BCIM car rally ends with euphoria and expectations
6 March 2013 7:45 AM IST
Eighty rally enthusiasts from Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar travelled across the four nations in 20 cars as the epic journey from Kolkata to Kunming was flagged down on Tuesday evening by vice governor of Yunnan Province, Gao Shuxun.
In an effort to revive trade and commerce along the Southern Silk Route that was closed nearly seven decades ago after the World War II, the BCIM Forum had organised the 3,000-odd kilometres rally that was flagged off in Kolkata by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
There was euphoria all around as the participants danced to the gong beats by the ethnic minority groups from Yunnan Province, Yi, Jingpo and Dai, who welcomed rally as the convoy rolled into the ‘city of eternal spring’.
‘It’s a historic moment that the four countries have for the first time come together to participate in a rally of this kind. It carries enormous significance and it has strengthened the bonds of friendship. It’s also more significant for us as it was flagged off by our chief minister Mamata Banerjee,’ West Bengal sports minister Madan Mitra, who was in Kunming as a special invitee, told PTI.
CII Eastern Region chairman R K Agrawal, who flew down to welcome the participants, said: ‘The BCIM Car Rally had the objective of bringing the four countries together to see how business opportunities can be further explored along the land route.’
In an effort to revive trade and commerce along the Southern Silk Route that was closed nearly seven decades ago after the World War II, the BCIM Forum had organised the 3,000-odd kilometres rally that was flagged off in Kolkata by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
There was euphoria all around as the participants danced to the gong beats by the ethnic minority groups from Yunnan Province, Yi, Jingpo and Dai, who welcomed rally as the convoy rolled into the ‘city of eternal spring’.
‘It’s a historic moment that the four countries have for the first time come together to participate in a rally of this kind. It carries enormous significance and it has strengthened the bonds of friendship. It’s also more significant for us as it was flagged off by our chief minister Mamata Banerjee,’ West Bengal sports minister Madan Mitra, who was in Kunming as a special invitee, told PTI.
CII Eastern Region chairman R K Agrawal, who flew down to welcome the participants, said: ‘The BCIM Car Rally had the objective of bringing the four countries together to see how business opportunities can be further explored along the land route.’
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