GANGTOK,: Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India, along with his spouse and other dignitaries, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Om Prakash Mathur at Raj Bhavan here this evening.
The Governor extended a warm welcome to the Ambassador and his spouse, presenting them with traditional khadas and a special souvenir from Raj Bhavan and the State of Sikkim, a Raj Bhavan release informs.
During the meeting, Ambassador Mathou shared France’s plans for collaborative projects in Sikkim. Key initiatives discussed included efforts to preserve Sikkim's biodiversity, particularly through a project focused on the protection of red pandas, with support from French NGOs.
Additionally, the Ambassador discussed plans to develop a network of cable cars to help address Gangtok’s traffic challenges, supporting sustainable urban development in the region.
The Ambassador also proposed the development of sister-city relations between Digne, a city in France and Sikkim. This partnership would foster exchanges in culture, tradition, waste management, and water management practices, the release mentions.
In a tribute to the historical ties between France and Sikkim, the Ambassador mentioned plans to hold a photography exhibition in 2026, in collaboration with the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. The exhibition will honour Alexandra David-Néel, the Belgian-French explorer, spiritualist, and author who lived in Sikkim from 1912-1916 where she learned and practised Buddhism She also made a legendary visit to Lhasa, Tibet, in 1924.
He mentioned that Alexandra later became a pioneer who preached Buddhism in Europe.
The Governor responded positively to these proposals, expressing enthusiasm specifically with his emphasis on organic farming and promotion of products, potential collaborations in areas such as tourism, waste management, and technological advancements where French expertise could be valuable.
Further, the Governor extended a heartfelt invitation to the Ambassador and his team to revisit Sikkim, the release mentions.