India-Bhutan to have seven additional entry/exit points for trade
08 Nov 2021
India and Bhutan will have seven additional entry/exit points for trade. The decision was made at a bilateral commerce secretary level meeting on trade and transit issues held in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The Indian delegation was led by BVR Subrahmanyam, secretary, Department of Commerce and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Dasho Karma Tshering, secretary, ministry of economic affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan.
The two sides held extensive discussions on the current trade and transit issues, including measures to further strengthen bilateral trade relations and issues of mutual interest, on ways to increase trade connectivity between the two countries.
The meeting formalised seven additional entry/exit points for trade between India and Bhutan through letters of exchange (LoE).
The following are the additional entry/exit points:
1. Nagarkata Land Customs Station (without commodity restriction);
2. Agartala Land Customs Station (as an entry /exit point);
3. Pandu port, ie, Guwahati Steamerghat (as an entry /exit point, subject to cross border control at Dhubri);
4. Jogighopa port (as an entry/exit point, subject to cross border control at Dhubri);
5. Asian Highway 48 connecting Torsha Tea Garden in India and Ahllay in Bhutan (as an additional route corresponding to the Land Custom Station at Jaigaon};
6. Kamardwisa (as an entry/exit point); and
7. Birpara (as an entry/exit point).
This will form an addendum to the Protocol of 2016 India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit. This will facilitate India-Bhutan bilateral trade to mutual advantage.
Since 2014, trade between India and Bhutan has more than doubled from $484 million in 2014-15 to $1.08 billion in 2020-21.