Bhutan and Kuwait share a strong relationship

The Times Kuwait Report

Kuwait and Bhutan share many similarities as two friendly nations with excellent ties, disclosed Ambassador of Bhutan H E Chitem Tenzin in an exclusive interview to The Times Kuwait

Elaborating on this, Ambassador Tenzin pointed out that relations have been rock solid since the establishment of diplomatic ties almost 43 years ago in 1983 and since then Bhutan and Kuwait support each other in all bilateral and multilateral organisations, sharing many common interests and goals.

Recalling the visit of the fourth King of Bhutan to Kuwait soon after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Ambassador noted that a close bond was developed over the years between the leadership of the two countries.

He expressed gratitude to the Kuwaiti leadership for the support extended to Bhutan for more than 40 years. Kuwait Fund, he disclosed has been at the forefront of assistance to many projects in Bhutan especially in the 1990s and Kuwait was among the first few countries after India to come to Bhutan’s assistance.

At present Kuwait Fund is looking into financing a hydro-power project which is a sustainable and green power project and Bhutan always looks to Kuwait for their capabilities and knowledge in terms of their vast experience in project financing.

Ambassador also pointed out that Kuwait always came to the support of Bhutan during natural calamities and their humanitarian role the world over was well appreciated and acknowledged.

During the past two years there have been several high level visits both private and official from Bhutanese leadership which included the King, the Prince, the younger brother of the King.

Bhutan currently holds one of the Vice-Presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia ( OCA) which is headquartered in Kuwait. It has played a very prominent role over the past 3 decades in spearheading the Olympic movement in Asia, Ambassador Tenzin noted as the vice president HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck has visited Kuwait several times over the past few decades and the decision of the Government of Kuwait to accord diplomatic status to the Olympic Council of Asia means a lot for OCA and ushers well to play ever greater role to promote sports and games in all the members countries as the corner stone to promote peace, goodwill, solidarity and friendship amongst its member countries and the true spirit of Olympic movement in the world.  Bhutan has benifited a lot from the OCA and the Olympic over the years.

Skilled Bhutanese workers came to Kuwait as early as 2015- 16 and grew in numbers, particularly in the hospitality service industry and touched almost 3,000 before the pandemic in 2020 when half of them left back and only 1500 remained in the country.

The numbers have spiralled after the pandemic to now over 7000 Bhutanese most of them working in the hospitality industry and are well appreciated and sought after for their skills, Ambassador Tenzin pointed out.

He said Bhutanese workers are sought after here for their hard work, humility, high integrity, good moral ethics, pleasing personality, loyalty and above all being well disposed and harmonious happy relationship with their employers and clients.

Ambassador also informed that about 80 per cent of the Bhutanese workforce in the GCC countries were working in Kuwait.

As Ambassador of Bhutan to Kuwait, UAE & Bahrain and recently nominated as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Ambassador revealed that plans are also on to raise the level of engagement with all these countries in the near future, Inshah Allah! Bhutan, he said is looking to engage with all Gulf Cooperation Council countries and develop closer relations with Qatar, Oman and other countries to the benefit of all in promoting trade, investment, tourism and cultural & sports and games exchanges and enhance people to people and business contacts.

Bhutan is also looking for interest and investment as part of the Royal Project of Gaylegphug Mindfulness City which is to develop a mega City with its unique feature one that will promote and show case to the world Bhutan’s efforts and success towards its sustainable economic development with great emphasis on its preserving its pristine environment, promote good governance and take our cherished intrinsic cultural ethos and ways of mindful living to a next higher level in meeting the challenges of the 21st Century and beyond. A mindful futuristic mega City  one that will be able to provide world class services with a solemn  Bhutanese touch of well being , happiness and welcome in hospitality, tourism, education, health, IT, civil aviation and financial services.

Ambassador Tenzin pointed out that work on the Gaylegphug International Airport as a civil aviation hub in the region will begin sooner in 2025 laying the strong foundation for all other infrastructure to follow suit. The goodwill, concrete support of the neighboring countries, especially of India and the world at large for its investment, development and success is undoubtedly of paramount urgency and importance.

Bhutan he pointed out has for over centuries and especially during last 50 years preserved their culture and environment, the pristine forest, animals and nature making them the Kingdom of Gross National Happiness ( GNH). But it is felt that economic activity will help in generating higher standard of living and hence the decision has been taken to have the economic zone on the lines of Singapore, Dubai or Switzerland & others and lot more with His Majesty the King at the helm of affairs as the Executive Chairman, guided by His Majesty’s singular vision and goal to serve and take his loving and loyal people and country into the 21st Century of unparalleled peace, progress and prosperity.

Ambassador revealed that direct flights between Bhutan and Kuwait are expected in the coming months in 2025 and this will be a great connector to bring about more trade, and tourism and business between the two countries.

Regarding visa for Kuwaitis the procedure is being further simplified from the current one which takes 2/3 days for an online visa and remittances to pay the Visa fees and Sustsinable Development Fees ( SDF) of US$ 100 per day. We are trying to make it as fast, more efficient and least cumbersome to our esteemed guests and visitors”.

There is an increasing interest by Kuwaitis to visit Bhutan and experience the mystical and magical (to many past visitors ) Land of Bhutan where tradition seamlessly blends with modernity, and nature remains almost pristine and undisturbed and unspoiled over the centuries, remarked Ambassador Tenzin adding that Bhutan is also known as the “Land of the Peaceful Dragon, sometimes also the Land of the Thunder Dragon, the Land of the Traditional Medicines and Herbs, Land of the  Dragon Vajrayana Buddhism, the Land of the Cypress forest,   the Land of the Hidden Paradise etc. Also known as the Land  of the Heroes  and the Heroines awaits to provide her visitors a unique and an enchanting experience in a land synonymous with  all that is calm, peaceful, serene, adventurous, pristine, cultural and joys of living a simple, harmonious and happy life. That was Bhutan and that is Bhutan now. Its beloved King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck also popularly known as the People’s King, is now trying to lead this enigmatic country head on into the 21st Century with the same vision and dream in Gaylegphug Mindfulness City. Indeed a futuristic mega city project with a difference that is very Majestic and all things Bhutanese.