Visit: Addressing the Global Business Summit yesterday in Kolkata, Lyonchoen Tshering Tobgay said Bhutan has the required environment to do business.

Lyonchoen informed the thousands of delegates and business representatives from 25 countries that Bhutan has an enabling environment where ease of doing business is continually improving. “We have an educated workforce, a stable political environment and above all, a free trade agreement with India to ensure smooth commerce,” Lyonchoen who was the chief guest said.

“Geography has made us neighbours and history has made us inseparable friends. I’m confident this story of Bhutan and Bengal reinforced by ever strong bonds of friendship, economic partnerships and cooperation will endure forever,” the Prime Minister said.

Conveying the greetings of His Majesty The King and the people of Bhutan, Lyonchoen thanked the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee for inviting him to the summit, which he said was an excellent platform to share ideas and explore opportunities.

The Prime Minister said he was convinced that the ideas generated during the summit will gain momentum and reverberate well beyond Bengal to also reach the high mountains of Bhutan.

As a genuine friend and immediate neighbour, Lyonchoen said, Bhutan remains a well wisher for Bengal to succeed and prosper over the years to come.

“Our future and destinies are inextricably linked – economically, environmentally and in terms of security. And as we’ve done for centuries, Bengal and Bhutan have always complemented each other. Like a caring friend, when one succeeds, the other is pulled up as well,” Lyonchoen said.

The Prime Minister also spoke on the business prospects Bhutan and Bengal could look forward to in the coming years.

Bhutan, he said can supply cheap and clean energy to power Bengal’s industries. “Organic farming is another area where we have invited investments as there is high demand for our organic produce in Bengal and all across India.”

“With our pristine environment and intact culture, we’ve also sought to maximize our tourism services through investments. There would be mutual benefits in tourism as many foreign visitors to Bhutan invariably also make their journey to India starting from Bengal. Our respective markets will become the destination for each other’s goods and services,” he said.

The delegation will return to Thimphu today.

MB Subba

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