Bhutanese PM holds talks with FS Vikram Misri, thanks India for generous assistance for 13th Plan
Thimphu/New Delhi, July 19 (Agency) Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Friday said his discussions with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri covered the full spectrum of the bilateral relations and thanked India for the generous assistance for the 13th Five Year Plan. In posts on X, the Bhutanese Prime Minister also said he was honoured that Foreign Secretary Misri had chosen to visit Bhutan on his very first overseas trip on taking over the post on July 15.
During their talks, the two sides also reaffirmed the close bilateral bond and agreed that the partnership, rooted in mutual trust and benefit, must continue to flourish. “Honoured that H.E. @VikramMisri has chosen to visit Bhutan as his first overseas visit barely 4 days after his appointment as the Foreign Secretary of India. I congratulated him on his appointment, and our discussions covered the full spectrum of our bilateral relations. “I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and the people of India for their steadfast support, with a special mention of their generous assistance for the 13th FYP and the Economic Stimulus Programme. “We reaffirmed the close bond between Bhutan and India, agreeing that our partnership, rooted in mutual trust and benefit, must continue to flourish.” On Thursday, while releasing the 13th Plan, the Bhutanese PM expressed gratitude to the Government of India for generously supporting Nu 85 billion for the 13th Plan and Nu 15 billion under the economic stimulus programme, Kuensel reported.
The Government of India supported Bhutan with Nu 45 billion in the 12th Plan. The 13th Plan, with the goal of making Bhutan a high-income GNH country by 2034, aims to increase GDP to USD 5 billion by 2029 and USD 10 billion by 2034. The plan aims to raise GDP per capita to above USD 6,174 by 2029. The total budget for the 13th Plan is Nu 512.28 billion, a 63 percent increase from the 12th Plan. During the event, India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela, said that the 13th Plan document captures Bhutan’s development agenda across sectors such as governance, health, education, skill development, digitisation, energy, economy, infrastructure, and private enterprise. “Bhutan and India enjoy a unique type of friendship and cooperation. Our extraordinary partnership, spans diverse sectors, from education to economy, health, hydropower, sports to space, data and technology,” the Indian Ambassador said. “Strong people-to-people connections and our youth linkages and deep spiritual connections are key drivers of our exemplary partnership.”
“India will continue to be a steadfast and a reliable development partner of Bhutan,“ Sudhakar Dalela said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is on an official visit to Bhutan from July 19-20, in his first visit abroad after taking over the office of the top diplomat. During the visit, Foreign Secretary Misri will receive an audience with The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He will call on Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Tandi Dorji, and meet the Foreign Secretary Pema Choden and other senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The two Foreign Secretaries will also co-chair the India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks (‘Plan Talks’), a statement said. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan, and underscores the highest priority Government of India attaches to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy.