New Delhi (The Statesman/ANN) - Bhutan welcomed the acceptance of its request of exemption from application of any export bans on essential commodities. India has exempted Bhutan from the application of ban on export milk powder, wheat, edible oil, pulses and non-Basmati rice.
The Union minister of commerce and industry, Anand Sharma, during his meeting with Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, minister for economic affairs of Bhutan, informed him that the Director General of Foreign Trade has issued the relevant notification for the exemption.
"India values the special relationship with Bhutan and we will be happy to expand our multifaceted cooperation which already covers key sectors such as hydro-power, health, education, human resource development, media, telecom, ICT and infrastructure," Sharma said.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction that progress in meeting the target of developing 10,000 MW of hydro power capacity in Bhutan by 2020 is on schedule. Bhutan has an estimated hydro-power potential of 30,000 MW with a little over 1,472 MW harnessed.
Three major hydro-electric power projects (HEPs) have been built with Indian assistance in Bhutan-336-MW Chukha, 60-MW Kurichhu and 1,020-MW Tala HEPs.
In July 2006, India and Bhutan signed an agreement wherein India agreed to develop and import 5000 MW of electricity from Bhutan by 2020. This target was revised to 10,000 MW during the PM's visit to Bhutan in May 2008.
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