By Thukten Zangpo
A capacity-building workshop for Bhutanese exporters on procedures and regulatory requirements was conducted yesterday in Thimphu, aiming to facilitate smoother and more efficient export processes to India.
Titled ‘Advancing India-Bhutan Trade and Economic Partnership’, the workshop was organised by the Embassy of India in Thimphu.
Similar workshops would be conducted in Phuentsholing on July 30, Gelephu on July 31, and Samdrupjongkhar on August 1.
These workshops are a special initiative to build trade between India and Bhutan, which will help address concerns of the Bhutanese exporters, build capacity, and help facilitate trade partnership between India and Bhutan.
Bhutanese exporters have been facing challenges related to certification, product standards, and accreditation for agricultural exports to India.
Bhutanese businesses and exporters will enhance their understanding of India’s customs and procedures, requirements of various agencies for export to India.
The workshop also focused on certification and quarantine requirements, among others, and discussed the regulations and procedures involved in exporting agricultural commodities from Bhutan to India and testing requirements.During the inauguration of the workshop, India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela, said that such a workshop was a reflection of the unique bonds of friendship between Bhutan and India that would deepen trade and economic linkages between the two countries.
“The workshop will engage Bhutanese exporters and businesses with the aim to enhance the understanding of the Indian customs’ procedure and regulatory requirement, through expedition of trade policies, procedures, regulation of various commodities export from Bhutan to India,” he added.
He said that the deliberation would offer comprehensive insights into trade policies, customs regulations and procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, and best practices to facilitate trade between Bhutan and India.
He added that the workshop was timely as Bhutan just launched the ambitious 13th Plan earlier this month.
Sharing his support for the 13th Plan, Sudhakar Dalela said that India would partner with Bhutan on several important projects across sectors, including facilitating trade and strengthening cross-border infrastructure and boosting connectivity between Bhutan and India.
India and Bhutan enjoy a free trade regime with the Agreement on Trade, Commerce, and Transit 2016.
India has been Bhutan’s top trading partner, both as import source and export destination, accounting for close to 80 percent of Bhutan’s overall trade.
To further boost the trade linkages, Sudhakar Dalela said that both the countries were focusing in substantive manner to expand connectivity-road, waterways, air, and energy.
He added that there are plans to enhance trade infrastructure between two countries, integrated checkposts in Jaigaon-Phuentsholing, upgradation of integrated check-posts in Dadhgari-Gelephu, and facilitating new emigration checkposts in Darranga-Samdrupjongkhar for entry and exit of third country nationals soon.
“Strong people-to-people connect, youth linkages, spiritual connect are key drivers of the exemplary partnerships. Our expanding partnership is clear testimony to the vision and wisdom of Their Majesties in Bhutan and successive political leadership in India who have nurtured our unique ties of friendship and cooperation,” Sudhakar Dalela said.
Finance Minister Lekey Dorji thanked the ambassador for initiating the special programme. He said that the programme would strengthen the economic ties between Bhutan and India through deeper understanding of Indian customs, processes, and regulatory requirements.
“By gaining a comprehensive understanding of Indian customs and regulatory requirements, we can ensure that our exports to India are not only seamless but also optimised for efficiency and growth,” Lekey Dorji said.
The capacity building programme, he added, embodies more than just the transfer of knowledge but also the shared vision for a future where two countries enjoy free trade and trade relations, symbolising collective effort to create an environment where businesses from both countries can flourish.
A team of seven officers from relevant ministries and departments (customs, health, plant quarantine, and agriculture) from India participated in the workshops.
Additionally, officials from customs, trade, the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, the Royal Bhutan Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, as well as representatives from business associations,small and medium businesses, and Bhutanese exporters from Bhutan attended the programme.
