India, Bhutan ink energy, trade pacts

India and Bhutan on Friday exchanged several MoUs and signed agreements in the fields of energy, trade, digital connectivity, space and agriculture, and finalised the MoU on the establishment of rail links between the two nations.

The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay during the ongoing twoday State visit of Modi. Prime Minister Modi met his Bhutanese counterpart in Thimphu “over a working lunch hosted in his honour”.

He thanked Prime Minister Tobgay for the “exceptional public welcome accorded to him, with people greeting him all along the journey from Paro to Thimphu,” ministry of external affairs said in a statement.

The two leaders held discussions on various aspects of the multi-faceted bilateral relations and “forged an understanding to further enhance cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, youth exchange, environment and forestry, and tourism,” it said.

India and Bhutan enjoy longstanding and exceptional ties characterised by utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels, the MEA said. “Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister of Bhutan witnessed exchange of several MoUs/Agreements on energy, trade, digital connectivity, space, agriculture, and youth connect among others,” the statement said. In addition, both sides have also “agreed on and initialled the text of the MoU” on the establishment of rail links between India and Bhutan, the ministry said.

The MoU provides for the establishment of two proposed rail links between India and Bhutan, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link and Banarhat-Samtse rail link and their implementation modalities, it said.

Both nations have also finalised the MoU on the establishment of rail links between India and Bhutan