Bhutan-Norway Relations

Diplomatic relations between the Kingdoms of Bhutan and Norway were established on 5 November 1985. Bilateral cooperation between Bhutan and Norway dates back to 1964 when the Norwegian Santhal Mission came to Bhutan. At the request of the RGoB, the Riserboo Leprosy Hospital started functioning in 1967 with the assistance of the Santhal Mission. The hospital was formally handed over to the RGoB on 1 July 1991.

Mr. Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Bhutan to the United Nations Office in Geneva, is concurrently accredited to Norway. Mr. Hans Jacob  Frydenlund, Ambassador of Norway to India, is concurrently accredited to Bhutan.

Norwegian assistance to Bhutan has mainly been in the fields of health (initially leprosy prevention and elimination, and later the Bhutan Health Trust Fund); power (HRD and institutional strengthening); and environment (Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation); and with some assistance for HRD in sectors like education and agriculture. In the past, Norwegian assistance was received for forestry, calcium carbide and ferro silicon industries, health, education, agriculture (through multilateral agencies) & the Royal Institute of Management.

Norway is the biggest donor to the Bhutan Health Trust Fund and under the 10th Five Year Plan (2008-2013), Norway supported the hydropower/energy sector.