India and Bhutan recently convened the 17th Monthly Coordination Meeting in Thimphu to review advancements and plan the next steps for ongoing projects in Bhutan supported by the Indian government. The meeting, held on Monday, was jointly led by the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Thimphu and the Director General of Bhutan’s Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance (DMDF) under the Ministry of Finance. During the meeting, Aniket Govind Mandavgane, the Indian Deputy Chief of Mission, handed over cheques totaling Rs 42.3 crore (Bhutanese Nu 423 million) to Bhutan’s Ministry of Finance for projects outlined in the 13th Five-Year Plan of Bhutan.
Indian Embassy officials in Thimphu disclosed that a sum of Rs 16.86 crore (Nu. 168.6 million) was allocated for enhancing infrastructure facilities for the Zhung Dratshang, the Central Monastic Body in Bhutan. The funding is aimed at fostering conducive living, learning, and spiritual environments, preserving cultural and spiritual practices, and ensuring the well-being of monks and nuns. Additionally, Rs 15.01 crore (Nu. 150.1 million) was designated for the construction of the modern Khuru-Kuenphen bridge on Bajo-Khuru SNH, inaugurated on March 27.
To bolster road transport infrastructure, Rs 5.44 crore (Nu. 54.4 million) was disbursed for upgrading a 17 km stretch of road to the standards of a Primary National Highway to align with the Northern East West Highway (NEWH). This initiative is expected to enhance traffic flow, reduce travel time, vehicle operating costs, and risks for commuters. Furthermore, Rs 4.99 crore (Nu 49.9 million) was allocated for the enhancement and development of the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) campus, covering hostel renovations, procurement of library resources, computers, and accessories, and forging connections with Indian institutions.
The meeting also involved a comprehensive review of the progress and challenges in implementing Government of India-supported projects under Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Notably, discussions centered on ‘Human Resource Development and Skilling Programmes’ managed by Bhutan’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development to elevate workforce productivity and performance through reskilling and upskilling initiatives. Moreover, the meeting addressed the status of activities under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), reflecting India’s commitment of Rs 10,000 crore for the plan period to bolster infrastructure, educational institutions, agriculture, and governance initiatives, solidifying the enduring bilateral development partnership.
