Bhutan: A New Focus for Australia?

While India has long been a focus of Australia's foreign policy in South Asia, it is important that we do not neglect the smaller nations in the region. Bhutan, the small landlocked country renowned for its Gross National Happiness policy, has been long overlooked. Small contributions through the Australian Aid program to support education in country have been welcomed, but with India contributing the vast majority of foreign aid and trade to Bhutan, the need is arising for the small nation to diversify its base as it begins to look toward self-reliance.
 
Ben Archer is a recipient of the Euan Crone Asian Awareness Scholarship. He has a passion for increasing Asian engagement in schools through his work in secondary education. This presentation will be drawn from his study in Bhutan undertaken through the Euan Crone Asian Awareness Scholarship.

Refreshments available from 5:30pm