From Patola Scarf To Kadamwood Buddha: In Laos, PM Modi Presents Special Gifts To World Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who paid a two-day visit to Laos to attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia summits, gifted world leaders a unique range of artefacts, including a handcrafted Patan Patola scarf and a Kadamwood Colour-Embossed Buddha, among many others.

He presented the handcrafted Patan Patola scarf, a symbol of India’s rich textile heritage, to Naly Sisoulith, the wife of the President of Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith. The scarf was carefully packed in a Sadeli box—another exquisite artefact from Gujarat.

PM Modi gifted his Laos counterpart Sonexay Siphandone a Buddha head, crafted from high-quality Kadamwood, known for its durability and rich texture. He also gifted a Malachite and Camel Bone Box with a Radha-Krishna theme to Vandara Siphandone, the wife of the PM of Lao PDR.

Gift Items From Maharashtra, Ladakh & West Bengal

On the sidelines of the East India summit, PM Modi met his Thailand counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra and gifted her vibrant coloured low-height wood table from Ladakh with intricate Por carvings.

Further exhibiting India’s cultural richness, PM Modi presented a Silver Nakkashi work peacock figurine to the PM of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba. This Nakkasi work originates from West Bengal.

He also extended a Silver lamp paired with Jhalar Work studded with precious stones to New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon. The piece displays the beauty of Maharashtra’s artisanal heritage.

Strengthen Ties with Laos

PM Modi and his Laos counterpart Siphandone on Friday held productive discussions aimed at further strengthening the ties between the two countries, including in key sectors like economic and defence.

PM Modi arrived in Laos on Thursday at the invitation of PM Siphandone and attended ASEAN-India and East Asia summits to further deepen engagement with countries in the groupings.

“Imparting new momentum to India-Laos partnership. PM @narendramodi and PM Sonexay Siphandone of Lao PDR held productive discussions aimed at further strengthening India-Laos ties, including in key sectors of cooperation such as heritage conservation & restoration, development partnership, capacity building, economic, defence, culture and people-to-people-ties,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The two leaders also held productive talks on further strengthening India-Laos civilisational and contemporary ties. They discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation such as development partnership, capacity building, disaster management, renewable energy, heritage restoration, economic ties, defence collaboration, and people-to-people ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.