Thai interest in Bhutanese mini hydels

November 11 - Two major Thai electricity companies, electricity generating authority of Thailand (EGAT) and provincial electricity authority (PEA) are exploring the possibility of constructing mini hydropower stations in Bhutan in collaboration with the Bhutan Power corporation (BPC). The two parties have been cooperating in training of BPC personnel, the exchange of technical and executive personnel to work on sites in both Bhutan and Thailand, and on upgrading electrical transmission systems technology... Read more

Himalayan bear killed by tiger

November 11 – In the first recorded incident of its kind in Bhutan, a Himalayan black bear was killed and eaten by a royal Bengal tiger in the Jigme Dorji national park. The carcass of the bear, with only its head, skin and paws remaining, was discovered by a team of foresters in Domenda, two days walk from Dodena in Thimphu, on November 7 at an altitude of 4,079 m. The kill has thrown up several questions on tigers being found at such high altitudes in winter, the relationship between bears... Read more

Combined Thai-Bhutan celebrations

10 November, 2009 – “It goes without saying that our great kings have done a great deal for the development, happiness and well being of our respective countries and people. That is why you in Bhutan love and respect your great kings greatly, that is why we in Thailand love and respect our great king greatly, and that is why we have gathered here tonight,” said Thailand’s ambassador to Bhutan, Chalermpol Thanchitt. The Thai ambassador and his wife, Sutida Thanchitt, played host to more... Read more

Misgivings on inter-govt. model

November 10 – According to a Times of India (ToI) news story, India’s investment in Bhutan’s 10,000 MW hydro projects could have an adverse impact on their annual budgetary provisions if it is in the ‘inter-government model,’ according to records of a recent meeting called by the Indian power sector officials. The record, according to ToI, says that India, under the inter-government arrangement, is committed to building projects of 10,000 MW by 2020. For this to happen, India will... Read more

Bangladesh PM on first visit to Bhutan

November 6: The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, will arrive today in Thimphu on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Lyonchhoen Jigme Y Thinley. This is her first visit to Bhutan and her first bilateral visit in the South Asian region since she was elected as Prime Minister last December. Sheikh Hasina is leading a 48-member delegation comprising cabinet ministers and senior officials. During her visit, the Prime Minister will receive an audience with His Majesty the King at Tashichhodzong.... Read more

Govt. put brakes on car tax proposal

November 6: With growing public disapproval on the car tax proposal the government is taking a step back by saying that people buying just one car should not be taxed. “Before the end of the financial year we hope to come up with a proposal where people buying just one car a family is not taxed,” said the minister of information and communications, Lyonpo Nanda Lal Rai. “But the government will have to consider taxing those buying more than one car.” He also said that his cabinet colleagues... Read more

SAARC trade portal launched

November 5: Bhutanese importers and exporters will now be able to avail trade information on any South Asian association of regional cooperation (SAARC) member country, online. In an effort to increase inter regional trade, SAARC recently launched www.saarctrade.info to provide regional businesses with a single point of access for all current SAARC-related business and trade information. On how the information trade portal would increase inter regional trade for the country, Bhutan chamber of commerce... Read more

Bhutan Bangladesh to renew bilateral trade agreement

November 5: A key feature in the renewed Bhutan – Bangladesh bilateral trade agreement that will be signed when Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, visits this week is the addition of a new trade route that should benefit eastern Bhutan. The new route to Tamabil, northeastern Bangladesh, passes through the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya and is the fifth route the two countries have identified to enhance trade. It will be a shorter distance for eastern Bhutanese exporters to use this... Read more

SAARC payment council meets in Thimphu

November 4: Deputy governors of the SAARC central banks met yesterday in Thimphu as part of a regional forum created in 2008 to build a common understanding and help member countries in reforming national payment and settlement systems (PSS). The regional forum, called the SAARC Payments Initiative (SPI), also looks broadly at establishing appropriate regional payment systems to facilitate safe and efficient trade and investment flows in the region. In yesterday’s meeting, the sixth one since the... Read more

Learning from each other’s experience

November 4: A delegation of education officials, school and institution principals and monks from the Thai education ministry is in the country on an exchange programme. The prgramme is expected to build partnership with the Ministry of Education in Bhutan in re-enforcing the objective of learning from each others’ experience and further existing institutional ties. The major focus of the cooperation would be teaching of value based education, environmental studies in schools, institutions and... Read more

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