Background

On 17th December 2009, RGoB established its first Consulate Office in Kolkata with consular jurisdiction in the States of West Bengal and Assam. The mission was set up as the official representative of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The main objective of this representation is to extend lawful assistance and protection to the Bhutanese residing in or travelling through the States of West Bengal and Assam for commercial or other purposes and to aid and facilitate lawful and mercantile concerns and friendship between the people of the two countries. After the inaugural of the Royal Bhutanese Consulate General in Guwahati, the jurisdiction of the State of Assam was handed over to RBCG Guwahati. 

The Royal Bhutanese Consulate General in Kolkata was inaugurated on 17th December 2009 by H.E. Devanand Konwar, Governor of West Bengal, India and H.E. Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister for Foreign Affairs, RGoB, at the property of the RGoB in Dum Dum, Kolkata.

In the late 1960’s Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) purchased on a long term lease, flats at Tivoli Court in Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata during its construction. The RGoB is still in possession of the flats and it is being used as part of the Consulate Office and houses the Liaison and Transit Office of the Royal Bhutan Customs, Branch Office of State Trading Corporation, Druk Air office, etc. In October 1969, RGoB took over 5 Bikhas (approx. 2 acres) of land and a two storied Bungalow at 6/1 Mall Road, Dum Dum which houses the Consulate Office and the residence of Consul General since December 2009. 

RGoB appointed Dasho Tshering Wangda as the First Consul General of Bhutan in Kolkata in November 2008. He was responsible for setting up the Consulate Office as the 26th Diplomatic Mission in Kolkata. Since 2020, the jurisdiction of the Royal Bhutanese Consulate General has expanded to include the States of Sikkim, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar.