[ad_1]
Thupten Sangpo
Bhutanese exporters yesterday held a capacity building workshop in Thimphu on procedural and regulatory requirements to facilitate a smoother and more efficient export process to India.
The seminar, themed “Advancing India-Bhutan Trade and Economic Partnership”, was organised by the Indian Embassy in Thimphu.
Similar seminars will be held in Puentsholing on July 30, in Gelepu on July 31, and in Sandrudzongkar on August 1.
These workshops are a special initiative to build trade between India and Bhutan and will help address the concerns of Bhutanese exporters, build capacity and help promote trade partnership between India and Bhutan.
Bhutanese exporters have been facing challenges related to certification, product standards and accreditation while exporting agricultural products to India.
Bhutanese businesses and exporters will gain a better understanding of Indian customs and procedures and the requirements of various agencies exporting to India.
The seminar also focused on issues such as certification and quarantine requirements and discussed the regulations and procedures and testing requirements involved in exporting agricultural products from Bhutan to India.Inaugurating the seminar, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela said such seminars reflect the unique bond of friendship between Bhutan and India and will deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries.
He added: “The seminar will engage Bhutanese exporters and businesses and aims to provide a deeper understanding of Indian customs procedures and regulatory requirements by expediting Bhutan’s trade policies, procedures and regulations for exporting various goods from Bhutan to India.”
He said the review will provide comprehensive insights into trade policies, customs regulations and procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and best practices to promote trade between Bhutan and India.
He added that the seminar was timely as Bhutan had just launched its ambitious 13th Five-Year Plan earlier this month.
Sudhakar Dalela expressed support for the 13th Five-Year Plan and said that India will cooperate with Bhutan in various areas, including promoting trade, strengthening cross-border infrastructure and enhancing connectivity between Bhutan and India.
India and Bhutan enjoy a free trade regime under the 2016 Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.
India has always been Bhutan’s largest trading partner, both a source of imports and a destination of exports, accounting for nearly 80% of Bhutan’s overall trade.
Sudhakar Dhalela said that to further strengthen trade ties, the two countries are vigorously expanding connectivity in terms of roads, waterways, aviation and energy.
He added that the two countries plan to enhance trade infrastructure by setting up integrated check posts at Jaigaon and Poontsholing, upgrading the integrated check posts at Dadgari and Glepur, and setting up new immigration check posts at Daranga and Sandrudzongkhar to facilitate entry and exit of third country citizens.
“Strong people-to-people ties, youth ties and spiritual connections are the key drivers of this exemplary partnership. Our ever-expanding partnership is a clear testament to the vision and wisdom of His Majesty the King of Bhutan and successive political leaders of India, who have nurtured our unique relationship of friendship and cooperation,” Sudhakar Dalela said.
Finance Minister Reki Dorje thanked the Ambassador for launching this special programme, which he said would strengthen economic ties between Bhutan and India by providing a better understanding of Indian customs, procedural and regulatory requirements.
“By fully understanding Indian customs and regulatory requirements, we can ensure that our exports to India are not only seamless but also enable efficiency and growth,” said Lekey Dorji.
He added that capacity building programmes This not only reflects the transfer of knowledge, but also reflects the two countries’ shared vision of enjoying free trade and trade relations in the future, and symbolizes joint efforts to create an environment for enterprises in both countries to thrive.
A team of seven officials from relevant Indian ministries (Customs, Health, Plant Quarantine and Agriculture) participated in the workshop.
The event was also attended by officials from Bhutan Customs, Trade, Bhutan Food and Drug Administration, Royal Bhutan Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and representatives from Bhutan Business Association, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Bhutanese exporters.
[ad_2]
Source link
