Gujarat CM warmly welcomes His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and PM Mr. Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan
GANDHINAGAR : Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel warmly welcomed the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and Prime Minister Mr. Tshering Tobgay upon their arrival in Ahmedabad for a three-day tour of Gujarat.
On this occasion, Protocol Minister Shri Jagadish Vishwakarma, Ahmedabad Mayor Smt. Pratibha Jain, India’s Ambassador to Bhutan Shri Sudhakar Dalela, State Chief Secretary Shri Raj Kumar, State Police Chief Shri Vikas Sahay, Joint Secretary of External Affairs Ministry Shri Anurag Shrivastav, Ahmedabad Joint Commissioner of Police Shri Ajay Chaudhary, Chief Protocol Officer Shri Jwalant Trivedi, Ahmedabad Collector Smt. Praveena D.K. and other high-ranking officials warmly welcomed the dignitaries. Following their reception by dignitaries at Ahmedabad Airport, the King and Prime Minister of Bhutan were greeted with a vibrant display of Garba, a cherished Gujarat tradition. The welcome event showcased an array of cultural programs celebrating Gujarat’s rich heritage, enlivened by the rhythmic beats of Garba and Dhol.
Exports from Gujarat to Bhutan surged substantially in the last five years from US$14.39 million in 2019-20 to US$21.98 million in 2023-24, thanks to the focus on boosting economic ties between India and its neighbours. This means exports saw a whopping 52% growth over the past five years.
The five year surge in exports was not limited to overall numbers but also represented further diversity in the range of products being exported to Bhutan. Gujarat’s leading exports to the country include plastic products, electrical machinery and equipment, ceramic products, fish, paper and paper products, and medicines.
India is Bhutan’s top trade partner, both as an import source and as an export destination. The trade value, excluding electricity, surged from US$ 484 million in 2014-15 to an impressive US$ 1,606 million in 2022-23. At present, approximately 30 Indian companies are actively contributing to Bhutan’s development across diverse sectors, including banking, manufacturing, electricity generation, agriculture and food processing, and others.
Royal visitors in Gujarat
The King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay came visiting the Statue of Unity (SoU) in Ektanagar in Gujarat on Monday. The duo along with other delegation members are on a visit to India. State protocol Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma received the Bhutan delegation at the SoU.
At the SoU, a guide gave the visitors details about India’s Independence struggle and the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the independence movement and the unification of the country, a release from the state said. The delegation also visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam.