Press Release

H.E. Mr. Amjad Hussian B. Sial, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is on an introductory visit to Bhutan from 25-28 April 2017.

His Majesty the King granted audience to the Secretary General on 27 April, 2017 at Tashichhodzong.

The Secretary General also called on Hon’ble Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji and met Foreign Secretary Ambassador Sonam Tshong. During the meetings, both Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary extended warm welcome and congratulated him on his appointment as the new Secretary General of SAARC. They expressed confidence in taking SAARC process forward under his leadership and reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment and support to further consolidating regional cooperation and deepening friendship among the SAARC Member States. Views on various activities relating to SAARC and the need to keep the process moving forward were also exchanged during the meetings.

The Secretary General also made a familiarization visit to the Secretariat of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) in Thimphu on 25 April, 2017.

H.E. Mr. Amjad Hussian B. Sial is from Pakistan and succeeded H.E. Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa from Nepal. He assumed office as the Secretary General of SAARC on 1 March, 2017.

The Secretary General was accompanied by Mr. Sangye Rinchhen, Director at the SAARC Secretariat.