EAM Jaishankar’s Bhutan Visit Connects the Dots

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Bhutan from Sept. 16-18 at the invitation of Bhutan’s foreign minister, reinforcing the close and longstanding partnership between the two countries.

Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and met Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Ministry of External Affairs said. EAM also held detailed discussions with Bhutan’s foreign minister on the full range of bilateral relations, including development cooperation, energy, education, digital payments and people-to-people ties.

During the visit, the two foreign ministers jointly inaugurated or launched five initiatives:

A 65-bed child hospital in Mongar.

The handover of 43 Jersey cows from India to Bhutan’s National Cattle Breeding Centre in Bumthang.

The handover of 54 electric vehicles to the Bhutanese government.

The foundation stone for the 500-kilowatt Lunana Hydropower Project.

The pair inaugurated Jaganathan bridge on the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway in Eastern Bhutan.

The two sides reviewed progress in their energy partnership and discussed further cooperation in support of Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City. India also reiterated its readiness to provide infrastructure support for immigration and related facilities connected with the project.

The ministers welcomed progress in integrating fintech services between the two countries. India’s Unified Payments Interface is operational in Bhutan, and its use has been expanded to provide additional facilities for Bhutanese tourists, students and other users.

The talks also covered educational cooperation. Scholarship opportunities for Bhutan through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Nalanda University have been expanded.

The two sides welcomed Bhutan’s ratification of the International Big Cat Alliance framework agreement, describing it as an important step toward closer cooperation on wildlife conservation and environmental protection.