President Mukherjee identifies education as key area of India-Bhutan cooperation

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday identified education as a key area in which India and Bhutan can cooperate, adding that New Delhi is ready to offer Thimphu greater assistance in traditional medicine and the setting up of e-libraries.

"Education is one of the areas in which India and Bhutan can co-operate immensely. Nearly 4,400 Bhutanese students are studying in India, which is almost one third of Bhutan's entire student population. 800 of them are on scholarships. Many Bhutanese from different walks of life, including business leaders, academics, journalists, civil servants, police and army officers, have received training in India," President Mukherjee said, in an interview with Bhutan newspaper Kuensel on the eve of his state visit to the kingdom.

"We are ready to offer greater assistance to Bhutan in traditional medicine and are setting up e-libraries in all the 20 districts of Bhutan," he added.

Speaking of future proposals with respect to the education sector, President Mukherjee said that after the doubling the monetary amount of the Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship Scheme, India intends to give boost to the other scholarship programmes that the two nations share.

"During Prime Minister Modi's visit in June 2014, we doubled the Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship Scheme to Rs. 2 crores per annum. We intend to also augment other scholarships. Exchanges between our respective academic institutions in the field of languages, management, law and innovation are being intensified. We are ready to assist Bhutan's School Reform programme and offer enhanced opportunities for Bhutanese students to study in India," he said.

The President further said that a shared Buddhist heritage was responsible for the high level of tourism that the two nations share.

"Our shared Buddhist heritage has made India's Buddhist tourist circuit very popular among the Bhutanese. Indians account for nearly 60% of Bhutan's tourists. This is set to grow further with the commencement of direct flights from Mumbai to Paro. With greater connectivity, we can develop joint tourist packages linking India's North-East with Bhutan. Our people to people contacts are deep, and provide life and sustenance to our close state-to-state relations," President Mukherjee said.

Speaking of other sectors where India-Bhutan relations can attain their full potential, President Mukherjee said that India's resources are at the disposal of Bhutan.

"We can also further strengthen our cooperation in the field of agriculture and livestock development. We have offered to train your entrepreneurs in post harvest technologies and in the processing of agricultural products. Our institutes can offer training programmes in dairying, livestock management and cottage industries," he said.

"We are determined to carefully nurture and build upon our exemplary partnership with Bhutan in the coming decades. We will work in close harmony, allowing simultaneously, sufficient room for the independence of our own judgments. India's resources are at the disposal of the people and Government of Bhutan," the President added.

President Mukherjee's visit to Bhutan, the first bilateral visit by a President of India to that nation in 26 years, is expected to further expand the bilateral partnership and strengthen the close bonds that exist between the India and Bhutan.

India and Bhutan's bilateral relations date back to 1949 when the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. This treaty, which provides for perpetual peace and friendship, free trade and commerce, and equal justice to each other's citizens, was updated and signed by King Wangchuck in February 2007.