Guwahati: Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said Drukair, the Royal Bhutan Airlines, would start operating flights between Guwahati and Paro via Singapore from September 1.
Addressing a function on the distribution of Lokanayak Omeo Kumar Das Memorial Meritorious Award to students belonging to the tea community in recognition of their good results in the High School Leaving Certificate Examinations, Sonowal said Assam has enormous potential which can be harnessed judiciously to make the state a hub of trade and commerce of the Southeast Asian countries.
"The Centre's Act East policy also aims at making Assam the gateway to Asean countries. In such a scenario, students of the state can reap rich dividends by empowering themselves through available opportunities given by the state government," he said.
Drukair already operates flights twice a week between Paro and Guwahati.
Bhutan opened its consulate in Guwahati on February 3. The event was attended by Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, foreign minister Damcho Dorji and Sonowal. This was Bhutan's second consulate office in eastern India after Calcutta.
Bangladesh opened its office of assistant high commissioner here last year.
The state government is trying to convince 10 Southeast Asian nations to set up their consulates here.
Sonowal said the aroma of Assam tea would not have reached across the world without the contributions of the tea garden workers.
Minister of state (independent charge) for labour and employment Pallab Lochan Das said the state government would construct auditoriums in tea gardens.
An archery academy will also be set up for women in memory of martyr Mangri Orang, he added.
Book fairs will be organized in the tea garden areas from November 2 to 4, the minister said.
Das said 50 bright students, belonging to tea garden areas, will be provided coaching on civil service examinations.
Coaching will also be provided to students seeking admission in engineering and medical courses.
He said 100 new high schools up to class X will be set up in the tea garden areas in the public-private-partnership model.
