Bhutan and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It was signed between Bhutan’s labour ministry and Singapore’s ITE Education Services yesterday.
Under the agreement, Bhutan will receive technical and capacity development support from the Singaporean government. The support will focus on development of infrastructure, leadership, staff capacity, and academic quality assurance in TVET system in Bhutan.
The signing of the MoU was carried out as part of the Singaporean foreign minister’s visit to the country. Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan is in the country on a three day official visit at the invitation of his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonpo Damcho Dorj. He is accompanied by Singaporean Ambassador to Bhutan and senior officials from the foreign affairs ministry.
The minister received an audience with His Majesty The King yesterday.
This is the first visit to Bhutan by a foreign minister from Singapore. A news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the visit will greatly contribute towards further strengthening of the close ties of friendship, cooperation and understanding between the leaders and people of the two countries.
The visit is also expected to provide an opportunity to explore more avenues for collaboration between Bhutan and Singapore.
The diplomatic relation between the two countries was established in September 2002.