Embarking on a diplomatic journey, the esteemed Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, is poised to set foot in New Delhi commencing Thursday, the 14th of March, marking his inaugural voyage abroad since assuming office in January this year, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
Scheduled from the 14th to the 18th of March, his visit to India comes at the gracious invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit by the Bhutanese Premier holds significant import for India, being one of the final high-level diplomatic encounters before the onset of the Lok Sabha election proceedings. Additionally, it coincides with New Delhi’s vested interest in deliberating the advancements in the China-Bhutan boundary negotiations.
Ajay Bisaria, a former Indian diplomat, opined, “India shares the most enduring and historic ties with Bhutan, where timing holds no sway. If there’s business to be conducted, it transcends the electoral phase in India.”
The focal points of this visit entail discussions on bilateral pacts, developmental endeavors, and connectivity initiatives, with particular emphasis on the Gelephu mindfulness city project, inaugurated by the Bhutanese monarch in December 2023.
Bhutan seeks India’s cooperation in augmenting railway and roadway connectivity to Gelephu, adjoining Assam, a concern likely to be underscored during talks between the Bhutanese Prime Minister and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
According to MEA, Prime Minister Tobgay will pay a courtesy call to President Droupadi Murmu and engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Further, he is slated to be greeted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other eminent Indian officials.
During his sojourn, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will also grace Mumbai with his presence. Accompanying him will be notable figures from the Royal Government of Bhutan, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Energy and Natural Resources, Industry, Commerce, and Employment, alongside senior officials.
In the previous year, King Jigme Khesar of Bhutan journeyed to Guwahati and Mumbai, with a strategic focus on bolstering railway infrastructure, cross-border trade facilitation, economic collaboration, tourism promotion, educational exchanges, skill enhancement initiatives, and fostering interpersonal bonds. He engaged in dialogues with several industrial tycoons and key stakeholders in healthcare and hospitality sectors to explore investments in the Gelephu project.
Sources indicate that Prime Minister Modi’s proposed visit to Bhutan has been postponed due to impending Lok Sabha elections in India, which are anticipated to be announced soon and could potentially take place in April or May.