President of India to visit Bhutan

Rajesh Sharma & agencies, KalimNews, Bhutan 6 Nov: India’s President, Pranab Mukherjee, will be in Bhutan on Friday. The President’s two-day state visit is on the invitation of His Majesty the King.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the President will inaugurate Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute in Sarpang and Yelchen Central School in Pema Gatshel.

He is also expected to launch double-laning of the East-West Highway and School Reform Programme. These are India-assisted projects.

The President will also sign four Memoranda of Understanding; establishment of Nalanda University, MoU between the Royal University of Bhutan and English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad; MoU between the Royal University of Bhutan and National lnnovation Foundation, and MoU between the Royal Civil Service Commission and the Indian lnstitute of Management, Ahmedabad.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of State of Railways, Manoj Sinha, Member of the Rajya Sabha, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and Members of the Lok Sabha, Anil Shirole, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and Gaurav Gogoi.

Other members of the delegation include the Secretary to the President, Omita Paul, Foreign Secretary, Sujatha Singh and Joint Secretary (North), Abhay Thakur.

The President will receive an audience with His Majesty the King on November 7 followed by a Luncheon by His Majesty at the Kuenrey of the Tashichhodzong.

His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo will also grant an audience to the President and host a luncheon on 8th November at the Dechechholing Palace. The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay will meet the President on November 7.

The press release also says the President will address the Ministers, Parliamentarians, and senior officials of Bhutan, among others.

This is President Mukherjee’s first visit to Bhutan as the President of India.

He, however, has been to Bhutan several times in the past, in his various capacities in the Government of lndia.