indian state government. The event is also intended to showcase the manufacturing prowess and the opportunities offered by Assam in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to growing economies such as the ASEAN and the Southeast Asian countries.
The first global investors’ summit, which is also aimed to showcase Assam’s manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic advantages to foreign and domestic investors, will be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Top industry leaders from India and more than 4,500 delegates that include representatives from 16 countries have reportedly registered for participation during the summit.
Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, who arrived on Thursday to Guwahati, also reportedly met with Assam’s Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and discussed on strengthening relations between Assam and Bhutan in the field of business and culture on Thursday.
The chief minister reportedly said that Assam and Bhutan must take the full benefit of Act East Policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s B2B (Bharat to Bhutan) initiative.
Lyonchhen was also quoted by the Times of India saying that Global Investors’ Summit will be a force multiplier of the bilateral relations of Bhutan with Assam and other Northeastern states. The event will also bolster trade relations leading to economic prosperity of Bhutan and India.
Considering golden jubilee of India-Bhutan relations, Lyonchhen also informed that Bhutan will launch several programs in India including Assam.
Apart from meeting with the Assam’s Chief Minister, a Bhutan consulate office was also opened in Guwahati yesterday, thus making Bhutan the second country to open a consulate in Guwahati after Bangladesh.
Foreign affairs minister Damcho Dorji inaugurated the consulate with Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
As quoted by The Hindu in India, Lyonpo Damcho Dorji said, “Bhutan’s diplomatic relationship with Assam precedes that with India, and history refers to cordial relationship between the kings of Bhutan and medieval Assam. It is thus apt for us to set up our second consulate here in Guwahati.”
“Bhutan’s social, cultural and economic ties with Assam are deep-rooted, and Guwahati has been a prime destination for Bhutanese traders, students and patients referred by our doctors to hospitals in India. Assam has also been a pilgrimage for Bhutanese Buddhists, justifying the Himalayan country’s focus on the state 50 years after Delhi and Thimphu established diplomatic ties on January 8, 1968,” he added.
Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reportedly 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. “Bhutan has abundant natural resources. If these resources can be harnessed judiciously Assam will be benefitted along with Bhutan.”
Staff Reporter from Thimphu
