Embassy of IndiaThimphu

2012-13

A. Excerpts from MEA Annual report wrt Bhutan

At the invitation of the President of India, King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck accompanied by Queen of Bhutan, paid a State Visit to India from 23-30 January 2013 as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day Celebrations.

The Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Y. Thinley will be on an official visit to Delhi from 7-10 February 2013. Prime Minister Thinley also visited Odisha from 6-10 September 2012 to preside over the 115th Annual General Meeting of the Mahabodhi Society of India and Madhya Pradesh to participate in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Sanchi University of Buddhist and Indian Studies on 21 September 2012.

Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck visited India from 9-24 January 2012 for the Jaipur Literature Festival. Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck visited India from 9- 18 January 2013 and inaugurated the exhibition titled "Textile Arts from the Land of Peaceful Dragon" organized in association with ICCR at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts on 10 January 2013.

Minister of Economic Affairs Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk visited India for meetings of the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) for accelerated development of the three hydro-power projects under construction. He also paid an official visit to India from 3-6 June 2012 as the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Bhutan and called on the Prime Minister and Finance Minister.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) Major General Batoo Tshering visited India from 13-17 March 2012.

External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid visited Thimphu on 14-15 January 2013. He had audience with the King of Bhutan, the Fourth King of Bhutan, called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan and held discussion with the Minister of Economic Affairs.

Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Praful Patel led a 17-member delegation of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), Mumbai Chapter to Bhutan in March 2012. Chief Minister of Haryana led an official delegation to Bhutan from 14-16 December 2012.

India continued to be the largest trade and development partner of Bhutan, with an assistance of Rs 3400 crore for Bhutan's 10th Five Year Plan (2008-2013). The Government of India is also financing construction of three hydropower projects in Bhutan with total capacity of about 3000 MW. The Empowered Joint Group (EJG), which monitors the implementation of the hydro-electric projects, held three meetings during the year in New Delhi and Thimphu.

At the request of the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB), the Government enhanced the Standby Credit to Bhutan from Rs 300 Crore to Rs 1000 Crore. The first installment of Rs 300 Crore was released in June 2012. Under the Standby Credit Facility, India provides credit to Bhutan at a concessional rate of 5% per annum for five years.

A 6-member delegation comprising Members of the Poverty Reduction Committee of the National Assembly of Bhutan led by Mr Dasho Dupthop visited Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh in February 2012. A 11-member delegation from the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, led by the Speaker visited Bhutan from 22-29 May 2012.

The close cooperation in educational and cultural field is reflected in the 425 slots for Undergraduate Scholarship and 385 slots for Post Graduate Scholarship for Bhutanese students for studies in India during Bhutan's 10th Five Year Plan (2008- 2013). 220 slots under ITEC and 60 slots under TCS of Colombo Plan have been allotted to Bhutan in 2012-13. 30 lecturers from India have also been allotted to various colleges in the Royal University of Bhutan under the TCS of Colombo Plan. Ambassador's scholarships (Rs 1 Crore from 2011-12) are given to meritorious Bhutanese students to study in India and ten Bhutanese students are admitted to Sainik Schools in India. Under the Nehru-Wangchuk Scholarship Scheme, instituted in 2008, 7 scholarships were awarded in 2011-12 and 20 in 2012-13, which allowed students from Bhutan to study in leading Indian universities and institutions.

The third series of the India-Bhutan Literary Festival "Mountain Echoes", sponsored by the India-Bhutan Foundation, were held.

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

C. List of MoUs signed between India and Bhutan in 2012

D. Details of Incoming Visits by Heads of State / Heads of Government / Vice Presidents / Foreign Ministers and Equivalent to India in 2012

E. Details of Outgoing Visits by President / Vice President / Prime Minister / EAM in 2012