Indo-Bhutanese relations

Rage

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Thread discreted Dec. 23, 2009. Thread only for news on Indo-Bhutanese relations, and discussions thereof. For all other Bhutanese news, please refer to: http://www.defenceforum.in/forum/south-asia-asean-fareast/6673-bhutan-news-discussions.html in the South Asian section


India Bhutan sign 12 agreements including hydel power MoU's

23 December 2009


In a bid to strengthen cooperation in the hydropower sector, India and Bhutan signed four agreements aimed at harnessing hydel power in Bhutan.

The four MoUs pertain to conducting technical surveys for hydropower and form a part of 12 agreements that were signed after discussions between prime minister Manmohan Singh and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Nepal on Tuesday. The King is on his first foreign visit since his coronation last year.

The two countries have agreed to prepare detailed project reports for the Kuri Gongri, Chamkharchhu-1 and Kholongchhu hydropower projects and Amochu reservoir projects that will generate 1,800-MW , 1670 MW 670 MW respectively.

Additionally, the countries have also agreed to finalise implementation agreements for Punatsangchhu-2 project.

Bhutan's current power consumption is 400 MW of its installed capacity of 1,500 MW . The 1100 MW surplus is taken up by India which is helping Bhutan enhance its capacity to 10,000 MW by 2020 as announced by Singh last year. India has extended assistance to Bhutan in setting up hydroelectric projects at Chukha, Kurichu and Tala and is presently helping Himalayan kingdom with the construction of Punatsangchhu-1 project.

The fifth King of Bhutan, held one-on-one and delegation level talks with Singh during which both the leaders discussed a wide-range of issues including issues pertaining to bilateral and regional interests.


domain-b.com : India Bhutan sign 12 agreements including hydel power MoUs
 

RPK

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Indo-Bhutan relations model for bilateral ties: Bhutanese King

New Delhi: India and Bhutan's relations are a model for an ideal bilateral partnership, visiting King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said here Wednesday.

"Despite vast differences in size and population, our relationship stands as a model of partnership and cooperation," the 29-year-old king said in his address at the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial lecture held at the auditorium of the Teen Murti Bhavan.


He said that while the concept of "gross national happiness" was key to the success of Bhutan, equally important was its friendship with India over the years.

The king said that the partnership was due to the friendship between two important personalities - India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

"I believe that man's most important relationships are forged in his early years. Similarly, it was for nations," he said.

He said that through the great widening of the ties over the years, both countries have "heeded each other's best interests".

The Bhutanese king added that he had been "working very hard to live up to the expectations of my father and my people".

"I try to give my 200 percent to my work," he said to applause from the audience.

On the concept of "Gross National Happiness" introduced by his father as a measure of growth, he said that it meant "development with values".

He was crowned the king of Bhutan in 2006, but his formal coronation was in November 2008. From an absolute monarchy, the small Himalayan kingdom turned into a constitutional monarchy in 2008.

The Bhutanese king is on his first foreign visit since his coronation. He arrived in India Monday and signed 12 deals after discussions with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday.
 

sob

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Visit of the King of Bhutan

We owe it to India, says Bhutan King

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Wednesday attributed the friendship with India to the success of Bhutan as a nation.

“Bhutan would not be where it is today without India’s friendship,” he said while delivering the Madhav Rao Scindia Memorial Lecture here.

“Some say Bhutan was wise to seek strong bilateral relations with India. Yes, after all, whether we speak about our socio-economic progress or our recent transition to democracy, India has been our steadfast partner and friend. But I feel that the true wisdom lies in the fact that we sought and continue to seek true friendship with India,” he said.

Nehru’s journey


The King saw the root of the ties between the two countries in Jawaharlal Nehru’s journey to Bhutan in 1958, which subsequently led to the widening of bilateral cooperation.

“One country [India] — while still radiating joy and warmth from the attainment of Independence — ushered the other [Bhutan] into the realm of modernisation,” the King said.

Since then, the ties have grown strong, vibrant, and dynamic. From religious and cultural links to political and economic cooperation, the ties encompassed a diversity of areas and issues on which both countries worked closely together in each other’s best interests.

Changing world


The strength of India-Bhutan ties, the King felt, was more striking when viewed in the context of the changes that took place in the world in the last few decades.

