Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday said foreign service officers from Bihar could play a crucial role in promoting the state’s tourist destinations, cultural heritage and local products on the global stage.Interacting with the officers hailing from Bihar, the CM sought their suggestions on tourism development, international branding and expanding the global market for Bihar’s products.He assured the officers that the govt would seriously consider their suggestions and appealed to people of Bihari origin to contribute to the development of their home state alongside their professional responsibilities.The visiting officers were felicitated with shawls and mementos. Those present included Kumar Gaurav, deputy high commissioner in the Maldives; Akash Gupta, counsellor at Indian Embassy in Rome; Nitesh Kumar, counsellor at Indian High Commission in Islamabad; Tavishi Behl Pandey, deputy chief of mission at Indian Embassy in Muscat; Dr Rajiv Ranjan, director (Central America) at Ministry of External Affairs; Naveen Kumar, counsellor at Indian Embassy in Paris; and Manusmriti, director (north) at Ministry of External Affairs.The CM said Bihar had immense tourism potential, with religious and historical destinations such as Gaya and Sultanganj capable of attracting visitors from India and abroad. He said the govt was working to develop Buddhist Circuit and promote eco-tourism, adding that the officers’ international experience and professional networks could help establish these destinations globally.Highlighting Chhath as Bihar’s most significant festival of public faith, the CM called for efforts to promote the festival nationally and internationally. He referred to the large gatherings of devotees offering ‘arghya’ to Sun God in Patna and other parts of the state, including the renowned Sun temples in Aurangabad and Munger.He said showcasing Bihar’s cultural traditions, historical sites, religious heritage and indigenous products internationally would boost tourism, generate employment and accelerate economic activity.Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit and secretary to the chief minister, Lokesh Kumar Singh, were also present at the meeting.
