Bhutan wants to increase trade and commerce with India

Guwahati, Nov 24 (UNI) The Bhutanese government wants to maintain good neighbouring relations with India and enhance co-operation in trade, commerce and tourism sectors, according to a visiting official.

Bhutan Joint Secretary, Homes and Cultural affairs, Dasho Tsering Wangda told newspersons here today that the people of both Bhutan and bordering Asom lagged behind on the economic front.

Mr Wangda led a 30-member delegation to Asom which participated in the fourth Round of Border District Coordination meeting here from November 21.

In the three-day meeting, both the governments discussed mutual bilateral issues like law and order problems, security, trade, business and tourism and development of economy of the border people of both the states, he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Wangda said his government would not allow setting up of any camp in their territory by terrorist groups, including ULFA.

He categorically stated that all insurgent members nabbed by the Bhutanese forces, during the flushing out programme carried out in Bhutan in 2003, were handed over to India.

The Bhutanese Army and Royal Bhutan police forces were guarding the International border to stop insurgents from entering their territory, he added.

He said the Indian Army, SSB and the Police also have to remain vigilant along the Indo-Bhutan borders.

He said that the Bhutanese people were rice eaters and 90 per cent of the rice came from Asom while fish, meat and pork was imported from West Bengal.

He said that Bhutan was importing Rs 4000-5000 crores worth of goods from India.

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