New Delhi, March 23, 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wraps up his state visit to Bhutan on a positive note. In a special gesture, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, accompanied by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, bid farewell to PM Modi at the airport, extending a warm send-off.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson highlighted this farewell as a testament to the extraordinary partnership between India and its close and special neighbour, Bhutan.
Meanwhile, on his second-day trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, inaugurated the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu.
This state-of-the-art facility, built with the assistance of the Government of India, symbolizes a significant stride in healthcare collaboration between the two nations.
Reflecting on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his message, emphasizing the hospital’s role as a beacon of hope for numerous families, offering top-tier healthcare services. He underscored its significance in fostering a healthy future generation, highlighting a commitment to robust healthcare infrastructure.
India’s support for the development of this 150-bed hospital spanned two phases. The first phase, operational since 2019, was completed for Rs. 22 Crores. Subsequently, the second phase, initiated in 2019 under the 12th Five Year Plan, concluded for Rs. 119 Crores, marking its completion.
The newly inaugurated hospital is poised to elevate the standards of maternal and child healthcare services in Bhutan. Boasting cutting-edge facilities for paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics, anesthesiology, operation theatres, neonatal intensive care, and pediatric intensive care, it promises comprehensive care for mothers and infants.
India’s support of Bhutan’s socio-economic development dates back to the early 1960s, aligning with Bhutan’s Five Year Plans.
As Bhutan’s principal development partner, India’s assistance, totalling Rs. 5000 Cr. for the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP), constitutes a substantial portion of Bhutan’s external grant component.
Underlining the breadth of India’s assistance, key areas of focus include agriculture, irrigation development, ICT, health, industrial development, road transport, energy, civil aviation, urban development, human resource development, capacity building, scholarship, education, and culture.
Currently, numerous projects are underway in Bhutan, with over 83 large and intermediate projects and 524 Small Development Projects at various stages of implementation.
Recent discussions during the 6th India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks under the 12th FYP and the 2nd Talks under the 13th FYP underscored the continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in various sectors, reaffirming the enduring partnership between India and Bhutan.