The European Union announced plans to host a business forum for Bhutan in Belgium’s capital, Brussels, later this year. This comes after the EU identified renewable energy and cultural sectors as key areas of investment potential in Bhutan. The delegates said the forum will aim to connect European investors with local businesses and strengthen Bhutan’s private sector.
A European Union delegation made the announcement at a press conference today. The delegation is in the country as a part of the 13th EU-Bhutan annual consultation. The team has been reviewing progress, discussing new areas of cooperation and planning future development projects.
And the business forum is one of the plans. This year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides.
Paola Pampaloni, the deputy managing director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service in Brussels said discussions are already underway with Bhutanese authorities to bring the idea to life.
“This week, we discussed with the authorities the possibility to increase the number of European investors in Bhutan. The idea was to organise a business forum towards the end of this year in Brussels. We will also try to have it in a couple of European capitals. We are still discussing the details with the authorities.”
She hopes to attract investors to strengthen the private sector in Bhutan. Bhutan will present the country’s investment policies and opportunities to small and medium-sized European enterprises in Brussels.
“We will invite a number of companies. We are still in the process of finalising the list. We will then see at the end of the day to encourage, to give them a platform to know each other, to discuss. And hopefully, after the forum there will be new opportunity for investors in the sector that are also priority for the government of Bhutan and the interest of the people of Bhutan.”
The delegates from the EU said that the event will be another step towards long-term partnerships and creating new opportunities that aligns with Bhutan’s development goals.
Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
