STATEMENT BY AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA IS PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN

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2 DEXIA SENT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO

STATEMENT BY AUSTRALIA

Australia is pleased to participate in the 12th RTM for Bhutan and thanks the Royal Government of Bhutan for its hospitality and warm welcome.

Australia and Bhutan have enjoyed a long and productive relationship, dating back to the early days of the Colombo Plan in the 1960s. In January 2012, our countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation and held inaugural whole-of-government talks. As agreed by the Australian Government and the Royal Government of Bhutan during the second annual consultation in July 2013 in Canberra, Australia’s targeted assistance will be used to improve the capacity of individuals and organisations in government, private sector and civil society to participate in Bhutan’s development.

Discussions between the Australian Ambassador to Bhutan and the Royal Government of Bhutan in Thimphu in November 2013 reflected the span of engagement between the two countries and the momentum that has been built in our relationship over the years.

In the 2012-13 financial year, the Australian government provided around $A14 million in development support. Approximately $A6 million of this was directed towards the higher education sector and delivered mainly through the Australia Awards program. This program plays a key role in the Australia-Bhutan partnership, and in 2014, 46 Bhutanese students will commence Masters-level Scholarships at Australian universities. The study and research opportunities provided by the Australia Awards Scholarships develop skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to the development outcomes in the recipients’ respective countries. Currently, 110 Bhutanese are undertaking study in Australia under the Australia Awards Program.

Notably, in 2014, three Bhutanese awardees out of a global total of 200 have been chosen to participate in the Australia Awards Leadership Program. This suggests that we will continue to see Bhutanese leaders emerge from the Australia Awards program in future years. Australia will work closely with the Royal Government of Bhutan and other stakeholders on the arrangements for the next phase of the Australia Awards program (from 2015-2020) to ensure the program continues to flexibly and innovatively responds to the needs of the country.

Assistance from Australia has enabled Bhutanese institutions to build capacity by establishing long-term relationships with Australian institutions. Exchange of knowledge and experience between the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) in Thimphu, Bhutan, and the University of Canberra in Australia has resulted in RIM launching accredited Masters-level courses in 2012. Australia is also helping to build capacity in education, health, agriculture and forestry through the Australian Volunteers Program which commenced in 2012.

World Food Program Australia has been contributing to a school feeding program, which improves access to primary education, since 2001-02. In 2012-13, around 10,000 children were provided with two meals per day at school.

The Australian Ambassador’s visit in November 2013 identified opportunities for potential further cooperation in the education, skills and governance sectors. Australia would welcome visits by officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan to build capacity and help consolidate democracy through undertaking short periods of study and training in strategic management, high level public policy, and parliamentary strengthening. As geographical distance is a challenge that both our countries face, Australia may be able to share our experiences in distance education, use of ICT in education, and multi-grade teaching with visiting Bhutanese counterparts.

There may also be opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake study or internships in Bhutan from 2015, under the Australian Government’s recently launched New Colombo Plan. This initiative is intended to improve knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by generating a genuine, two-way flow of students between participating countries.

Australia is unable to announce new commitments for the coming financial year – commencing on 1 July 2014 – until the Australian parliament approves the development assistance budget in the context of the national budget approval process. While this prevents us from being able to pledge funds to development partners at this juncture, Australia is pleased to reaffirm an ongoing and sincere commitment to assist Bhutan in achieving its development goals.

Thank you.








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