India and Bhutan strive to enhance connectivity, promote a series of ambitious projects

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to visit Bhutan later this month, marking the final foreign trip of his current term.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at a meeting in New Delhi on July 6, 2018. (Source: PTI)

Prime Minister Modi's most recent visit to Bhutan took place in August 2019, marking one of the early foreign policy engagements of his second term.

The visit assumes significance in the context of India's desire to strengthen ties with the new government in Bhutan and ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity between the two countries.

The timing of the planned visit coincides with the inauguration of Bhutan's new government under Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, who took office last month. In addition, Bhutan is set to celebrate the birthday of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on February 21.

India and Bhutan are stepping up efforts to connect and cooperate economically . In his National Day speech in December 2023, the King of Bhutan highlighted the groundbreaking railway project to establish the first railway link between Bhutan and India.

This ambitious rail initiative aims to connect Gelephu in Bhutan with Kokrajhar in Assam state (India), highlighting the deepening economic ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Bhutan is also planning to develop a mega-city in Gelephu to attract investment and create jobs. In addition, the two countries are working to upgrade infrastructure in their shared border areas, with plans to enhance customs facilities at Dadgiri (Assam) and Gelephu in Bhutan. In addition, the two countries are exploring the possibility of setting up a railway line between Banarhat in West Bengal and Samtse in Bhutan, underscoring their shared commitment to regional connectivity and cooperation.

Financial connectivity is also a focus of bilateral cooperation, with the successful launch of the RuPay card in Bhutan. The initiative, which was rolled out in two phases in 2019 and 2020, enables payments in both countries using RuPay cards issued by respective banks, facilitating smoother financial transactions and strengthening economic ties.

The special relationship between India and Bhutan now extends to development cooperation, with significant collaboration in the hydropower sector. The handover of the 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydropower Project from the Mangdechhu Hydropower Project Authority to the Government of Bhutan in 2022 demonstrates the shared commitment to sustainable energy development and shared prosperity.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/an-do-va-bhutan-no-luc-tang-cuo-ng-ket-noi-thuc-da-y-ha-ng-loat-du-an-tham-vong-261237.html