Cross-border trade activities to revive as Bhutan set to open International Gate on September 23.

The Assam-Bhutan border Gate will be opened on September 23, 2022. This is expected to bring in more expediency in trade and business activities specifically for small vendors.

The Himalayan kingdom has officially announced the opening of its international border with India after a gap of 2.5 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Government of Bhutan has officially announced that the international border with India will be opened on Sept 23 as Covid cases have subsided. We are preparing to open the border and give visitors a good experience,” said Tashi Penjor, Director of Law and Order, Home & Culture ministry, Bhutan.

Governor of Assam, Professor Jagdish Mukhi recently visited the Border Trade Centre at Darranga along the India- Bhutan border area in the Tamulpur district. He assessed the facilities put in place at the trade centre to promote supportable growth of trade exchange with the neighbouring state, Bhutan.

The Governor’s visit comes ahead of the reopening of the India-Bhutan border gates at Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu along the Assam frontier for tourists on September 23 for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mukhi glorified the economic enterprises by saying that it holds the key to the development of people living along the Indo-Bhutan border. He added that lending vibrancy to the trade centre is the key to the development of the economy and the people living along the border areas.

During his visit, the Governor also held a meeting with the villagers and the representatives of No.1 Paharpur, Sukanjuli, Sashipur, NC Angarkata, Darrangamela and Goirabari in presence of Deputy Commissioner of Tamulpur Simanta Kumar Das and SP Pankaj Yadav and other officials of the district administration.

The Governor listened to different issues faced by the villagers and assured them to take the appropriate steps with the help of the competent authorities. Observing the available infrastructures along the border he assessed the need for their upgradation for the socio-cultural-economic empowerment of people.

Further, Governor Mukhi asked the Deputy Commissioner to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission in the border areas to give tap water connections to all households. He informed the villagers that the government was in the process of providing advanced of provided improved primary and secondary health care facilities. He confirmed to the villagers that he would take up all their grievances at a personal level for their immediate redress.

The administration was urged to focus on the welfare schemes of the Prime Minister’s flagship programmes to ensure the social security of the people. He emphasized on good level governance at the grassroots level by the administration.

He held a meeting with the security agencies in the district and took stock of the prevailing situation in the same.

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