GANGTOK, (IPR): The Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou, paid a visit to Vijay Bhushan Pathak, chief secretary of the Government of Sikkim, at the Tashiling Secretariat today.
The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse Cecile Mathou, alongside Didier Henri Andre Marie Talpain, the Consulate General of France in Kolkata, Samuel Leo Bouchard, a staff member, and Anjita Roychaudhury, the Press and Diplomatic Liaison Officer.
In this meeting, the Ambassador noted that while this is his first official visit to Sikkim, he has visited twice before expressing keen interest in exploring cooperative opportunities with Government of Sikkim.
Desirous of developing several projects together, the Ambassador highlighted the historical ties between France and Sikkim, notably through Alexandra David-Néel, who spent nearly three years in Sikkim and authored over 30 books, including "Magic and Mystery in Tibet," published in 1929. Her spiritual connection with His Holiness Lachen Gomchen underscores the unique bond shared by Sikkim and France.
In response, the chief secretary suggested several areas for potential cooperation, such as tackling traffic congestion in Gangtok and implementing solid waste management systems. He also took the opportunity to brief the Ambassador on various ongoing projects in Sikkim.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Ambassador presented a token of appreciation to the chief secretary, who reciprocated by offering hampers on behalf of the State Government. Following this exchange, the Ambassador engaged with secretaries from various departments.
This interaction was attended by notable officials, including Dr Pradeep Kumar, PCCF and secretary of the Forest and Environment department; Prakash Chettri, secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation; MT Sherpa, secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs; Tshewang Gyachho, secretary of Higher Education; Tashi Chophel, secretary of School Education; KD Rechung, secretary (Protocol) Home department; Rim Dorjee Lepcha, chief engineer of the Culture department, and Anant Jain, District Collector of Mangan, along with other State government officials.
During the discussions, the Ambassador reaffirmed the comprehensive strategic relationship between France and India, expressing his hopes for enhanced cooperation with Sikkim. Various initiatives were brought to the table, such as the Protection of the Red Panda, Sister City Cooperation, and programs like ‘French For All and French For a Better Future’. The secretaries, in turn, proposed avenues where collaboration with the French government could be beneficial.
It is worth mentioning that the Ambassador is currently on a 'Mission to North Bengal and Sikkim' from November 10 to 13.