R ARIVANANTHAM
GANDHINAGAR, JULY 22
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel received King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering for a three day visit to the state on Monday. The distinguished guests received a warm welcome at Vadodara airport, greeted by Gujarat Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma in accordance with the state’s renowned hospitality tradition.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલે ગુજરાતના
ત્રણ દિવસીય પ્રવાસ દરમિયાન અમદાવાદ પધારેલા ભૂતાનના રાજા શ્રી જીગ્મે ખેસર નામગ્યેલ વાંગચૂક તથા વડાપ્રધાન શ્રી શેરિંગ તોબગેનું અમદાવાદ એરપોર્ટ ખાતે ઉષ્માપૂર્ણ સ્વાગત કર્યું હતું. pic.twitter.com/jgp9KMV3C7— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) July 22, 2024
During their visit, the dignitaries visited the Statue of Unity in Ektanagar, Gujarat, along with other members of their high-level delegation.
- Gujarat exports plastic products, electrical machinery, ceramics products, and medicines to Bhutan
- Through the dedicated efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, trade between India and Bhutan has thrived remarkably
- 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, pharmaceuticals, ITES, hospitality, and education
The bond between Gujarat, known as India’s Growth Engine, and Bhutan has deepened significantly over the past few years. Bhutan’s enthusiasm for strengthening business relations with Gujarat was evident when a high-level Bhutanese delegation visited Gujarat in 2014. Due to the pivotal focus on boosting economic ties, exports from Gujarat to Bhutan have surged substantially in the last five years. From 14.39 million USD in 2019-20, exports from Gujarat to Bhutan have climbed to 21.98 million USD in 2023-24, reflecting a remarkable 52% growth over the past five years.
Export from Gujarat to Bhutan
Gujarat’s leading export items include plastic products, electrical machinery and equipment, ceramic products, fish, paper and paper products, and medicines. During this period, the growth was not only seen in the overall export volumes but also in terms of diversification in the range of products exported to Bhutan
Prime Minister’s bonhomie with Bhutan has strengthened bilateral relations
Upon assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, Shri Narendra Modi made his first foreign visit to Bhutan in June, marking a pivotal moment in strengthening India-Bhutan relations. In March this year, the Prime Minister revisited Bhutan to reaffirm the “Neighborhood First Policy.” During the visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated a state-of-the-art children’s hospital and announced a ₹10,000 crore aid package for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Mr. Tshering Tobgay, hailed the Indian Prime Minister as a “friend and elder brother” and honored him with Bhutan’s highest civilian honor, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’.
India’s trade with Bhutan grows threefold
Through the dedicated efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, trade between India and Bhutan has thrived remarkably. 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, pharmaceuticals, ITES, hospitality, and education.
