Singapore-Bhutan Relations: Beginning of a new phase of Cooperation
On 4th of June 2007, with the announcement of Mr. Calvin Eu Mun Hoo as the first Singaporean ambassador to the Druk Yul by the Singapore government, the relations of the rising economic power house of Southeast Asia with serene Himalayan Kingdom entered into a new phase of cooperation. Mr. Hoo presented his credentials on 5th of June 2007 to the Fifth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, His Majesty King – Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and expressed his desire to help Bhutan’s development in the field of human resources areas and education. Mr. Calvin Eu Mun Hoo was frank in admitting, after presenting his credential to the Fifth Druk Gyalpo about the shortcomings in helping to Bhutan in the areas of mining and agriculture, but he was optimistic and foresees great opportunity in the field of technical cooperation and HRD sector with the Land of Thunderbolt.[I]
New Competitions for Indian Institutions in Bhutan:
Mr. Hoo has rich experience of developing significant economic relation of Singapore with Asia’s worst human rights violator – Burma in recent times as an ambassador and his new assignment would be another daunting task for him to see Bhutan enter next year into a new democratic era. The new incumbent had also served ambassadorial assignments at Thailand and Republic of Korea and his new assignment would take Bhutan closer to Singapore’s world class higher education system like – National University of Singapore. Until now Bhutan has active collaboration with India’s leading higher education institution – University of Delhi with Bhutan’s Sherubtse College, apart from their Masters in Education programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Paro’s collaboration with St. Francis Xavier University of Canada and with some other European institutions.[II] The new emerging relation might also see in future the collaboration of Bhutan’s newly established – Royal University of Bhutan with Singapore’s higher education system, creating new competition for Indian higher education institution in Bhutan.
Mr. Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji’s Role:
Singapore and the Royal Government of Bhutan established their diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level on 20th of September 2002.[III] And next year, Bhutan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley, led an official delegation of Himalayan kingdom to Singapore from 9th of February to 13th of February 2003, to enhance Singapore-Bhutan relations, in which; he met with Singapore’s President – S R Nathan, then Prime Minister – Goh Chok Tong and minister for foreign affairs – Professor S. Jayakumar.[IV] Thereafter, the relations between Singapore and Bhutan became much closer after the appointment of Mr. Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji as a first ambassador of Bhutan to Singapore in May 2003. Mr. Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji, the first National Forestry graduate of Bhutan, before this new assignment in Singapore, had served Bhutan as a Chairman of the National Planning Commission and the National Environment Commission (NEC), as well as leading Bhutan’s negotiations with World Bank on Calcium Carbide and Ferro Silicon Projects. He also led the team of Bhutan on Basochu power project with Austria and played the role of key member in Bhutan’s negotiations with Government of India on Tala Hydroelectric Project and the Dungsum Cement Project. Mr. Dorji would be in future history of Bhutan not only remembered for bringing Bhutan closer to Singapore but also with India. The innovative idea of creating Bhutan Environmental Trust Fund (BETF) was established during his tenure as the Chairman of the NEC.
Conclusion:
However the major move to bring Bhutan closer with Singapore was taken during present Fifth Druk Gyalpo’s trip to Singapore in the third week of August last year (2006), when he was not the king but the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bhutan. During his visit last year, then His Royal Highness Trongsa Penlop Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk met with the President of Singapore, Mr. S.R. Nathan, the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. His Royal Highness also met with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and other officials and explored the means to cooperate with Singapore in the field of finance, trade and service, and education and technology sectors.[V] And ten months after the trip of the present king Fifth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan to Singapore resulting into appointment of Mr. Calvin Eu Mun Hoo as the first Singaporean ambassador, symbolizes his great world vision and commitment to make Bhutan as an important political player and developed nation in South Asia.
(The End)
ENDNOTES:
[I] Phuntsho Choden , First Singaporean ambassador presents credentials, Kuensel, Bhutan’s National Daily, Thimphu, 6 June 2007.
[II] Graduation, Kuensel, Bhutan’s National Daily, 7 January 2006.
[III] Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Bhutan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, Press Release, 21st of September 2002.
[IV] Official Visit of Bhutanese Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, Press Release, 7th of February 2003.
[V] Visit of His Royal Highness Trongsa Penlop Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bhutan to Singapore, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, Press Release, 21 to 25 August 2006.
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