Austria has committed about 8.3 M Euros to assist Bhutan till 2023, as the country graduates from the Least Developed Country (LDC).
To this effect, the secretary of Gross National Happiness Commission(GNHC), Thinlay Namgyel and the ambassador of Austria to Bhutan based in New Delhi,Brigitte Oeppinger-Walchshofer signed the letter of exchange for the Bhutan Country Strategy 2019-2023.
The signing took place in presence of Bhutanese Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji, and Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, Dr Karin Kneissl.
The Bhutan Country Strategy 2019-2023 is the result of the consultative and participative process passed on Bhutan’s development policies, taking into consideration the achievements of Bhutan on its way to development.
The strategy supports Bhutan in the transition period until its graduation from the LDC foreseen at the end of 2023.
The strategy also lay down the phasing out of Austrian Development Cooperation from Bhutan by 2023. Austrian development assistance to Bhutan started with the provision of training for the tourism sector during the late 1970s.
An agreement on technical cooperation was formally signed on 10th May 1989 to strengthen technical cooperation between Austria and Bhutan.
Austria has been a pivotal development partner to Bhutan over the past three decades in the priority areas of energy, culture, tourism, RNR and recently also governance.
Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering also met with the Foreign Minister of Austria Dr Kneissl. She is on a two-day visit to Bhutan, accompanied by senior officials from the Austrian government.
