It said India and Bhutan share an “exemplary partnership” characterised by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels.
The talks are an important bilateral mechanism to review various aspects of India-Bhutan development partnership.
India has been allocating funds for Bhutan’s five-year plans and has committed Rs 10,000 crore for the 13th five-year plan covering 2024-2029.
It includes support for “project tied assistance” (PTA) projects, high impact community development projects, the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and budgetary support in the form of grants.
“The government of India has committed support of Rs 10,000 crore for Bhutan’s 13th five-year plan period,” the MEA said in a statement.
A total of 61 PTA projects worth Rs 4,958 crore and 283 community projects worth Rs 417 crore covering a wide range of sectors are in various stages of implementation.
The Indian government has also released Rs 750 crore for Bhutan’s Economic Stimulus Programme and Rs 100 crore as programme grant.
Ten projects worth Rs 1,113 crore, covering sectors such as healthcare, connectivity, urban infrastructure and livestock, were approved by the two sides.
The MEA said both sides agreed to make suitable revisions to the allocations for some of the PTA projects taking into account the evolving requirements.
“The Indian side conveyed that it will continue to work together with the royal government of Bhutan on its development agenda, in line with the shared vision of the King of Bhutan and the prime minister of India, and based on the priorities of the royal government and the people of Bhutan,” the MEA said.
The Indian delegation at the meeting was led by Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal and the Bhutanese team by foreign secretary Aum Pema Choden. PTI MPB KVK KVK