India, Bhutan review development ties

NEW DELHI: In order to review their development partnership, India and Bhutan met virtually on Monday, June 28, and agreed to implement some new projects in the Himalayan nation across various sectors such as road infrastructure, water management and COVID-19 management.

The talks between the two nations were part of the 3^rd India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks. Rahul Chhabra, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian delegation while the Bhutanese delegation was led by Kinga Sinye, Foreign Secretary, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Ruchira Kamboj also attended the talks. It added that India committed Rs 4500 crore for implementation of development projects and Rs 400 crore for the transitional Trade Support Facility during Bhutan’s 12^th Five Year Plan.

The MEA further said that as many as 77 large and intermediate projects and 524 Small Development Projects (SDPs)/High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) are at various stages of implementation under the 12^th Five Year Plan. With the plan completing its third year, India and Bhutan reviewed the overall progress of the ongoing Project Tied Assistance (PTA) projects, as well as the SDPs/HICDPs.

Sinye highlighted the impact of HICDPs at the grassroots level and commended India’s role in the socio-economic transformation of the Himalayan nation. During the talks, both sides also agreed to implement some new PTA projects across numerous sectors, including road infrastructure, water management, industrial parks and COVID-19 management.

India deeply values its privileged partnership with Bhutan. The Indian side remains committed to continue to support Bhutan in its development efforts, the MEA said. The two sides agreed to hold the next Development Cooperation Talks on a mutually agreed date.