“With modernisation, people have a greater awareness of the world beyond our region. And, though awakened to new realities and experiences, our friendship has evolved as only true friendship can over time.

Despite the vast difference in size and population, our friendship has been constant because of the pillars of trust and understanding on which we have founded it. Our relationship stands as a model of partnership and cooperation.”
Makes me very proud to hear these words from the King Of Bhutan.
 

bhramos

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3rd-party players in Bhutan's hydel policy worries India

NEW DELHI: Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's visit to India has further strengthened bilateral ties, as evident in the 12 MoUs signed between the two countries, but there is growing concern about the changes in the Himalayan Kingdom's hydel power policy. The development of hydropower in Bhutan till now has been only for export to India, but the government is worried that with Bhutan opening up its hydropower sector to "third party players'' may deny India its paramount position in Bhutan's lucrative energy market.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the visit of the Bhutan king as historic and Bhutan as India's closest friend and neighbour. He also assured that no stone would be left unturned to help Bhutan in realising its potential of creating generation capacity of 10,000 MW by the year 2020.

Sources, however, said that India was not taken into confidence by Bhutan when it formulated the new policy last year. Power ministry had first taken up the issue with MEA in July last year and since then the concern has remained even though Bhutan insists that it will keep India's interests in mind.

The new policy, which came into effect last year, allows private sector and foreign investments to develop Bhutan's hydropower resources. It also allows more private FDI in the hydropower sector. "There are concerns in opening Bhutan's hydropower sector to private and third party players. With Bhutan's accession to the WTO in near future, liberalised FDI policies carry the risk of providing access to undesirable third parties unless Bhutan develops sufficient safeguards,'' said a senior government official, adding that India now needs to come up with a new policy vis-a-vis Bhutan to deal with the development.

According to Indian officials, only a gradual opening of Bhutan's power sector involving India's leading PSUs is in the country's interest. Bhutan, which is home to about 700,000 people, can easily make do with not more than 400 MW of electricity. The development of hydropower in Bhutan is meant mainly to be exported to India and as of now its surplus of about 1,100 MW comes entirely to India. "There are ongoing discussions to work out a system which would integrate our approaches,'' said the official.

India has reasons to be worried because the country has been the biggest contributor to the hydropower sector in Bhutan. Countries like Japan, Sweden and Austria have also helped Bhutan, but India has remained the main player as developer and buyer. However, the success of India-Bhutan cooperation in this sector has started to attract more countries and other institutions which now want to enter the market.

Aware of Bhutan's importance, India has done its bit to assist Bhutan. MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said on Tuesday that the broad framework of assistance extended upto Rs 10,000 crore. "Bhutan's planned developmental effort had begun in the 1960s, and during their 10th Plan which is from 2008 to 2013, almost 23% of the plan outlay would be covered by direct Indian assistance which accounts for Rs 3,400 crore. If you add other elements including payment for hydro power, refund of taxes and other things, it all adds up to something like Rs 10,000 crore,'' he said.
3rd-party players in Bhutan's hydel policy worries India - India - The Times of India
 

amoy

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“Bhutan would not be where it is today without India’s friendship,”
============================
that doesn't sound like what a King says. does he have dignity? does he know what sovereignty is ? does he have any choice to make other friends other than this big brother India? Stand up, don't be on your knees!
 

atleast_a_bronze

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“Bhutan would not be where it is today without India’s friendship,”
============================
that doesn't sound like what a King says. does he have dignity? does he know what sovereignty is ? does he have any choice to make other friends other than this big brother India? Stand up, don't be on your knees!
No where in his statement there is a hint of a sovereignty debate.
As for your suggestion of making friends, Bhutan surely doesn't want to end up like Tibet. Thats why it is cautious in it's steps with other countries. And the King is respected utmost in Bhutan and elsewhere, especially for his steps to usher in what is called "democracy".
 

amoy

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wow, u remind me of Sikkim......... don't forget Tibet was part of Qing Dynasty when India was pieces of colonies under Britain rule. Does Bhutan have diplomatic or military independence - I recall a treaty stipulating "Bhutan has to accept India's guidance".

quote--the King is respected utmost in Bhutan and elsewhere--unquote
=======wow his Majesty. Chinese have become 'republican' since the 1st republic was founded in 1911 in China.
 

