PM reports an upbeat state of the nation

“Bhutan’s growth rate ranked second in the South East Asia with 8.1% and held the 11th position in the world by real GDP growth rate for the year 2011,” said the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley who presented the state-of-the-nation report to parliament on Monday.
The growth rate (8.1%) is ranked second in South Asia, and 11th in the list prepared by the US central intelligence agency.
Industries together with hydro powers contributed 44.1%, the service sector 37.4%, while the primary sector contributed15.1%.
Lyonchhen introduced his report with the significant events which were celebrated by the nation such as the Royal wedding, the Royal couple’s state visit to India and Japan. He also mentioned the high level meeting on wellbeing and happiness at the UN Headquarters, New York.
PM’s address also mentioned the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Hero’ Honor awarded to the third Druk Gyalpo and the Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Meira Kumar’s invitation to PM himself deliver the fourth Professor Hiren Mukherjee Memorial lecture before the Indian parliament.
The relics of Lord Buddha preserved in Bodh Gaya in Bihar were brought and displayed in Bhutan
After mentions of the significant and celebrated events in the country, the Lyonchen’s address then delved on the crises and the near crises that the nation faced such as the Rupee crunch, the September 18 earthquake last year and the most tragic event that is still fresh in minds of all Bhutanese citizens – the Wangduephodrang Dzong fire accident.
The PM also spoke on the Millennium Development Goals, sector progress and achievements in the areas of agriculture.
The PM also spoke about management of civil service in a democratic set-up, projects carried out by the National Statistical Bureau, completion of cadastral resurvey program in 15 dzongkhags, the increase of National Pension and Provident Fund’s pensioners from 2,897 during the last fiscal year to 3,061 with a pension payout of Nu. 431.67mn until March 2012.
The report stated that even with challenges, the NPPF has been consistent in its return of 6.5% over the years.