In what could help economic relations between Switzerland and Bhutan, a team of Swiss entrepreneurs met with local businesses in the capital. The delegates brought with them business investment ideas in different sectors ranging from health, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and energy. The team arrived yesterday.
About 30 representatives from 16 Swiss companies met with Bhutanese businesses and ministry officials for two days.
The business ideas include the latest health tools such as a drug to prevent postpartum haemorrhage among pregnant women to constructing railway tunnels in the country.
“I think after yesterday’s and today’s delegations, I see opportunities, especially in the areas of health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Those are the areas of opportunities I take away as the biggest potential here,” said Dr Ralf Heckner, Swiss Ambassador to Bhutan.
“Our company would like to help Bhutan build infrastructure projects such as railways, tunnels, and roads with Swiss experts. To bring in expertise and new technologies to build safe and technologically advanced infrastructures in Bhutan,” said Marika Pechr, Swiss Business Representative.
“Ten days ago, we got approval from the Ministry of Health for a drug that will help Bhutanese mothers in the future. Every year, about seventy thousand women die of postpartum haemorrhage, and we can prevent that. We really want to collaborate with the Ministry of Health so that this product is available in Bhutan to prevent them from dying by giving birth,” said Alexis Poulet, Swiss Business Representative.
This is the second such visit by business delegates from Switzerland with the first one having come in 2019.
“The business representatives have presented their investment ideas today and many have positive feedback on them. The Prime Minister and the ministers also said that if these companies invest in our country, it will strengthen our economic stability. BCCI is also looking forward to a good impact from it,” said Tandy Wangchuk, BCCI’s President.
Two memoranda of understanding were also signed by the Bhutan Chamber for Commerce and Industry with the Swiss Asia Chamber of Commerce and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce as a gesture of friendship.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
