NEW DELHI: Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay called Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on June 6th and congratulated him on the victory of the National Democratic Alliance in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Tobgay appreciated PM Modi’s visionary leadership in the last decade, and conveyed his warm wishes for his successful third term. PM Modi thanked PM Tobgay for the warm felicitations.
PM Modi conveyed that India accords the highest priority to its exemplary partnership with Bhutan. He emphasised that Government of India’s firm commitment to further strengthening unique ties of friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and Bharat.
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The partnership is marked by strong economic and financial ties, with India being Bhutan’s top trade partner in both imports and exports. The bilateral trade volume has seen significant growth, reaching INR 11,178 crores in 2022, showcasing the robust economic engagement between the two nations.
India has been a steadfast development partner for Bhutan, extending economic assistance to support its socio-economic progress since the 1960s. India’s contribution to Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan, amounting to Rs 5000 Cr., underscores its commitment to supporting Bhutan’s developmental aspirations. The focus areas of India’s assistance include agriculture, information and communication technology, healthcare, infrastructure development, and human resource capacity building.
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India has been a key destination for Bhutanese students seeking higher education, with over 1000 scholarships provided annually by the Government of India. Additionally, cultural exchanges and initiatives under the India-Bhutan Foundation have strengthened people-to-people ties of both the Nation.
India and Bhutan have also explored new avenues for collaboration, including digital initiatives, space cooperation, and technology partnerships. Projects like ‘Digital Drukyul’ and the joint development of satellites reflect the commitment to harnessing technology for mutual benefit and socio-economic progress.
In addition, both countries have signed several agreements and MoUs in various fields, including energy, trade, digital connectivity, space, and agriculture. The MoU on the establishment of rail links between India and Bhutan, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link and Banarhat-Samtse rail link, aims to enhance connectivity and trade between the two nations.