With a lot of enthusiasm and cheer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a grand welcome when he landed in Bhutan. Discussing on various issues, PM Modi and Bhutan’s PM Lotay Tshering signed 10 MoUs to strengthen and expand the bilateral partnership across several sectors.
“Traditional Chipdrel procession and welcome ceremony at the Tashichhodzong Palace for PM @narendramodi before the audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The ceremony symbolises the purification of path along which the guests are led,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
“We had a comprehensive meeting, where we deliberated on the relations between India and Bhutan. There is great scope to further improve economic and cultural ties between our nations,” Mr. Modi said.
As a Prime Minister, this is PM Modi’s second visit to Bhutan. To commemorate five decades of India –Bhutan hydropower, he was invited to inaugurate Mangdechhu power plant and also launched postal stamps.
At Simtokha Dzong, the PM launched the RuPay Card by maing purchases.
“I am very happy that today we have launched RuPay card in Bhutan. This will further enhance our relationship in digital payments, and trade and tourism. Our shared spiritual heritage and strong people-to-people relationship are key of our relations,” he said.
On increasing the currency swap limit for Bhutan under the SAARC currency swap framework, Modi said India’s approach is “positive“.
The two leaders jointly inaugurated the Ground Earth Station and SATCOM network, developed with assistance from ISRO for utilization of South Asia Satellite in Bhutan.
In the education sector, the two countries will collaborate with their respective Universities i.e Royal Bhutan University and IITs and other top educational institutions will strengthen the academic orientation for both the countries. On his part, Prime Minister Tshering said India and Bhutan may vary in size but their beliefs, values and motivation are common.
“On his (Modi) first visit to Bhutan, I remember him saying that Bhutan and India are close not because we have open borders, but because we have opened our hearts to each other. Your visit this time shows how much you meant it,” he said.
The two countries signed 10 MoUs in the fields of space research, aviation, IT, power and education
