India and Bhutan would jointly develop 10 hydroelectric projects by 2020, according to Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley.

Thinley said that by 2020 two nations will have 11,000 MW hydel power through 10 projects. One of the projects is under way. He added that the other projects are at various stages and through them there will be substantial flow of green energy into parts of West Bengal.

On the impact of the global meltdown on Bhutanese tourism, Thinley said the industry shrank by 31% in the first half of 2009 but he was confident that it would revive fast.

The country is mainly looking at foreign direct investment (FDI) in sectors like hydel and IT. Thinley said Bhutan could be an attractive destination for data processing as well as research and development.

He said that collaboration with Genpact, Infosys and Wipro has already started. The country already allows some amount of FDI in financial, tourism and IT sectors. Thinley met with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and said that new rules and regulations were being looked into so that greater facilities could be provided.

Bhutan is increasingly interested in collaborating with commercial captains and industrialists in Kolkata and northern West Bengal's Siliguri subdivision.

He added that there has been a discussion about joint cooperation in development and promotion of Bhutan as an organic brand.