India and Bhutan enjoy exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation
In an indication of the importance the country attaches to its bilateral relationship, Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay will be in India from March 14-18, 2024 for what is his first overseas visit after assuming office in January 2024. The official visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday (March 13, 2024), the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan will accompany the Prime Minister of Bhutan.

During the visit, Prime Minister Tobgay will call on the President Droupadi Murmu and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other Indian dignitaries will call on the Prime Minister of Bhutan. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will also visit Mumbai during his visit.

India and Bhutan enjoy exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation, based on trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels. The visit of the Prime Minister of Bhutan will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review the progress in our unique partnership and to discuss ways and means to expand the enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, the MEA noted.

In January this year, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra visited Bhutan and held discussions with the country’s top political leadership.

During his official visit to Thimphu, Bhutan, from January 29 to 31, 2024, Foreign Secretary Kwatra met his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Aum Pema Choden. Their talks spanned a broad range of topics, including development partnership, space, energy, trade, technology, and economic ties. He also called on Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in addition to Prime Minister Tobgay and Foreign Minister Dinanath Dhungyel.

This visit came a few months after the King of Bhutan held extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on November 6, 2023.
 
According to the Joint Statement issued after the talks, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s abiding commitment to its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan and reiterated continued and full support to the socio-economic development in Bhutan based on the priorities of the Royal Government and as per the vision of His Majesty.
 
For the 12th Five Year Plan of Bhutan, India is providing an assistance of INR 45,000 crores, a bulk of which has been earmarked for Project Tied Assistance (PTA) projects.
 
These projects are spread over various sectors, such as health, education, agriculture, economic development, ICT, infrastructure, urban development, technical and vocational training, judiciary, sports, and capacity building of public servants.