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Call it mere coincidence or meticulous planning. Barely three days after the government released the revised foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, representatives of world-renowned business companies from Canada are in the country on a “business mission.”
Calling it a visit purely focused on business and partnership, the Canadian ambassador to Bhutan, Joseph Caron, who is on his farewell visit to the country, said that the delegation is here on business - to see for themselves what is happening in Bhutan.
The delegation comprising representatives from export development Canada (EDC), Jacobs consultancy, Viking Air ltd, Bell Helicopter, SNC Lavalin, CNK International inc, and Queens university will meet their counterparts in the next few days.
EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, which offers innovative financing, insurance and risk management solution to help Canadian exporters and investors expand international business. Jacobs consultancy is the leading one-stop aviation consulting company worldwide, providing a diverse source of expertise in all areas of commercial aviation. If the government is looking for a domestic air service provider, Viking Air ltd is the leading manufacturer of the iconic Twin Otter series. “It has hopes for Bhutan,” said Ambassador Joseph.
The idea of the country’s chopper service could be renewed if the representatives from Bell Helicopter, the world’s largest helicopter company could strike a deal. Bell produces the most popular helicopters – Bell 407, a light single engine helicopter and the Bell 429, a light twin-engine model.
SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and constructing groups in the world, and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC provides engineering, procurement, construction, project management and project financing services to a variety of industry sectors, including power, mining, heavy construction and water management.
CNK International inc is a multi disciplinary engineering and management consulting company focused on infrastructure development, excellence and system engineering.
The companies will have a series of meetings with the Druk Holding and Investments, Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry, the ministry of economic affairs and the GNH commission. Ambassador Joseph said that Canada watched the SAARC summit closely, which brought visibility and honour to Bhutan. “A modernisng Bhutan and South Asia provides more opportunities for Canada,” said the ambassador, who will be resigning sometime next month.
“The Thimphu statement and the emphasis on environment, which is a big issue in Canada, the attention to infrastructure and the South Asia free trade agreement (FTA), all these issues concern us and interest us,” he said.
The ambassador said that he was pleased that Bhutan’s new FDI was announced on Friday. “We’re going to be in a listening mode, because we want to know, not only the general orientation of economic development policy, but also the specifics, including FDI,” referring to the meetings scheduled between the business delegation and the government.
The interest in Bhutan, according to Ambassador Joseph, dates back to the 1960s, when many fortunate Canadians dedicated their career and lives to Bhutan, primarily in the education sector. “Bhutan always had a sort of existence to Canada and our job is to make Canada more visible.”
Although too early to say if any deals would be made, Ambassador Joseph said that all meetings are going to focus on the specifics of what is happening in Bhutan. “The delegation for a week has plenty of opportunities to nail down specifics. We’re confident that, at the end of the mission, there’ll be a great understanding and a sense of where they fit, whether in education, power or aviation.”
Asked why they chose Bhutan, Joseph Caron said that size of the country or the market was not relevant. “We live in a globalised world. The thrust towards a modern development has much concern for social and environment consideration and, in a way, Bhutan is way ahead of the international community. With the focus on GNH and, when you dig beyond the title, you get real issues of clean development and education levels,” he said. “Bhutanese like Canadians and Canadians like Bhutanese.”
Among the delegation are the senior trade commissioner, embassy of Canada to Bhutan, and Peter Nesbitt, the vice president for South Asia regional export development Canada.
Source: Kuenselonline
Calling it a visit purely focused on business and partnership, the Canadian ambassador to Bhutan, Joseph Caron, who is on his farewell visit to the country, said that the delegation is here on business - to see for themselves what is happening in Bhutan.
The delegation comprising representatives from export development Canada (EDC), Jacobs consultancy, Viking Air ltd, Bell Helicopter, SNC Lavalin, CNK International inc, and Queens university will meet their counterparts in the next few days.
EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, which offers innovative financing, insurance and risk management solution to help Canadian exporters and investors expand international business. Jacobs consultancy is the leading one-stop aviation consulting company worldwide, providing a diverse source of expertise in all areas of commercial aviation. If the government is looking for a domestic air service provider, Viking Air ltd is the leading manufacturer of the iconic Twin Otter series. “It has hopes for Bhutan,” said Ambassador Joseph.
The idea of the country’s chopper service could be renewed if the representatives from Bell Helicopter, the world’s largest helicopter company could strike a deal. Bell produces the most popular helicopters – Bell 407, a light single engine helicopter and the Bell 429, a light twin-engine model.
SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and constructing groups in the world, and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC provides engineering, procurement, construction, project management and project financing services to a variety of industry sectors, including power, mining, heavy construction and water management.
CNK International inc is a multi disciplinary engineering and management consulting company focused on infrastructure development, excellence and system engineering.
The companies will have a series of meetings with the Druk Holding and Investments, Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry, the ministry of economic affairs and the GNH commission. Ambassador Joseph said that Canada watched the SAARC summit closely, which brought visibility and honour to Bhutan. “A modernisng Bhutan and South Asia provides more opportunities for Canada,” said the ambassador, who will be resigning sometime next month.
“The Thimphu statement and the emphasis on environment, which is a big issue in Canada, the attention to infrastructure and the South Asia free trade agreement (FTA), all these issues concern us and interest us,” he said.
The ambassador said that he was pleased that Bhutan’s new FDI was announced on Friday. “We’re going to be in a listening mode, because we want to know, not only the general orientation of economic development policy, but also the specifics, including FDI,” referring to the meetings scheduled between the business delegation and the government.
The interest in Bhutan, according to Ambassador Joseph, dates back to the 1960s, when many fortunate Canadians dedicated their career and lives to Bhutan, primarily in the education sector. “Bhutan always had a sort of existence to Canada and our job is to make Canada more visible.”
Although too early to say if any deals would be made, Ambassador Joseph said that all meetings are going to focus on the specifics of what is happening in Bhutan. “The delegation for a week has plenty of opportunities to nail down specifics. We’re confident that, at the end of the mission, there’ll be a great understanding and a sense of where they fit, whether in education, power or aviation.”
Asked why they chose Bhutan, Joseph Caron said that size of the country or the market was not relevant. “We live in a globalised world. The thrust towards a modern development has much concern for social and environment consideration and, in a way, Bhutan is way ahead of the international community. With the focus on GNH and, when you dig beyond the title, you get real issues of clean development and education levels,” he said. “Bhutanese like Canadians and Canadians like Bhutanese.”
Among the delegation are the senior trade commissioner, embassy of Canada to Bhutan, and Peter Nesbitt, the vice president for South Asia regional export development Canada.
Source: Kuenselonline
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