An agreement, reinforcing the commitment of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation to assist the Bhutanese government, Civil Society Organizations and private sector partners, has been renewed. The assistance will be in the fields of rural development including education, skills development and employment, and local governance.
The agreement has been renewed for a period of five years from 2013 till 2018.
A press release from the foreign ministry states that the first such agreement signifying development cooperation relations between Bhutan and Switzerland was done in 1973 with the Swiss Foundation Pro Bhutan. It was followed up in 1990 with HELVETAS. The umbrella framework of cooperation was subsequently renewed with HELVETAS in 1985, 1997, and 2008.
The agreement was signed by the Director, Bilateral Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Country Director of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in Bhutan.