A major facelift for Paro airport

By Chimi Wangmo

On October 12, His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the formal inauguration of the A5-JKW Drukair Aircraft at Paro Airport.

The Aircraft, named in honour of His Majesty The King, was purchased in March 2020 before the pandemic began.

Their Majesties also toured the airport, where a major facelift has been completed.

A statement from the Royal Office for Media said Bhutanese artists and members of VAST-Bhutan participated in the work to transform the Paro Airport, supported by the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority.

“The work at the airport began following Royal Command that the Paro Airport, as one of the most important gateways into Bhutan, should reflect the country’s art, architecture and beauty, and also serve to showcase the works of Bhutanese artists,” RoM said.

Over 70 Bhutanese artists have contributed their works to be displayed in the airport. The transformation also includes installations, gardens and murals.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the 10th Royal Wedding Anniversary of Their Majesties, the One Gewog One Product (OGOP) inaugurated its Airport shop and their organization website. The shop was inaugurated during Their Majesties visit to the Airport.

Five new OGOP products were launched for the inaugural event.

The products are butter from Haa and Paro, home-made jam from Bumthang, roasted peanuts from Khamdang and Toedtsho Gewog, Tashiyangtse, and honey from Bumthang produced in blister packs, as well as honey with lemon from Bumthang and Haa.

OGOP is a Royal initiative under the Queen’s Project Office and October 13 is also observed as OGOP’s Foundation Day.

The statement from RoM said OGOP aims to boost the local economy and strengthen rural communities, by providing support for value addition of local produce, packaging and market access.

“It seeks to identify at least one authentic Bhutanese product from each Gewog, finds and plugs the gaps in their value chains and develops high quality products for both domestic and international markets,” it states.

In addition, each product chosen to be marketed by OGOP comes from local artisans and a community of farmers, who have received support to grow high-quality crops.

Further, every item has been selected carefully, and processed with age-old wisdom combined with state-of-the-art techniques, to bring Bhutanese products of the highest quality.