The top Bhutanese official revealed that Bhutan would start flight operations with Assam on the Guwahati-Bhutan-Bangkok route subsequently to Patna.

Wangda, while conveying his greetings on behalf of the King of Bhutan and the Prime Minister to Gogoi, said that Bhutan wanted to strengthen further the relationship with its next-door neighbour. He said that the law and order situation had improved a lot with insurgency on the wane.

“There is a great degree of stability in Assam. As a result thousands of Bhutanese come everyday for doing business in Assam, especially in Chirang district. We want to foster our centuries-old relationship between the peoples of Bhutan and Assam. We want our next-door neighbour to prosper and grow. Therein lies our prosperity too,” he said.

Wangda said that being next-door neighbour, Assam would benefit from any projects taken up in Bhutan, especially along the borders and Manas river. He requested the Chief Minister to take up the matter with Government of India on repairing of the 40-km stretch of road from Samthebari near Dhalgaon in Assam to Bhutan. “The repairing of the road will enable Bhutan to move goods at a faster level by cutting down huge business losses,” he said. Gogoi assured him that he would take up the matter with the Centre.

The Bhutanese official told the Chief Minister about the 10,000-MW hydro-electric project coming up at downstream of Manas river and said the project to be commissioned in 2020 would open up avenues for employment for people living on both sides. He disclosed that Bodos and Adivasis were being engaged in building electricity towers and installation of transmission lines.

Wangda said that he had come to Assam to establish people-to-people contact and to explore the opportunities in which Bhutan can be a partner in progress.