India Bhutan Exchange : 2023
On Wednesday, 22 November 2023, the inaugural session of the four-day-long Bhutan Meghalaya Exchange Program, "India and Bhutan in the BBIN region: New Horizons Sharings with Meghalaya," was launched by Asian Confluence, Shillong, in partnership Tourism Ministry, Government of Meghalaya, Embassy of India in Bhutan Meghalaya Institute of Governance, and Centre for Bhutan Studies, Thimphu. A twelve-member delegation consisting of scholars from the Centre for Bhutan Studies, Thimphu, Bhutan, has come to Meghalaya to participate in the four-day exchange program starting from 22nd to 25th November.
In his opening remarks, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya Shri. Konrad K Sangma emphasized the need to conduct a road trip involving all the Chief Ministers of Northeastern states to visit Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal and meet people, politicians, youths, and business leaders there to strengthen cooperation with these countries. He also stressed the necessity of making youths the main part of all cooperation policies. Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati, H.E. Shri. Jigme Thinley Namgyal stressed the necessity of more such exchange visits between Northeast India and Bhutan to get the maximum benefits to the region's people. Highlighting the scope for mutual cooperation between Meghalaya and Bhutan, Hon'ble Minister of Tourism Shri. Paul Lyngdoh spoke about building ties in new areas, such as music and sports. Joint Secretary North, Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Anurag Srivastava, who participated in the program online from New Delhi, said that the recent decision by the two countries to designate the Darranga – Samdrup Jongkhar border as an immigration checkpost will strengthen the tourism and people to people connectivity.
Dr. Ravi Kota, Additional Chief Secretary of Assam, said that the upcoming multimodal logistics project near Dhubri in Assam can be a gamechanger for trade and connectivity between Bhutan, Northeast India, and Bangladesh. Mr.Cyril Diengdoh, Director of the Tourism Department, Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, said that this region could benefit from good connectivity, learning, and sharing between the two countries. He also spoke about promoting high-value and inbound tourism in Northeast India. Earlier, during his welcome remarks, Shri Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director of Asian Confluence, explained how this four-day program could benefit the region as a next step towards establishing strong relationships between the two countries. He also hinted at cooperation in several sectors, such as high-value tourism, hydropower, and digital technology.
Earlier in the day, a panel discussion on the topic of "Women Led-Rural Tourism for the BBIN region: Prospectus and Challenges" was moderated by the Senior Journalist and editor of The Shillong Times, Ms.Patricia Mukhim. During the discussion, the speakers deliberated on the aspects of scope for women-led rural tourism along the Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Bangladesh borders. After the inaugural program, a panel discussion on the topic "India-Bhutan Economic Connectivity from the Northeast: New Frontiers" was conducted, moderated by Amb. Veena Sikri. The distinguished panelists floated several ideas to promote economic connectivity between Northeast India and Bhutan. On 24 November, discussions on various other issues, such as urban planning, climate change, and natural resource management, were fixed. Additionally, the delegation from Bhutan will also be having field visits to several of the unique places in Meghalaya, such as Sohra, Umium Lake, Sacred Groves, Dawki, Seng Kut Snum festival, Kongthong, Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).