Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:57 AM PST Dec 22: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday where they wrapped up agreements in several sectors, from water resources to civil aviation. On Tuesday, King Khesar began his program with a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. He then laid a wreath at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna called on the King Khesar Taj Mahal Hotel. Together they traveled to Hyderabad House to meet the Prime Minister Singh. The delegation-level talks between the king and the prime minister were followed by more restricted consultations. The discussions culminated into signing ceremony on nearly a dozen agreements, including on hydropower, civil aviation, health and IT. King is scheduled to meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj. |
Fiat India target Bhutan for its car market Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:56 AM PST Dec 22: Fiat India is mulling over selling its cars to the small Himalayan kingdom, at a time Bhutan is trying to keep away with the use of motor cards to keep environment clean. The company aims to the double the sales of Fiat cars in the coming year and identified Bhutan as a potential market. The company has started working for expansion of the business in Nepal and Bhutan and is already in discussion with the dealers in these countries. Fiat India sells around 20,000 vehicles in India annually. The figures is expected to rise to 50,000 sales in India and neighboring countries like Bhutan and Nepal. |
Strike in India affects Bhutanese Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:55 AM PST Dec 22: The continued strikes in bordering Indian states have badly affected the transportation and economic activities of the country. Bhutanese have been facing the burnt of strike in Assam shortly after one ended in Gorkhaland. Assam had experienced similar strike some weeks ago as well. The latest strike called for Monday and Tuesday has turned Gelephu-Samdrup Jongkhar-Phuentsholing highway completely deserted the road. Due to the 24-hour strike called by armed groups operating in the states, many vehicles have been stranded in Gelephu. On the other hand, Bhutanese are also facing troubles due to strike in West Bengal called by anti-Gorkhaland movement groups. The strike in Gorkhaland was called on the eve of tripartite talks between the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, the central and the state government of Bengal. |
Bhutan consulate opened in Kolkata Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:54 AM PST Dec 21: Marking the 102nd National Day on December 17, Bhutan inaugurated a new consulate in the capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata. Along side the opening ceremony, the Bhutan Fruit and Tourism Fair was held and the first issue of the Annual Journal of the Indo-Bhutanese Friendship Association, Kolkata, entitled "Golden Heritage" was launched.  Opening ceremony The Minister for Foreign Affairs Ugyen Tshering and the Governor of West Bengal Devanand Konwar jointly inaugurated the Consulate at 6 Mall Road, Dum Dum in Kolkata. Addressing the function, Tshering Wangda, the Consul General of the Royal Bhutan Consulate said that the Bhutanese trading relations with the Kolkata has prospered in the last forty-nine years, established by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Ugyen Tshering said that the relations between India and Bhutan have been moving along very positive lines ever since they started. He said, "Bhutan has embarked on a new era and we will not make wealth the end subject of our development activities, we will try to take those greater values that people have in their hearts, minds and thoughts." He further added that the opening of the Consulate is not just about economic and commercial activities, it was also about building confident and mutual understandings. "With these special values, we shall learn together the right formula for facilitating long lasting friendship", he said. Devanand Konwar said that the Bhutanese hydro-electric projects would benefit the people of West Bengal, Assam as well as other parts of India. He hoped that with all close cooperation, the relationship between the two countries will be deepened in the future with pride and prosperity. The fair was organised particularly to promote and facilitate marketing opportunities for Bhutanese products and tourism council, enhance people to people contacts, diversify the existing commercial interactions and explore investment potentials. The Agriculture Marketing Services (AMS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bhutan Agro Industries Limited (BAIL), Daga Singye Tshogpa (DST), Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) and Bhutanese orange exporters participated in the fair. A total of ten stalls, four for agriculture and six for tourism were there displaying various Bhutanese products both for sale and awareness. After the function, Foreign Minister said he hoped that tensions in Gorkhaland, where most of the Bhutanese students come for studies, would find the political mechanisms to settle the problem. The consulate in Kolkata has been authorised to grant immigration permits from its office so that Kolkata people need not visit Paro and Phuentsholing for permits. The Consulate will start the issuing permits July 2010. |
Bhutan-India to sign MoU during King’s visit Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:52 AM PST Dec 21: Bhutan and India will sign agreements for hydropower projects and a hospital during the visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk to India beginning Monday. The hydropower projects are to be build under Indian government or private sector investment while the hospital will be built on the lines of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. However, during his first maiden visit to any foreign country after his coronation as the fifth King in November last year, King Khesar might not be able to sign agreement for construction of railway tracks that would enhance Bhutanese export industries. The delay in finalizing procedures for land acquisition in some tea garden in neighboring Indian districts led to omission of the project for discussion during this royal visit. The MoUs on initiating the detailed project reports (DPRs) on the hydel projects will be inked under the 60-year umbrella agreement signed in 2006. Originally India planned to import 5,000 MW from Bhutan by 2020 but this has been doubled under an accelerated hydel power development agreement. During the King's visit, the MoUs will be signed on initiating DPRs for the Amochhu (620 MW), Kuvi-Gongi (1800 MW), Kholongchhu (486 MW) and Chamkarchu-I (670 MW) projects. King Khesar is scheduled to meet with the political leadership including President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna. |
Aussie Bhutanese prepare for first Christmas Posted: 22 Dec 2009 02:51 AM PST Dec 21: The exiled Bhutanese family who are resettled in Australia are preparing for their first Christmas celebration in their new homeland.
