Dr. Apichai Boontherawara (center), President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), recently welcomed delegates from Bhutan National Bank (BNB) led by Mr. Kipchu Tshering (second right), BNB Chief Executive Officer, at EXIM Thailand Head Office. The Bhutanese delegation visited Thailand to explore the feasibility of expanding Thai-Bhutanese trade and investment.
The Bhutanese government is pursuing a policy of foreign investment promotion which allows foreign investors to acquire a local company’s stakes up to 70% of registered capital. High-potential businesses in Bhutan are real estate development and tourism, particularly the hotel sector in which Singaporean, Indonesian and Thai investors have already established their businesses. Other businesses with good prospects include department stores and hospitals since Bhutan has only one shopping mall in the country, while in hospital service, some Bhutanese prefer to be treated aboard, for example in Thailand and India, despite free service at state hospitals at home.