President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at Malacañang Palace in a historic first for leaders' level ties between the Philippines and Bhutan. It marked the first time a Philippine president hosted a Bhutanese leader there. Tobgay is in the country for the Asian Development Bank's Asia Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026.
On Tuesday, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay made a courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace. The meeting represented the first leaders' level engagement between the Philippines and Bhutan, which established diplomatic relations on October 6, 2025. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stated, “The meeting between the two leaders is an important opportunity for substantive engagement on priority areas of bilateral and broader cooperation.” Marcos discussed efforts to organize representation for non-resident ambassadors to strengthen ties. He expressed pleasure with current engagements through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for worker skills training and upskilling. The PCO noted that Marcos stressed the post-pandemic need for new partnerships worldwide, not only in tourism and cultural exchange but also in people-to-people ties, trade, and investment. Philippine exports to Bhutan include electronic products, machinery, transport equipment, woodcrafts, and furniture. Top imports from Bhutan are wine, fresh grapes, and virgin olive oil. As of November last year, 335 Bhutanese tourists visited the Philippines, compared to 380 in 2024. Filipinos in Bhutan work as hotel managers.
