Embassy of IndiaThimphu

A. Excerpts from MEA Annual report wrt Bhutan

Bhutanese PM Mr Tshering Tobgay, accompanied by FM Mr Rinzin Dorje, visited India from 25-28 May 2014 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Both Prime Ministers also held bilateral discussions on 27 May 2014.

Prime Minister, accompanied by External Affairs Minister, paid his first visit abroad to Bhutan on 15-16 June 2014. Coming soon after the visit by SAARC leaders to India for Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony in May 2014, Prime Minister’s visit to one of our closest and friendliest South Asian neighbours was symbolic, reflecting the high priority accorded to our immediate neighbourhood. Prime Minister was warmly greeted by the Bhutanese public all along the 50km route from Paro to Thimphu on arrival and departure. During the visit, Prime Minister met the King of Bhutan, the Fourth King, Prime Minister Mr Tshering Tobgay and Leader of the Opposition Dr Pema Gyamtsho. Prime Minister addressed the Joint sitting of the Parliament, laid the Foundation stone of the 600 MW Kholongchu hydroelectric project, and inaugurated the Supreme Court building, a Rs. 79 crore GOI-assistance project. The King of Bhutan and PM Mr Tshering Tobgay hosted banquets for Prime Minister. Prime Minister’s interactions covered the monarchy, the elected government, the legislature and the judiciary. During the visit, both sides recalled the unique and special nature of their relations. Prime Minister reassured Bhutan that Government of India will fulfil its commitment towards the 11th five year plan of Bhutan from 2013-18, comprising ` 4500 crore Plan assistance and ` 500 crore towards the Economic Stimulus Plan. Prime Minister conveyed our decisions to exempt Bhutan from quantitative restrictions on certain essential food items and to double the Nehru-Wangchuck scholarship to ` 2 crore per year; and announced the gifting of an e-library to each of the 20 districts of Bhutan.

President Shri Pranab Mukherjee paid a State visit to Bhutan on 07-08 November 2014 at the invitation of the King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. During the visit, the President held wide ranging discussions on bilateral and regional issues with the King, the Fourth King and Prime Minister of Bhutan. He delivered an address on 'India- Bhutan relations' at Convention Centre, Thimphu. During the visit, the President announced the doubling of Ambassador's scholarship to 2 crores per annum. He launched three GOI assisted projects in Bhutan, viz., i) the School Reform Programme (Rs. 348.72 crores), ii) the double laning of the East-West Highway (Rs. 463.657 crores) and iii) the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute (Rs. 33.7crores). During the visit, Bhutan signed the MoU on the establishment of the Nalanda University, becoming only the second country after Bangladesh, outside the East Asia Summit to do so. In addition, 3 MoUs in the field of education were also signed between the: i) Royal University of Bhutan and the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, ii) Royal University of Bhutan and the National Innovation Foundation of India and iii) the Royal Civil Services Commission and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister met Bhutanese PM Mr Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on 26 November 2014 and discussed issues of bilateral importance. Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr Tshering Tobgay paid an official visit to India from 10-18 January 2015. He was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Economic Affairs Minister and senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan. PM Mr Tshering Tobgay visited Ahmedabad to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015, where he met with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He called on President of India and met several Cabinet Ministers in New Delhi. PM Mr Tshering Tobgay also visited Varanasi and Bodhgaya.

Prime Minister met Bhutanese PM Mr Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on 26 November 2014 and discussed issues of bilateral importance. During the meeting, Prime Minister invited the Bhutanese PM to visit India to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015 to be held in Ahmedabad in January 2015.

The 9th India- Bhutan Border Management and Security meeting, headed by Bhutanese Home Secretary and Secretary Border Management, MHA was held in New Delhi in June 2014.

India continues to be the largest trade and development partner of Bhutan. Releases under GOI’s commitment of 4500 crore towards the 11th Five Year Plan (2013-18) of Bhutan, were disbursed in a timely manner, for which PM Mr Tshering Tobgay thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during their meeting in November 2014. GOI is assisting Bhutan in the construction of three Hydroelectric Projects (HEPs) i.e. Punatsangchhu-I (1200 MW), Punatsangchhu-II (1020 MW) and Mangdechhu (720 MW), which are expected to be commissioned in 2017-18. Earlier, on 22 April 2014, India signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement on four Joint Venture Hydroelectric Projects with Bhutan and implementation of the 600 MW Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan.

The 13th Empowered Joint Group (EJG), which monitors the implementation of HEPs in Bhutan, met in September 2014 in New Delhi. Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minister Mr Norbu Wangchuk chaired the 13th EJG meeting.

The 3rd India- Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks for the 11th Five Year Plan (2013-18) were held in September Annual Report 2014-15 8 2014. 48 new projects in diverse areas such as agriculture and livestock development, roads and bridges, health, urban development, conservation of culture, Information and communication technology and human resource development etc. were agreed upon.

The 5th edition of Mountain Echoes Literary Festival, an initiative of India- Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi, a literary consultancy, was held in Thimphu from 21- 24 May 2014. Literary and the political personalities of both the countries participated in the event.

A 12-member all-party delegation representing the five political parties of Bhutan visited India from 13-20 December 2014. During the visit, the delegation met with leaders of major political parties in India, interacted with the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies (BPST) and the Election Commission of India, and visited Gujarat to witness implementation of development programmes relating to irrigation, industry, health and communications.

Close cooperation in educational and cultural field continued. GOI is committed to extending Rs. 55 crores as undergraduate scholarship to Bhutanese students in the 11th Five Year Plan. In 2014, the Nehru- Wangchuck and Ambassador’s Scholarships were each doubled to 2 crore per annum 2015-16.

B. Budget allocation to Bhutan under India’s Technical Cooperation Programme

C. Details of Incoming Visits by Heads of State / Heads of Government / Vice Presidents / Foreign Ministers and Equivalent to India in 2014

D. Details of Outgoing Visits by President / Vice President / Prime Minister / EAM in 2014

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