Though the family follows Hinduism, they have become habituated to Christian culture and social norms. The 17 years in tough conditions at a refugee camp had given them little chance to celebrate their festival and resettlement in Australia has made the family all smile as they chatted about their new life in Australia and the excitement of experiencing their first Western-style Christmas. Tulsa, 16, and her sister, Kabita, 14, were born in Nepal. Parents Dhanapati, 45, and mum Sumitra, 36, were forced to flee Bhutan because of persecution by the government. Tulsa, who has been enrolled in Trinity Bay State High School, explains, “Camp life was very hard. It was terrible.” |
Two Bhutanese attacked in India Posted: 22 Dec 2009 01:25 AM PST Dec 22: Two Bhutanese men have been attacked by armed men in bordering areas of India while they were on their way to Phuentsholing from Samtse. The armed mob with Khukuris attacked them at around 8 in the evening near Madharihat, a few kilometres before reaching Hasimara from Samtse along the Indian highway. The names and place of residence of those attracted have not been identified. Seriously injured during the attack, they have been admitted to Phuentsholing hospital for treatment. The five attackers appeared suddenly in red Maruti van , demanded money and, when the pedestrians denied, they attacked. Dec 22: Two Bhutanese men have been attacked by armed men in bordering areas of India while they were on their way to Phuentsholing from Samtse. The armed mob with Khukuris attacked them at around 8 in the evening near Madharihat, a few kilometres before reaching Hasimara from Samtse along the Indian highway. The names and place of residence of those attacked have not been identified. Seriously injured during the attack, they have been admitted to Phuentsholing hospital for treatment. The five attackers appeared suddenly in red Maruti van , demanded money and, when the pedestrians denied, they attacked. |
Thimphu may turn into bicycle city Posted: 22 Dec 2009 01:19 AM PST Dec 22: If things go as planned, turning Thimphu into a bicycle city would not only help address the increasing traffic and parking woes but also add little contribution to keep environment clean. The government is planning to distribute bicycles donated by Japanese during his recent visit to traffic police, government employees. Japanese had donated some 400 bicycles. The government makes plans to encourage Thimphu residents to use eco-friendly bicycles while traveling around city and use motor vehicles only for distant travels. Some ministries have already started campaign, with ministers and employees walking to office on foot, leaving behind their vehicles at home. Local authorities have been instructed to create parking places for bicycles. However, the road construction corporation has yet to develop any designs foy bicycle riders in the city roads. Despite that the dress code of the country is not much friendly with bicycles. It is not only odd but impossible to ride on bicycles wearing gho and kira. Dec 22: If things go as planned, turning Thimphu into a bicycle city would not only help address the increasing traffic and parking woes but also add little contribution to keep environment clean.The government is planning to distribute bicycles donated by Japanese during his recent visit to traffic police, government employees. Japanese had donated some 400 bicycles. The government makes plans to encourage Thimphu residents to use eco-friendly bicycles while traveling around city and use motor vehicles only for distant travels. Some ministries have already started campaign, with ministers and employees walking to office on foot, leaving behind their vehicles at home. Local authorities have been instructed to create parking places for bicycles. However, the road construction corporation has yet to develop any designs foy bicycle riders in the city roads. Despite that the dress code of the country is not much friendly with bicycles. It is not only odd but impossible to ride on bicycles wearing gho and kira. |
