Bhutan’s trade with India and Bangladesh will now be more efficient, cost-effective and streamlined. Industry, Commerce & Employment Minister and Indian Union Minster for Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the Inland Water Transport Terminal at Jogighopa in Assam yesterday.
The Inland Water Transport Terminal is located 91 kilometres from Gelephu.
It will facilitate Bhutanese exporters to send agricultural products, boulders, and manufactured goods to India and Bangladesh.
The terminal has a modern dock, efficient storage facilities, parking spaces, as well as customs and immigration offices.
The industry, commerce and employment minister said the terminal’s strategic location will strengthen Bhutan-India economic ties and provide a sustainable link to global markets.
“With the Jogighopa terminal now operational, Bhutan will benefit from greater trade efficiency, reduced logistics costs, and enhanced export potential beyond India. It will greatly boost our existing trade with Bangladesh.”
The terminal’s proximity to the Bangladesh border and Guwahati by waterway is set to boost trilateral trade between Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.
“This will create many opportunities for young people to earn and reduce logistics costs for transportation. It is a precious gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Sarbananda Sonowal, the Indian Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Exporters in Gelephu hope that the new terminal will make boulder export convenient and anticipate sending daily shipments.
Currently, exporters transport boulders to Bangladesh and India via surface transport from Dhubri River Port in Assam and Nakugaon Land Port in Bangladesh. The Nakugaon route crosses two Indian States, Assam and Meghalaya, making transportation both physically and financially challenging.
“Currently, we export boulders to two locations: Dhubri port, which is almost 133 kilometres away, and Nakugaon, which is around 300 kilometres away. We have to cross two or three states, causing delays. Jogighopa is only 90 kilometres from here, and we could export one truckload daily,” said Chencho Gyeltshen, Vajrataa Export, Gelephu.
“Transportation is crucial for large-scale businesses. The terminal will ease transportation issues due to the shorter distance. For example, it takes three to four days to reach Nakugaon, sometimes even a week, due to issues along the way,” said Lobzang Tshering, Dendup Mines and Minerals Export, Gelephu.
The Jogighopa Water Transport Terminal is part of India’s effort to enhance National Waterway 2 on the Brahmaputra. It was built on 15 acres of land at Rs 820 M.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Sangay Chezom
