August 30, 2024THIMPHU – A high-profile business networking session between the Swiss business delegation and Bhutanese businesses explored new opportunities for economic collaboration and investments in Thimphu yesterday.This is the third Swiss mission to Bhutan, and the delegation comprised 23 members from 18 prominent companies in Switzerland. The delegation featured prominent figures, including Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Chairwoman of Switzerland Global Enterprise and former Minister of Justice of Switzerland.Led by Dr. Olivier Fink, Chargé d’Affaires at the Swiss Embassy, the business delegation engaged with Bhutanese officials and private sector representatives.The discussions resulted in promising prospects for future ventures and highlighted mutual commitment to expanding business ties and fostering growth in both countries.The Swiss Embassy to India and Bhutan stated that the primary goal of the visit was to connect Swiss firms with Bhutanese decision-makers, potential partners, and new opportunities across various sectors.Key sectors identified for investments are wood processing, interior design, finance, tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure.The Bhutan Chamber for Commerce and Industry (BCCI) facilitated the networking session with the Bhutanese private sector representatives.The minister for Industry, Commerce, and Trade, Namgay Dorji, highlighted the positive outcomes of previous Swiss business delegations, which have led to new ventures and strengthened the business relationship between the two nations.He pointed to the success of small and medium-sized industries in Bumthang, such as wood stoves, honey, and cheese, as examples of Swiss expertise contributing to Bhutan’s economic development.“Switzerland’s world-class expertise in renewable energy, tourism, hospitality, farming, and other small high-tech industries aligns perfectly with our ambitions,” Lyonpo said.The secretary general of BCCI, Chandra Chettri, reiterated the chamber’s commitment to fostering strong business partnerships and expressed optimism that the session would lead to new ventures.“The objective of the business networking session was to explore the possibility of attracting foreign direct investment from Switzerland to Bhutan. We were careful in selecting members whose long-term business interests align with their Swiss counterparts,” he said.The chief executive officer of the Swiss Economic Forum, Corine Blesi, expressed optimism about the delegation’s visit, highlighting the importance of building trust and mutual understanding for future collaborations.Chairwoman of Switzerland Global Enterprise Ruth Metzler-Arnold said that Switzerland is interested in strengthening ties with Bhutan while Bhutan is interested in the Swiss model of development.One of the success stories of Swiss-Bhutanese collaboration is SELISE, a 100 percent Swiss FDI that has been operating in Bhutan for over a decade. This international tech company, specialising in d
Lun. Dic 23rd, 2024
