Prime Minister Modi has accepted an invitation to visit Bhutan next week
Meeting in New Delhi on March 14, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discussed strengthening their development cooperation. Prime Minister Modi also accepted an invitation to visit Bhutan next week.
 
"Glad to meet my friend and PM of Bhutan @tsheringtobgay on his first overseas visit in this term. Had productive discussions encompassing various aspects of our unique and special partnership. I convey heartfelt thanks to His Majesty the King of Bhutan and @PMBhutan for inviting me to visit Bhutan next week," Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X. 
 
“Wonderful to meet my friend, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi I thanked him for his steadfast support to Bhutan, and we discussed a range of issues to strengthen relations between Bhutan and India. Prime Minister Modi Ji also agreed to visit Bhutan soon … next week, in fact!” the Bhutan PM wrote on X.
 
“Both leaders reviewed the progress in various areas of bilateral partnership, including infrastructure development, connectivity, energy, hydropower cooperation, people to people exchanges and development cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the special and unique India-Bhutan friendship,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (March 15, 2024.
 
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is in India on an official visit, which is his first overseas visit after assuming office in February 2024. According to the MEA, the Prime Minister of Bhutan conveyed his deep appreciation for India’s role as a reliable, trusted and valued partner in Bhutan’s developmental priorities.
 
“On behalf of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, PM Tshering Tobgay extended invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Bhutan next week. Prime Minister accepted the invitation,” the MEA added.
 
Union Cabinet Approves 2 MoUs between India & Bhutan
 
Significantly, the Union Cabinet approved two agreements on Wednesday, on the eve of Prime Minister Tobgay's visit to India. 
 
These include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India and Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan.
 
As part of this MoU, India aims to assist Bhutan to enhance energy efficiency in the household sector by promoting a star labelling programme developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. 
 
The second MoU is between Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA), Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding cooperation in the areas of food safety.
 
India's Support to Bhutan's Socio-economic Development 
 
This visit comes a few months after Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck 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.
 
At present, India is supporting 77 Project Tied Assistance (PTA) projects with an outlay of Rs. 28 billion in addition to 526 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP)/Small Development Projects (SDP) at an outlay of Rs. 8.5 billion.