Major General Vestop Namgyel, Ambassador of Bhutan paid a courtesy call on Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) in her office today.
Welcoming the keen interest shown by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in strengthening regional cooperation in SAARC, the Ambassador mentioned that his country is looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Bhutan.
The Ambassador thanked HRD Minister for the cooperation extended by India in the field of education including the prestigious Nehru-Wangchuk Scholarship which has enabled talented and deserving Bhutanese students to study in India.
He has sought further assistance of HRD minister for admission of Bhutanese students to prestigious Indian institutions like IITs and IIM.HRD Minister recalled the historic and long standing relations between the two countries and said that India was keen to collaborate with Bhutan to build capacities of teachers and educational institutions.
Smriti Irani mentioned that while direct admission of foreign students is already permitted in NITs, issue of admission of Bhutanese students to prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs will be examined. She highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between IIT, Kanpur and the Royal Bhutanese University and also said that the two ountries may explore setting up educational institutions in Bhutan.
She said that she looks forward to the visit of the Education Minister of Bhutanto further discuss cooperation between the two countries.