- The delegation led by the Butan King and PM visits Adani Group’s flagship infrastructure project sites at Mundra and Khavda on Tuesday
- And I can tell you, that I felt like I was on a pilgrimage… to see the gigantic statue (of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) and experience Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India: PM Tobgay
- King of Bhutan and Prime Minister visit Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City)
- They also take a helicopter ride to have a bird’s eye view of Heritage city of Ahmedabad
- The Bhutanese PM also calls for a partnership between India and Bhutan for the development of the ‘Mindfulness City’,
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JULY 24
Having wrapped up three-day visit to Gujarat on Wednesday, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay was optimistic about strengthening Bhutan-Bharat friendship ties further.
In the last leg of their programme in the state, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and PM visited the GIFT City, an upcoming global financial and IT services hub, near Gandhinagar.
GIFT City impresses the delegation
The Bhutanese delegation was first briefed in detail about the entire concept of GIFT City, its working style, and its features at GIFT House by Hasmukh Adhia, Chairman of GIFT City and Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister.
After the briefing, the Bhutanese King, the Prime Minister, and the delegation took a tour of the advanced infrastructure of GIFT City, visiting the district cooling system and utility tunnels. The delegates were impressed with the business-friendly services provided by the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India through the single-window system at GIFT City and the world-class infrastructure of GIFT City.
During the visit, the Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Department SJ Haider, MD of GIFT City, Tapan Ray, and Geology and Mining Commissioner Dr. Dhaval Patel were present.
Talking to reporters in Gandhinagar before leaving, PM Tobgay shared his experience during the visit.
“Today, we visited the GIFT City. We are inspired by what has been achieved in such a short time in this Smart City. Our visit here will further strengthen strong ties of friendship between Bhutan and Bharat. On behalf of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan, I would like to thank the chief minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel for the wonderful arrangements,”said Tobgay.
Statue of Unity is a pilgrimage site: Bhutanese PM
“ We visited the Statue of Unity on the day we arrived (July 22). And I can tell you, that I felt like I was on a pilgrimage… to see the gigantic statue (of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) and experience Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India,” PM Tobgay said.
The delegation led by the Butan King and PM visited Adani Group’s flagship infrastructure project sites at Mundra and Khavda on Tuesday. The conglomerate operates India’s largest commercial port at Mundra, while it is developing the world’s largest renewable energy park at Khavda, said officials.
“ Yesterday (Tuesday) we visited a giant solar renewable farm at Khavda in Kutch, then Mundra port and the Special Economic Zone. I can see a lot of opportunities for further strengthening the friendship, cooperation and partnership through these projects,”Tobgay said.
The Bhutanese PM also called for a partnership between India and Bhutan for the development of the Mindfulness City’, planned at Gelephu town in southern Bhutan near the border with India.
Before leaving, King Wangchuck and PM Tobgay took a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of Ahmedabad city, said the state government release, adding that Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, along with Minister of Protocol Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ambassador of India to Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela, and other officials, bid farewell to the King and Prime Minister at Ahmedabad Airport.
