BHUTAN OPENS TO THE WORLD TO HOST SAARC MEET

From P.Vijian

THIMPHU (Bhutan), April 27 (Bernama) -- Finally the tourist-shy Bhutan is
showcasing its pristine beauty to the outside world by hosting the 16th South
Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, the first major
international event to be held on its soil, starting Wednesday.

The Himalayan kingdom's capital, Thimphu, sitting about 2,320ft above sea
level, will play host to senior leaders from eight nations who will gather here
for two days to discuss the region's socio-economic-politic landscape.

South Asia is home to nearly 1.5 billion people -- from Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

The theme for this year's summit, "Climate Change", is aptly picked as the
erratic weather, from extreme heat to cold, continues to impact on human health
and agricultural outputs.

But interestingly, Bhutan, the "poster child for happiness" since the early
1970s for promoting Gross National Happiness (GNH), an index to measure its
people's well-being, a priority over material and economic growth, will be
telling the world about its national secret.


Since 1972, Bhutan's guiding philosophy had been the focus on the GNH index
which balanced economic development, protection of the environment, preservation
of religion and culture and heritage.

Its fledging philosophy had made Bhutan, with only 690,000 people, the
eighth happiest nation in the world and top in Asia, despite a small gross
domestic product of US$1.3 billion (RM4.55 billion).

Bhutan, which often beckons economists and sociologists, had remained closed
for decades to protect its priceless heritage -- its environment and culture --
but is now slowing opening up to the world, perhaps under the pressure of
globalisation.

Over 400 officials and 150 journalists will be here for the SAARC summit but
more so to see and understand the way of life in Bhutan, where every Bhutanese
charms foreigners with their priceless smile.

An array of topics ranging from terrorism, intra-trade and energy to food
security is likely to feature significantly in the summit.

-- BERNAMA



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next