CM Himanta flags off Assam's first dairy export to Bhutan
Synopsis
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off Assam's first dairy export — 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium Ice Cream — to Bhutan on July 28, 2026. Produced by WAMUL from local farmer milk and facilitated by APEDA, the shipment opens an international market for Assam's dairy sector.
Key Takeaways
5,627 litres of Purabi Premium Ice Cream exported to Bhutan — Assam's first-ever dairy export.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma personally flagged off the shipment on July 28, 2026 .
Product sourced from local dairy farmers through WAMUL (West Assam Milk Union Limited) , the cooperative behind the Purabi brand.
APEDA facilitated the export under India's agricultural export promotion framework for the northeast.
Bhutan's preferential trade ties with India made it a viable first international market for Assam dairy goods.
The shipment signals a shift from commodity dairy supply to branded, value-added exports for the region.
For the first time, Assam's dairy sector has crossed a national border. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, flagged off a shipment of 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium Ice Cream to Bhutan — marking the state's maiden dairy export and a tangible new chapter for thousands of local milk producers.
The ice cream is a product of West Assam Milk Union Limited (WAMUL), the cooperative that carries the well-known Purabi brand and sources its milk directly from farmers across western Assam. The export was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the central agency under the Ministry of Commerce that has been pushing first-time shipments from India's northeast into regional markets.
From local farms to Bhutan's shelves
The supply chain behind this shipment is deliberately rooted in the cooperative model. WAMUL aggregates milk from small dairy farmers, processes it into value-added products under the Purabi label, and now — for the first time — sends those products beyond India's borders. For farmers whose income has historically depended on domestic procurement prices, an international buyer changes the equation. Bhutan is a natural first destination. The two countries share longstanding bilateral trade ties, and agricultural goods move across the border under preferential arrangements that reduce friction for exactly these kinds of first-time shipments. The northeast's geographic proximity to Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar has long been cited as a structural advantage waiting to be activated.APEDA's northeast push and what it means for Assam's dairy ambitions
Established in 1985, APEDA has in recent years focused on drawing northeastern states into India's agricultural export story — a region that has traditionally exported tea and timber but little in the way of processed dairy. This Bhutan shipment fits that pattern: a central agency providing the export infrastructure, a state cooperative providing the product, and a neighbouring country providing the market. The broader signal is about value addition. Exporting raw milk is one thing; exporting branded premium ice cream is another. It positions Assam's dairy sector not just as a supplier of commodities but as a producer of finished consumer goods with regional market appeal. Whether the state can now scale dairy processing capacity to sustain and grow that position is the real test ahead. The first 5,627 litres have crossed the border. The question now is how many more follow.Point of View
From raw produce to branded consumer goods. It fits a broader pattern of APEDA-backed first-time export milestones from the northeast, designed to convert geographic proximity to India's neighbours into commercial advantage. For CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the optics reinforce a development-focused governance narrative ahead of any political cycle. The real test is whether state investment in dairy processing infrastructure follows to sustain export volumes beyond a symbolic inaugural consignment.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Assam's first dairy export to Bhutan?
Assam exported 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium Ice Cream to Bhutan on July 28, 2026 , in what is the state's first-ever dairy export. The shipment was flagged off by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
What is WAMUL and what is the Purabi brand?
WAMUL stands for West Assam Milk Union Limited, a dairy cooperative that sources milk from local farmers in western Assam and processes it into products sold under the Purabi brand, which includes milk, ice cream, and other dairy items.
What role did APEDA play in the Assam dairy export?
APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), a central government body under the Ministry of Commerce established in 1985 , facilitated the export by providing the export development support and framework for the shipment to Bhutan.
Why was Bhutan chosen as the first export destination for Assam dairy products?
Bhutan shares strong bilateral trade ties with India, including preferential arrangements for agricultural goods. Its geographic proximity to Assam and existing trade frameworks made it a practical and low-friction first international market for Assam's dairy exports.
How does this dairy export benefit Assam's farmers?
By creating an international market for value-added dairy products, the export initiative can improve income prospects for local milk producers who supply WAMUL. Access to export markets typically supports better procurement prices and greater demand for farmer-sourced milk.
