India and Bhutan on Saturday agreed to cooperate further in the education sector, with the two nations signing several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during President Pranab Mukherjee's state visit to the Himalayan kingdom.
The first MoU on education, which deals with the establishment of Nalanda University in Bihar, sees Bhutan become the second country outside the East Asia Summit process to be part of the international collaboration in the pursuit of re-establishment of linkages of knowledge across the world.
The second MoUs was signed between the Royal University of Bhutan and the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, for academic cooperation for English language teaching in Bhutan.
The third MoU was signed between the Royal University of Bhutan and the National Innovation Foundation of India, to enable mutual cooperation and exchange of expertise and ideas.
The fourth MoU was signed between Bhutan's Royal Civil Services Commission and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, for joint organization of training programmes and capacity building of officials of the two countries.
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In addition to these MoUs, President Mukherjee also launched the upgradation project for the double-laning of Bhutan's East-West Highway, which will be constructed at an estimated cost of a Rs. 463.65 crores.
Leaders of the two nations further agreed that cooperation in the field of hydropower was mutually beneficial and a win-win situation for both countries and expressed satisfaction over the progress of the three ongoing hydro electric power projects (HEPs) totalling 2940 MW under the inter-governmental model. The two leaders further reiterated their existing commitment to the 10,000 MW initiative.
President Mukherjee also inaugurated the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute, a project which will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 33.7 crores.
The bilateral relations between India and Bhutan 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.
