Bhutan

Austria and the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan established formal diplomatic relations on 26 April 1989. Much earlier – already in the late 1970s – the two countries had started to closely cooperate in the framework of the Austrian Development Cooperation.

Austria identified Bhutan as a target country for its development cooperation programs. A Coordination Bureau of the Austrian Development Agency was set up in Thimphu in 1994 to supervise the various development aid projects. The projects are aligned with the current Bhutanese five year development plan and follow the guidelines of the Country Strategy Bhutan 2010-2013, which has been drafted jointly by experts from both countries. Austrian Development Cooperation in Bhutan focuses on energy, tourism and governance. Further areas of cooperation are cross cutting topics like human rights, empowerment of women, environment and capacity development.

For further details on the activities of the Austrian Development Cooperation in Bhutan please click here.

The Austrian Ambassador in New Delhi is also accredited to Bhutan. A Coordination Bureau of the Austrian Development Agency was set up in Thimphu in 1994.

Bhutan is represented in Austria through its Embassy in Geneva.