Director for Asia and the Pacific of International IDEA, Leena Rikkila Tamang,along with her team, called on the Speaker of the National Assembly at the Gyelyong Tshokhang on 18 May 2026. During the meeting, the Speaker highlighted the key achievements of the Parliament of Bhutan through the support extended by International IDEA with funding from the European Union under Project Nyamdrel II. The Speaker acknowledged the valuable collaboration in strengthening parliamentary democracy and institutional capacity.

Among the key achievements shared were the visit of the Bhutanese parliamentary delegation to the European Parliament and the European External Action Service, which provided valuable exposure and learning opportunities. The Speaker also highlighted the workshops and capacity-building programmes conducted for Members of Parliament and Secretariat staff. In addition, support for broader democratic engagement initiatives, including annual meetings with civil society organizations, media symposiums, and digital outreach programmes, was recognized as an important contribution toward strengthening democratic participation and public awareness and enhancement of Parliamentary engagement with media and CSOs.

The Speaker expressed appreciation for the continued assistance provided under Project Nyamdrel II, noting its significant contribution to the Parliament’s institutional development. The meeting also discussed possible extension of the project and future areas of collaboration to further enhance cooperation between the Parliament and International IDEA.