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14 QUANTIFICATION OF BENEFITS FROM ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA<br />

1.9). This is mainly due to the free trade agreement<br />

between the two nations, its geographical proximity,<br />

free current account convertibility between its currency<br />

and Indian rupees and generous grants from India.<br />

Table 1.9 Top Export Markets of Bhutan<br />

(in Million Nu), 2000–03<br />

Countries 2000 2001 2002 2003<br />

India 4376.95 4700.47 5153.78 5188.23<br />

Bangladesh 164.72 222.38 222.97 120.83<br />

Nepal 28.44 41.51 32.79 14.19<br />

Fig 1.4 Trade-GDP ratio in Bhutan: 1981–2005 (%)<br />

Source: Estimated from ADB (1999, 2000) and RMA (2000,<br />

2004, 2005), Trade-Poverty Nexus in Bhutan<br />

Fig 1.5 Export-GDP and Import-GDO ratios: 1981–2005<br />

Source: Estimated from ADB (1999, 2000) and RMA (2000,<br />

2004, 2005), Trade-Poverty Nexus in Bhutan<br />

both the export and import to GDP ratio declined.<br />

However, with the commissioning of the Tala Project,<br />

these ratios return to its upward trend. Despite rapid<br />

growth of exports, trade deficits remained large as a<br />

result of very high level of imports, which stems from<br />

continued disability of Bhutan’s economy to expand<br />

its productive base.<br />

Bhutan is a member of two regional economic<br />

cooperation SAARC and BIMSTEC which seek to<br />

promote free trade in the region. Bhutan continues to<br />

participate in the progressive trade liberalisation<br />

initiatives under SAFTA. Besides Bhutan has bilateral<br />

trade agreements with India and Bangladesh. Initiatives<br />

are underway to establish bilateral trade agreements<br />

with Nepal and Thailand. Despite the efforts of diversification,<br />

India continues to be the major trading partner<br />

constituting 97% of export and 90% of import (Table<br />

Source: Department of revenue and customs, Article: Trade<br />

Logistic Service Liberalisation in Bhutan<br />

The regional market will continue to be of significant<br />

importance to Bhutan in view of the underdeveloped<br />

domestic transport infrastructure and network.<br />

Bhutan’s prospects of benefiting from other international<br />

markets other than regional markets are limited<br />

to those goods of high value low volume which could<br />

overcome the diseconomies of transport costs. In order<br />

to enhance market access opportunities through trade<br />

liberalisation initiatives at bilateral as well as regional<br />

levels, the Regional and Bilateral Trade Section through<br />

its concerned department and ministry would continue<br />

to work towards enhancing trade between Bhutan and<br />

India under the existing FTA between the two countries.<br />

Bilateral consultations on transport, transit and other<br />

procedural aspects will be initiated with India from time<br />

to time to facilitate Bhutan’s third country trade.<br />

India<br />

India, with a GDP growth rate of 9.4% in 2006–07, is<br />

one of the fastest growing economy in the world. When<br />

measured in terms of purchasing power parity, India<br />

has the world’s fourth largest GDP at US $4.726 trillion.<br />

India, at the time of independence was characterized<br />

by low level of living, low level of productivity, high<br />

rates of unemployment and population growth rate and<br />

significant dependence on agriculture production. From<br />

less than 1% rate of growth of GDP prior to 1951,<br />

Indian economy recorded a growth rate of 3.5% in<br />

first decade of planning and over 5% in 1980s.<br />

However, the high growth phenomenon of the 1980s<br />

could not be sustained, as the experience of the crisis<br />

in 1991–92 revealed, when the annual average GDP<br />

growth rate declined to 3.3%. After 1991–92, the GDP<br />

recorded a growth rate of over 6% which has been<br />

accompanied by government policies of liberalisation,<br />

privatisation and globalisation.

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