India-Bhutan cooperation beyond strategic partnership

(462 words)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Dr. Lotay Tshering on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister of Bhutan expressed solidarity with the Government and the people of India during the recent wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Narendra Modi conveyed his sincere thanks to the Govt. of Bhutan and praised the King’s leadership in leading the war against the pandemic effectively.

Both leaders noted that the current crisis has helped to highlight India and Bhutan’s unique relationship, which is based on mutual understanding of respect and shared cultural heritage.

India-Bhutan relations

Diplomatic ties between India and Bhutan were established in 1968 with the establishment of an Indian office in Thimphu. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between both nations was signed in 1949 and revised in February 2007 which serves as the foundation for bilateral ties between the two countries. The Golden Jubilee of India and Bhutan’s formal diplomatic ties were celebrated in 2018.

Bilateral Relationship

India and Bhutan share a bilateral relationship, characterized by mutual understanding. The special relationship has been sustained by a tradition of regular high-level visits and dialogues between the two countries.

The Indian Government has consistently supported Bhutan’s socio-economic development and is one of the major development partners of the country. The two countries’ hydropower partnership is an example of win-win cooperation.
Since the early 1960s, India has provided economic assistance to Bhutan. India’s contribution of Rs. 4,500 crore accounted for 73 % of Bhutan’s overall external grant component in the 12th Five-Year Plan of Bhutan. Agriculture and irrigation production, ICT, health, industrial development, road transport, electricity, civil aviation, urban development, human capital development, capacity building, scholarship, schooling, and culture were among the main areas of emphasis for GOI’s assistance.

India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner. In 2018, the two countries combined bilateral trade was Rs. 9,227.7 crores. Mineral goods, machinery and mechanical instruments, electrical devices, base metals, automobiles, vegetable products, plastics, and articles are among India’s major exports to Bhutan. Bhutan’s main exports to India are ferrosilicon, portland cement, timber, cardamom, and wood products.

Education

India is the most popular educational destination for Bhutanese students who are enrolled in several Indian Universities as many of them are being provided with various scholarships by the Govt. of India. There are vibrant cultural exchanges between the two countries on a regular basis. A number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to holy Buddhist sites in India. Both nations share an open border with regular exchange of travelers in both directions including work, tourism, shopping, medical care, etc.

As part of Vaccine Maitri, Bhutan has received 5,50,000 doses of Covishield from India which enabled the country to launch its successful nationwide vaccination drive.