Assam strike cloud over Gelephu fair


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GELEPHU GAMBIT For the first time a fair of this sort is to be held in the region

7 January, 2008 - With the Bhutan-India friendship trade fair in Gelephu to open tomorrow, there is apprehension among the organisers that all 45 participants from India may not make it because of continued strikes in the bordering Indian state of Assam.

An indefinite strike from January 1 called by AKRSU, (all Kamtapur student union), who are demanding a separate state for the Kush Raj Bangshi, has stopped movement of vehicles plying the Gelephu-Samdrupjongkhar-Phuentsholing highway via the states of Assam and Bengal.

“The 45 participants from 25 Indian firms and companies have confirmed their participation, but a few may not make it due to ongoing strikes,” said Chandra B Chhetri, deputy secretary of Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry (BCCI), who is organising the fair.

“We have participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Assam, who will showcase their products of micro, small and medium enterprises for the first time,” said Chandra Chhetri.

According to the vice president of BCCI, Thinley Pelden, they have requested the Gelephu and Assam police to arrange a special escort for all the Indian participants. “They’ve agreed to render all possible assistance and support to bring them together to Gelephu,” he told Kuensel.

More than 100 firms and companies from India and Bhutan are expected to participate in the trade fair, which is scheduled to conclude on January 12. Of the 45 stalls occupied by Indian firms, 12 will be by the north eastern development financial corporation ltd., and 12 by the Bodo of Assam.

This fair, according to Thinley Pelden, will primarily focus on the micro, small and medium enterprises from Bhutan, and eight states of India for participation. Seminars on the B2B business market development model, launch of rural products and services, awareness programs on health, social and environmental issues, demonstrations on management and operation of agro-forestry and backyard farms for the rural folk and cross border cultural exchange, have also been planned every evening.

The five-day fair with the theme of ‘enhancing cross-border partnership’ is the first of its kind in the south-central region. Gelephu was chosen as the venue, based on its strategic location. “It’s also the picnic season for Indians,” said Thinley Pelden. The regional agency of the Bhutan-India friendship association (BIFA) is involved in the promotion of the event.

By Rinzin Wangchuk in Kuensel

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