Celebrating 40 Years of Friendship: The Royal Visit of Bhutan's King to Kuwait

Bhutan and Kuwait have enjoyed a strong and cordial relationship for nearly four decades, with diplomatic ties established between the two countries in 1983. The relationship between the two nations has been further strengthened by regular exchange of high-level dignitaries’ visits and economic cooperation through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

Bhutan King meets Kuwait Royals. Facebook: Wangchuk.

His Majesty The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar NamgyelWangchuck, arrived in the State of Kuwait on January 16th on a Royal Visit, and was received by the Crown Prince of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace. During the visit, His Majesty met with the Royal Family and senior Kuwaiti government officials. He also met with the Bhutanese community living and working in Kuwait, which numbers around 3,500.

Bhutan King in audience with the Bhutanese living in Kuwait.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Kuwait and the two countries have much to celebrate. Economic cooperation between the two nations has been channeled mainly through the KFAED, which has been providing assistance and cooperation to Bhutan since 1983. KFAED has provided generous grants and soft loans for various developmental projects in Bhutan, as well as useful technical assistance for feasibility studies and development of industrial estate projects.

In addition to this, Bhutan and Kuwait also cooperate in several international and multilateral fora. Since 2015, several hundred Bhutanese have joined the workforce in Kuwait, mainly in the hospitality and retail service sectors in some of the reputed business houses such as Al-Shaya, Americana, Trolley, and Kout Food Group. The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Kuwait supports the overseas recruitment process and provides consular services to Bhutanese working in Kuwait.

The Royal Visit to Kuwait is a testament to the strong friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and Kuwait, and we look forward to many more years of partnership between our two nations. As Bhutan is known as the land of Gross National Happiness, and Kuwait is known for its hospitality, we can be sure that this visit will be filled with warmth and joy. So, let's raise a glass to the 40 years of friendship between Bhutan and Kuwait and the many more to come.