Bhutanese Minister meets Industry Minister Bhandari

Kathmandu, Sept 22: A Bhutanese Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, paid a courtesy call on Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Damodar Bhandari, in the latter’s office, Singha Durbar on Sunday.

Minister Tshering had arrived in Kathmandu to attend the Second Hindukush Ministerial Mountain Summit being organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu.

On the occasion, Minister Bhandari said Nepal and Bhutan have profound socioeconomic relations, and the relations are also at people-to-people level. “Landlocked and mountainous geography, climate change impacts and development challenges are common in Nepal and Bhutan,” Minister Bhandari said.

On the occasion, Minister Bhandari congratulated Minister Tshering for Bhutan’s graduation from the status of the least developed country.

Minister Bhandari further viewed, “Bhutan’s journey of graduation from LDCs can be a significant reference for other LDCs like Nepal. The bilateral relations can be strengthened via the Nepal-Bhutan parliamentary friendship committee which is formed by Nepal’s federal parliament.”

Nepal could learn from the Bhutanese experience, knowledge, skills and technology for the development in the sectors of hydropower development, environment conservation, organic agro technology and industry. He believed that the evolving trade relations between the countries would create positive impact in one’s own economy.

On the occasion, the Bhutanese Minister pointed out the need for cooperation in tourism between Nepal and Bhutan. He stressed that Nepal could ensure convenience to the Bhutanese tourists for their visits to Swayambhu and Lumbini in Nepal.

Even the hydropower is the area for cooperation between the two countries, Tshering added.