Commerce body rues Bhutan trade issues

SNS, SILIGURI, 26 APRIL 2022:  The Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Eastern India (FCCIEI) has informed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of the "chaotic situation of business" with neighbouring Bhutan and the plight of businessmen in Jaigaon along the India-Bhutan border in North Bengal.

In a letter to the Ministry, FCCIEI General Secretary Surajit Paul has pointed out that over 3,000 businessmen associated with the Jaigaon Merchants' Association in Alipurduar district have been facing "continuous trouble" when it comes to exporting Indian goods to Bhutan, pro-aired from small industries in North Bengal and from big organizations in India, and even products of third countries, due to some "technical reasons."

The letter says that the situation has persisted even though Indian traders maintain all the formalities as per agreements between India and Bhutan.

"Owing to some reasons, including the Covid-19 Pandemic and even the postCovid situation, the rate of Indian export from Jaigaon to Bhutan has come down drastically," the FCCIEI has claimed in the letter, citing the problem of exchange of currency too.

According to Mr Paul, the currency exchange at present is non-operational, allegedly by the Bhutan Bank over the past 18 months, and nearly 100 crore Bhutan currency is lying idle due to non-rotation of business with Bhutan over the past 18 months.