Bhutan. The Kingdom of Bhutan
Bhutan. Kingdom of Bhutan
A country in South Asia, located in the Eastern Himalayas. Area - 46.5 thousand km². Capital - Thimphu (50 thousand, 2004), other major cities: Punakha, Paro, Phuentsholing. Administratively, it is divided into 18 districts (dzongkhags). Population - 2.185 million (2004); Bhote and related groups of Tibetan origin (70%), migrants from Nepal (20%) and others, literacy - 42.2%.
The official language is Dzongkha (Bhote) — a Tibeto-Burman group. The state religion is Lamaism (Mahayana Buddhism). The currency is Ngultrum (equivalent to 1 Indian Rupee, which is in circulation in Bhutan), which is divided into 100 Chhetrum.
It has no diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.
The national holiday is December 17 - the Day of the King's Election (1907).
Bhutan is a monarchy. The head of state is the king (since 1972 - Jigme Singye Wangchuck - crowned in 1974), who is also the supreme commander-in-chief and chairman of the planning commission. Legislative power is exercised by the king and a unicameral National Assembly, consisting of 150 members (105 are elected in general elections for a term of 3 years, 10 are elected by Buddhist monks, and the remaining 35 represent the government and are appointed by the king). Executive power is exercised by the king through the Council of Ministers (since August 20, 2004, it has been headed by L. Zimba).
The Royal Advisory Council consists of 9 members (6 of whom are elected by representatives of the people, 2 by monks, and one is appointed by the king). The term of office is 5 years.
Political parties and trade unions are prohibited.
For a long time, Bhutan was in a state of semi-vassal dependence on Tibet, and later (from the 19th century to 1947) was under the control of British colonial troops. According to the treaty between India and Bhutan dated August 8, 1949, Bhutan agreed to be guided by the advice of the Indian government in matters of foreign relations. It has diplomatic relations with India, all countries of South Asia, and several other states, which do not include permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries such as Germany and Japan, although contacts with them are maintained.
It has been a member of the UN (since 1971), the Colombo Plan (since 1962), the Non-Aligned Movement (since 1973), and SAARC (since 1985).
Bhutan is an agrarian country with a predominance of subsistence farming and feudal relations. According to the classification adopted by the UN, Bhutan is classified among the least developed countries in the world. The official estimate of income per capita is $435 per year (1998).
Unemployment is absent, but there is a shortage of labor. The service sector accounts for 45% of GDP, industrial production - 10%, and the agricultural sector - 45%. The external debt in 2000 amounted to $245 million. GDP in 2000 was $487 million.
More than 90% of the self-employed population is engaged in agriculture. The main sector is agriculture (rice, corn, wheat, barley, buckwheat, millet, legumes, cardamom, potatoes, tea, fruits). 3% of the territory is cultivated. Pastoral animal husbandry is well-developed. In industry and construction, 5% of the self-employed population is engaged. Industry (mainly processing and mining) is represented by small woodworking factories, enterprises for processing agricultural products, and for the extraction and processing of limestone, dolomite, coal, slate, graphite, lead, copper, tungsten, gypsum, and others. Handicraft production of carpets, fabrics, products made of jute, wood, and metal is widespread. The length of the roads is about 3 thousand km (1998). The government focuses on the development of tourism and energy. Electricity production in the 2000/01 fiscal year amounted to 1.896 billion kWh. Hydropower resources, according to UN estimates, amount to 200 thousand MW.
Bhutan's exports are mainly formed by electricity supplies to India, sales of cement, timber, fruits, vegetables, and spices.
Food, consumer goods, oil, petroleum products, and others are imported. India accounts for the overwhelming majority of Bhutan's foreign trade (about 90%). Bhutan's foreign trade turnover in the 2001/02 fiscal year amounted to about $350 million, with exports of $154 million and imports of $196 million.
The largest trading partners are India, Bangladesh, the USA, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, and China. An important source of foreign currency is income from foreign tourism and the sale of postage stamps.
Economic and financial assistance, primarily for infrastructure development, education, and telecommunications, is provided by India (over 50%), Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and several international organizations and specialized UN agencies.
The average life expectancy of the population is 52 years.
The country publishes a weekly government newspaper "Kuensel" (in English, Dzongkha, and Nepali). The radio and television service is Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS).
