BBIN: Bhutan – India and North East: Connectivity – Trade & Investment

 It is a fact that both Bhutan and the north east part of India is connected firstly by emotional bond and then interest and welfare over years of bilateral corporation has flourished even through trying times. Bhutan has always been a special friend and a great neighbour and has a special place in the hearts and minds of the people in Assam and the North east. India always stood with the wishes and aspirations of the Bhutanese people.

Both our countries have reached new levels of confidence with the launch of Rupay card and the Bhim app. A section of the Bhutanese youth is also being absorbed in India’s IT sector.

The recent start up system of the two countries via structured workshop, National Knowledge Network and the Druk – Ren connection and e-library Project along with knowledge and education sharing agreements has led to newer connections between the people. An India – Bhutan – SAT is to be launched into space shortly.

Gelephu, the world’s first mindfulness city in Bhutan has been positioned as an Economic hub – an opportunity to capitalize on the economic corridor linking South Asia to South east Asia. It will be an interconnected bridge of sustainable development between South Asia and ASEAN. The World Bank stated trade between the two regions grew nine folds from USD 38 Billion to USD 250 billion in just 18 years. Bhutan will utilize land connectivity from Gelephu to Samdrup Jongkhar through Assam and the north east to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

Bhutan intends to establish a special administrative region – to create a vibrant economic hub which will be different from the other SEZ’s. It will be one of a kind, anchored on the vision and values of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Bhutan has been promoted in some of the following fields:

• Three key areas – energy, connectivity and skills.
• Field of Bioscience, data centres, education and energy endeavours in the exclusive GSAR
• Invest in hydropower – energy sources like wind, thermal and solar
• Digital Infra development with an international airport in Gelephu will improve connectivity resulting in upskill of the Bhutanese and bring in foreign skill workers.
• Tourism – Adventure and Eco tourism

Mention must be made of the tourism potential between Bhutan and the North east. Either side of the border has beautiful tourist spots which can be promoted. For instance, Bhutan has great hiking and trekking treks like the Tiger’s nest Monastery, Dochula Pass, Punaka valley and whitewater rafting, kayaking, birding, rock climbing, wildlife safari and camping in the Bumthang valley, to name a few activities.

In Assam we have the Manas National Park just across the Bhutan border, the Kaziranga National Park, Cherrapunji and the caves in Meghalaya, the Hornbill festival in Nagaland, the Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, Sangai festival in Manipur, picturesque villages with numerous parks, waterfalls, deep valleys and blue mountains in Mizoram and a visit to monasteries and the Natula Pass in Sikkim to name a few tourist attractions in the North east region.