atleast_a_bronze

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wow, u remind me of Sikkim......... don't forget Tibet was part of Qing Dynasty when India was pieces of colonies under Britain rule. Does Bhutan have diplomatic or military independence - I recall a treaty stipulating "Bhutan has to accept India's guidance".

quote--the King is respected utmost in Bhutan and elsewhere--unquote
=======wow his Majesty. Chinese have become 'republican' since the 1st republic was founded in 1911 in China.
Request you to keep yourself updated sir.
As per Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007, "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other."
Wiki - The revised treaty also includes this preamble: "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element that was absent in the earlier version. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007 strengthens Bhutan's status as an independent and sovereign nation.
 

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India pledges to provide Rs 8.5 bn to Bhutan



[highlight]India has pledged to provide Rs 8.5 billion to Bhutan for its 11th Five Year Plan, helping the landlocked country to implement major projects that will improve the livelihood of its people.[/highlight] The decision in this regard was taken at the first meeting of the Small Development Project Committee (SDP) for the 11th Five Year Plan, comprising representatives from the Royal Government of Bhutan and two from the Embassy of lndia, held in Thimpu last week. The Committee reviewed the SDP activities of the 10th Plan and expressed satisfaction with their positive impact on the livelihoods of the people in rural Bhutan. During the meeting, the Committee approved 59 projects amounting to over Rs 1.8 billion. 39 projects are to be implemented by local governments and 20 by central agencies. It also decided on the formats to be adopted for project formulation, implementation, reporting and assessment. The meeting was co-chaired by the Director of the Department of Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of lndia, Thimphu. The next meeting of the Committee will be held in September this year.


http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Home - Other Stories/Pages/indbhutan.aspx
 

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India, Bhutan ink preliminary pact for four hydropower projects

New Delhi: In a move that will strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Bhutan, the two countries have signed a preliminary pact for the joint construction of four hydropower projects in the landlocked country that is expected to generate 2,120 megawatts (MW) of electricity, a foreign ministry statement said on Tuesday. The agreement between Bhutan and India was signed on Monday in Thimphu, the statement said. The largest of the four projects is the 770MW Chamkarchu project; the others include the 600MW Kholongchu hydel power project, the 180MW Bunakha project and the 570MW Wangchu hydel project, the statement said. "Hydropower cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation, providing clean electricity to India, generating export revenues for Bhutan, and further strengthening our bilateral economic linkages," it said. Three hydroelectric projects totalling 1,416MW, which includes the 336MW Chukha project, the 60MW Kurichu project, and the 1,020MW Tala project, are already operational in Bhutan and are supplying electricity to India, according to the Indian foreign ministry. Three others totalling 2,940MW, which include the 1,200MW Punatsangchu-I, the 1,020MW Punatsangchu-II and the 720MW Mangdehchu project that are under construction, and are scheduled to be commissioned by 2018, a foreign ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

India, Bhutan ink preliminary pact for four hydropower projects - Livemint
 

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The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee being welcomed by the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Bhutan Queen, Her Majesty Jetsun Pema Wangchuck on his arrival at Paro International Airport, Bhutan on November 07, 2014.


President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee receiving the Guard of Honour on his arrival at Paro International Airport, Bhutan on November 07, 2014.


President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee receiving the Guard of Honour, at the ceremonial reception, at Tashichhodzong Palace, in Thimphu, Bhutan on November 07, 2014. The King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is also seen.


The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the King of Bhutan, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bhutan and India on the Establishment of Nalanda University, at Tashichhodzong, at Thimpu, Bhutan on November 07, 2014.
 

Tshering22

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We should further improve access of Indian tourists to Bhutan.

That is one area despite all agreements, which remains out of reach for many middle class Indian travellers.

Limited fights, cost of access etc make it difficult for those living in northern, western and southern Indian states.
 

GUNS-N- ROSES

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We should further improve access of Indian tourists to Bhutan.

That is one area despite all agreements, which remains out of reach for many middle class Indian travellers.

Limited fights, cost of access etc make it difficult for those living in northern, western and southern Indian states.
very rightly pointed out my friend. in fact the tourism potential of Bhutan remains under utilised. we need to closely work with Bhutanese govt to ensure more Indians visiting there. this will contribute to their economy and further improve relations.
 

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