The Tata Group would like to increase its presence in Bhutan in areas beyond hydropower projects, and not necessarily for money, the Chairman of India’s industrial and commercial giant, Ratan Naval Tata told Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley.
Calling on the prime minister in Gyalyong Tshokhang today accompanied by five of his officials, Mr Tata, said that Tata Group has always looked at national development as more important than running business. He said he appreciated Bhutan’s desire to maintain its traditional roots and at the same time create prosperity for its people.
“The chemistry is very conducive and I hope hydropower is just the tip of iceberg,” he said, adding that Tata Group would be interested in looking at ideas in which Tata can participate in Bhutan’s development.
“We are very willing to participate, not necessarily to make money,” he said.
He lauded Bhutan for its goal to create a knowledge based society propelled by information technology. “Many things can be done,” he said. “I am quite enthusiastic.” Although the visit was short, Mr Tata declared that he had already ‘fallen in love with Bhutan’.
The prime minister welcomed the possibility of Tata group’s involvement in Bhutan. An entity that has played a tremendously important role in India’s development, Tata Group, he said, could guide, ad¬vise and support Bhutan in many areas.
“A country like Bhutan would be happy to be adopted by Tata,” the Prime minister said.
The prime minister presented a gist of Bhutan’s development priorities and goals, including the need to deepen the roots of democracy. He said Bhutan aimed to be economically self-reliant through investments in hydropower, tourism, organic branding and positioning itself as a regional service hub in the fields of finance, education and health.
The Tata group was founded by Jamshedji Tata, the great grandfather of Ratan Tata in 1868. Companies which form a major part of the group include Tata Steel, Corus Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Technologies, Tata Tea, Titan Industries, Tata Power, Tata Communications, Tata Teleservices and the Taj Hotels.
The group has been widely recognized as one of the most respected com¬panies in the world.

Staff Reporter