Anutin invites Thais to invest in Bhutan

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is urging Thai businesses to help develop Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a planned economic hub, as Thailand seeks to expand trade and investment ties with the Himalayan kingdom.

Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said on Sunday Mr Anutin described his official visit to Bhutan from Oct 30 to Nov 1 as successful, highlighting the longstanding friendship between the two countries and three cooperation agreements covering public health, clean energy and agricultural finance.

Despite its population of only about 800,000, Bhutan has abundant natural resources and considerable economic potential, particularly in renewable energy, including hydropower and solar power, Mr Anutin said.

These sectors offer opportunities for Thai companies to invest in energy infrastructure and pursue joint development projects, he added.

Agriculture, another mainstay of Bhutan's economy, also offers scope for cooperation in agricultural development and technology transfers. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will help improve access to finance, strengthen farmers' capabilities and upgrade agricultural production in both countries.

The cooperation is also expected to help Thai businesses expand their markets in Bhutan and the wider South Asian region.

On public health, Mr Anutin said Thailand had supported Bhutan through medical knowledge transfers, personnel development and training opportunities for Bhutanese medical and nursing students.

The newly signed agreement will deepen medical cooperation and facilitate referrals of Bhutanese patients to Thailand, making use of the country's established healthcare services.

Mr Anutin described Gelephu Mindfulness City as an ambitious plan for a future city that would serve as a special economic zone while promoting religious and cultural tourism, Mr Ekkapob said.

He invited Thai investors to take part in developing infrastructure, clean energy, tourism and service industries.

The prime minister and his delegation were scheduled to meet the King and Queen of Bhutan to report on the visit and progress in bilateral cooperation on Sunday.