Les Amis du Bhoutan (the Friends of Bhutan), the Friendship Association for Bhutan in France, held its General Assembly in Paris on 2nd February 2018.  Over 30 members of the Association attended the annual meeting. 

At the invitation of Dr. Francoise Pommaret, President of the Association, the Ambassador of Bhutan to the European Union in Brussels Ms. Pema Choden attended the event. 

She thanked the members of the Friendship Association for their friendship and support to Bhutan. She congratulated Dr. Pommaret on being awarded the National Award of Merit (Gold) by His Majesty the King on the occasion of the National Day on 17th December 2017 for her important research work on Bhutan. She informed the gathering about the recent positive development in bilateral relations with the introduction of a French mobile Visa Station in Thimphu, which will enable Bhutanese to apply for French visa in Thimphu, thus promoting people to people to contacts. She also informed of developments in Bhutan including the upcoming parliamentary elections and the launch of the 12th Five Year Plan. 

Dr. Thierry Mathou, Director for Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France also attended the event. Dr. Mathou expressed support for closer cooperation between Bhutan and France, of which the Visa Mobile Station is one manifestation, with potential in other areas such as agriculture, tourism, and education. 

Dr. Pommaret made a presentation on the activities of the Association which include sponsoring school students, support to families of medical patients at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu and support to the Loden Foundation. 

Mr. Gerard Tardy, member of the Association and co-founder and Director of Loden Foundation, presented the activities of the Loden Foundation, which has so far trained over 3000 young Bhutanese entrepreneurs and supported 145 business projects in Bhutan. 

Les Amis du Bhoutan, one of the oldest Friendship Associations for Bhutan in Europe, was founded in 1987. It has over 80 members from France, Belgium, and Canada.