His Majesty the King granted an audience to the King George Tupou V

King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga

His Majesty the King granted an audience to the King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga yesterday. He was escorted in a traditional Chipdrel procession to the Tashichhodzong.

At the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong, King George Tupou was presented a guard of honour by the Royal Bhutan Army and the Royal Body Guards.

Following the guard of honour, His Majesty the King granted an audience at the Tashichhodzong.

King George Tupou V presented His Majesty with the illustrious Tongan order of Queen Salote III.

Tongan order of Queen Salote III

The only recipient is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

This is his third visit to Bhutan. He visited Bhutan in 2002 and 2007.

King George Tupou the V arrived in the Kingdom on Wednesday.

Source: BBS

Pasakha bridge opened to traffic yesterday by the prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley

Pasakha industries should not face problems in the rainy season with an all weather bridge over the Padazekhachu, on the Pasakha-Manitar road, opened to traffic yesterday by the prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley.

The 100 m long and nine metre wide bridge has a load capacity of 70 metric tonnes (MT) and cost Nu 63.58M to build. Construction began last year.

“Without a permanent bridge, industries faced a lot of difficulties during monsoon,” said the works and human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba at the inauguration. “It isn’t the biggest but nonetheless a very important one.”

About 140 heavy vehicles ply to and from the Pasakha industrial estate everyday.

Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba also thanked project DANTAK and the Indian government for their continued support.

DANTAK officials said that the new bridge would provide all weather connectivity for all kinds of heavy vehicles to Pasakha industrial area.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by the Indian ambassador, Pavan K Varma, the director general of border roads, Lt Gen MC Badhani and the chief engineer of Project DANTAK, Brigadier US Dadu.

According to DANTAK officials, the Pasakha-Manitar road, envisaged as a bypass to the slide prone area of Ramitey, Sorchhen and Jumja on the Asian highway of Phuentsholing-Thimphu road, was handed over to the roads department in February 2008, except for two bridges at 0.11 km and 2.85 km from Pasakha industrial estate.

“Pasakha, being a major industrial estate in Bhutan located across the Padazekhachu, the need for a permanent bridge for swift transportation of all raw materials and machineries was felt since years ago,” states a report on the bridge from DANTAK.

Source: Kuenselonline

Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan

The government of Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan in farm road bridge design, strengthening local governance and developing a solid waste management programme, according to officials of the gross national happiness (GNH) commission.

“We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said.

GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu. The seminar is held annually so that recipient countries are updated and fully understand the donor country’s systems and are in a better position to access opportunities. The seminar also provides information on the status of government proposals.

Bhutan had made five proposals under grant aid (projects worth more than USD 2M), of which one has been approved. “Japan has agreed to the replacement of ambulances, which is the priority of the ruling government,” the GNH secretary said.

The proposal for the KR II grant for 2010 was not approved, but this did not mean that the door had been closed, said the GNH secretary. “The government will be resubmitting the proposal, given its importance,” said Karma Tshiteem. “Besides, we’re still getting support under the KR II grant.” The KR II grant supports underprivileged farmers and strengthening farm mechanisation.

The seminar also shared with government officials other possibilities of assistance, such as enhanced access to ODA (official development assistance) loans. For least developed countries like Bhutan, ODA loans are available at a very low rate of interest, under one percent, and repayment periods are very long.

According to GNH officials, Bhutan has already availed one such loan for the rural electrification project. “Given our priorities, we might have to take another to complete the rural electrification project, and another one to fund rural credit,” Karma Tshiteem said.

JICA’s director for South Asia division 1, Hara Shohei, said that the ODA budget has a limitation and cannot focus on all the proposals put forward, but proposals accepted were in line with the government’s priority like helping the eastern region. “I hope we can do something for the people living in underdeveloped places,” he said.

On rural electrification, Hara Shohei said that about three billion Japanese yen would be considered, and discussions had started with department of energy, as well as Bhutan power supply. “Our consultants will carry out a preparatory survey from this month, which will be completed by the end of October this year, and I hope we’ll be able to conclude the loan agreement by end of next March, so that actual distribution and transmission lines in the rural area can be started early by next year, and also meet national target of 100 percent electrification in the rural areas by 2013.”

Hara Shohei said that the relationship between Bhutan and JICA is deep and widespread, which signifies good outcome.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan Celebrates 100th birth anniversary of His Holiness the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche

His Holiness the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche

This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of His Holiness the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche. To pay tribute and celebrate the main accomplishment of His Holiness a three day special prayer ceremony is being conducted at the Satsam Chorten, Paro. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo attended the ceremony yesterday.

Around 300 monks including Anims and Trulkus from Bumthang Kharchu, Tharpaling, Lhalung, Nimalung and Wangsisina Dratshangs are performing the payer ceremony. It is being presided over by Kyabje Talung Khentse Rinpoche and His Eminence Ugen Tenzin Jigme Lhendup, the incarnation of the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche.

The prayer ceremony was attended by His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck, Their Majesties the Queen Mothers and Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck. It was also attended by the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader, Chairperson of the National Council and the Cabinet Ministers.

During the occasion His Eminence, the incarnation of the late Rinpoche presented a statue of the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche to Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother. Her Majesty also presented a statue each to the followers of the late Rinpoche.

Hundreds of devotees are attending the prayer ceremony. The sacred relics of His Holiness are also being displayed for the public. A movie on the life of his late Holiness will also be screened for the public.

His Holiness the Late Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was born in 1910 in eastern Tibet to a family descended from the Royal lineage of the 9th century King Trisong Detsen. When he was still in his mother’s womb, Rinpoche was recognized as a Trulku or incarnation by the illustrious teacher Mipham Rinpoche. He was enthroned as the emanation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, one of the most important Tertons and writers of the 19th century.

Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche studied with many great teachers, including his root Guru, Shechen Gyaltsap from whom he received all the essential empowerments and instructions of the Nyingma tradition. From the age of fifteen until he was twenty eight, he spent his time meditating in silent retreat, living in isolated hermitage and caves.

In the late 1950’s Rinpoche and his family fled Tibet. They were welcomed in Bhutan by the Bhutanese Royal Family.

The opening centennial celebration was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 20. Apart from Bhutan, activities will be held in Europe, Northern America, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

The closing ceremony will be held in Bodhgaya, India on December 28.

Source: BBS

His Majesty the King George Tupou V

His Majesty the King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga arrived in the country on a five-day official visit today.

On arrival at the Paro airport He was received by Her Royal Highness the Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Cabinet Ministers, speaker of the National Assembly, the National Council Chairperson, the Opposition Leader and other senior government officials.

This is his third visit to Bhutan. He visited Bhutan in 2002 and 2007. His Majesty King George Tupou V ascended the throne on September 10, 2006 following the demise of his father His Majesty King Tupou IV at the age of 88 years.

Later, at the Taj Tashi Hotel He was received by His Royal Highness the Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.

Tonga is a Kingdom, roughly the size of Japan, in the Pacific Ocean.

Source: BBS

His Majesty the King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga arrived in the country on a five-day official visit today.

On arrival at the Paro airport He was received by Her Royal Highness the Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Cabinet Ministers, speaker of the National Assembly, the National Council Chairperson, the Opposition Leader and other senior government officials.

This is his third visit to Bhutan. He visited Bhutan in 2002 and 2007. His Majesty King George Tupou V ascended the throne on September 10, 2006 following the demise of his father His Majesty King Tupou IV at the age of 88 years.

Later, at the Taj Tashi Hotel He was received by His Royal Highness the Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.

Tonga is a Kingdom, roughly the size of Japan, in the Pacific Ocean.

Source: BBS