Major General Vestop Namgyel, Ambassador of Bhutan paid a courtesy call on Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development in her office today (11.6.2014). Welcoming the keen interest shown by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in strengthening regional cooperation in SAARC, the Ambassador mentioned that his country is looking forward to the visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to Bhutan.

The Ambassador thanked the Hon’ble 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 the Hon’ble Minister for admission of Bhutanese students to prestigious Indian institutions like IITs, IIM etc.

The Hon’ble 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. The Minister 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. The Hon’ble Minister highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between IIT, Kanpur and the Royal Bhutanese University and also said that the two countries may explore setting up of educational institutions in Bhutan.

The Hon’ble Minister said that she looks forward to the visit of the Education Minister of Bhutan to further discuss the cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Press Information Bureau