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Austria–Bhutan relations

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Austria–Bhutan relations
Map indicating locations of Austria and Bhutan

Austria
Bhutan
Diplomatic mission
Austrian Embassy,New DelhiPermanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations,Geneva

Austria maintains a formal relation with the Kingdom of Bhutan with a non-resident embassy housed inNew Delhi.Bhutan is represented in Austria by itspermanent missionto theUnited NationsinGeneva.[1]Bhutan also has two honorary consuls within Austria, one inViennaand the other one inTirolandVorarlberg.[2]

History[edit]

While informal ties existed between Austria and Bhutan when Bhutan boughthaflinger horsesfrom Austria forcrossbreedingin 1968,[3][4]formal diplomatic ties between the two countries began on 26 April 1989 in a joint communique. This was followed by the signing of an "Agreement between theAustrian Federal Governmentand theRoyal Government of Bhutanon Technical Co-operation” by Austrian Ambassador Christoph Cornaro and Bhutanese diplomatDasho Chenkyab Dorjion 10 May 1989.[5]

The 25-year diplomatic anniversary celebration between Austria and Bhutan.

In 1992, theAustrian Development Agency(ADA) set up a field office in the capital city of Bhutan,Thimpu.Bhutan has had derived technology related torenewable energy,forestryandagricultureandtourism.[6]The ADA has supported numerous developmental projects in Bhutan ranging fromgovernancetoenergyas well aspoverty reduction.[7]A coordination centre of the Austrian Development Agency was also set up in Thimpu in 1994 aimed at supervising and monitoring the developmental projects in Bhutan.[1]

There have been several high level visits by the leaders of the two countries. In 2014, to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of diplomatic ties, the then Bhutanese Economy MinisterNorbu Wangchukand then Bhutanese Speaker of ParliamentTshering Tobgayvisited Austria to meet the thenAustrian PresidentHeinz Fischer.Between October 2016 and 2018, a high level economic meet was conducted by both the countries where the then President of the Tourism and Leisure Industry Branch of theAustrian Economic ChamberPetra Nocker-Schwarzenbacher held talks with the then Prime Minister of BhutanTshering Tobgay.In March 2018, the then Prime Minister of BhutanTshering Tobgayvisited Austria following an invitation byAndritz AG.He also held a meeting with theForeign ministry of Austria.The most recent talks were conducted in February 2019 when the Foreign Minister of AustriaKarin Kneisslvisited Bhutan to attend the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic ties.[1][8]The final phase of the strategic development agreement for the period of 2019-2023 was also signed in this meet.[9]

Economic relations[edit]

As of 2022, the Austrian Development Agency operates a total of six active projects in Bhutan out of which three are in governance and civil sector,[10][11][12]two are in energy sector[13][14]and one is in theenvironmental protection sector.[15]All the active six projects have received a total funding ofEUR5,653,750.[16][6]Austria has helped Bhutan in the construction of Rangjung and Basochhu hydropower stations by assisting technically and financially.[17][18]It has also helped Bhutan in the electrification of rural areas and the construction of courts.[6]

Both the countries had signed a strategic agreement for the period of 2010 to 2013 and then again for 2013 to 2015 improving human rights, condition of women and other factors. The countries signed the final phase of the agreement for 2019 to 2023. Bhutan is expected to become a middle income country by 2023 and the Austrian Development Agency is preparing to phase out assistance at the end of 2023. According to the Embassy of Austria in India, a total of EUR 85 million has been sent to Bhutan as developmental aid since 1994.[1]

Friendship associations[edit]

Friendship associations established by common citizens also exist in the two countries. Austrian citizens operateFriends of Bhutan Association[19]andAustrian-Bhutan Society (ABS)in Bhutan.[20][21][22]Both the associations undertake community and public welfare works. Bhutanese citizens operate theSociety of Friends of Bhutanin Austria to improve the living conditions of monks in Austria.[23][24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdÖsterreich, Außenministerium der Republik."Bhutan".www.bmeia.gv.at.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-19.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  2. ^"Honorary Consuls of Bhutan in Austria".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2022-05-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  3. ^"Bhutan-Austria Relations".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2022-05-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  4. ^"Bhutan and Austria celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Austria-Bhutan".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2019-08-22.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-21.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  5. ^Françoise Pommaret and Christine A. Jantscher (September 2014)."AUSTRIA – BHUTAN YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP 1989–2014"(PDF).Austrian Development Agency.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-12-29.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  6. ^abc"Austrian Development Agency".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  7. ^"Business in Bhutan".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  8. ^Newspaper, Bhutan's Daily."Austria commits 8.3M euros".Kuensel Online.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  9. ^"Press Release".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2019-02-22.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  10. ^"Strengthening the professional capacity of the Royal Audit Authority for better governance, Final Phase".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  11. ^"Contribution to the Legal Sector Programme 2019 - 2023".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  12. ^"Contribution to the Public Finance Management MDTF Bhutan".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  13. ^"Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies in the Building Sector - Final Phase".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  14. ^"Capacity Development for Monitoring of Hydropower Plant Safety, Final Phase".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  15. ^"Minimum Environmental Flow for Hydropower Projects in Bhutan, Final Phase".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  16. ^"Austrian Development Agency".www.entwicklung.at(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  17. ^Newspaper, Bhutan's Daily."Austrian delegation in Bhutan to strengthen cooperation".Kuensel Online.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  18. ^Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute."Small Hydro Project at Rangjung, Bhutan".ENVIS Resource Partner on Renewable Energy and Climate Change.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-04-20.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  19. ^"About Us".Friends of Bhutan Association, Austria.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-21.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  20. ^"projekte".Arch. Franz Leuthner(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-25.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  21. ^"Austrian - Bhutan Society".www.facebook.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  22. ^"über uns".Arch. Franz Leuthner(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2016-02-08.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  23. ^"Friendship Associations".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2022-05-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.
  24. ^"Friendship Associations".Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan).2022-05-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-18.Retrieved2022-05-18.

External links[edit]

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