By: Indo-US Tribune News Desk

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu on Friday to discuss a wide range of issues aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation. The talks focused on connectivity, hydropower collaboration, trade, and people-to-people ties, underscoring the enduring friendship between the two Himalayan neighbours.

Prime Minister Tobgay expressed satisfaction over the meeting, saying he was “pleased to meet Foreign Secretary Misri” and highlighted discussions on areas of mutual interest. Misri also called on His Majesty the King of Bhutan and held discussions with the country’s Foreign Minister, reaffirming India’s commitment to advancing the multifaceted partnership.

According to the Indian Embassy in Thimphu, the visit reflected the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan. “The discussions encompassed the entire gamut of the special and multifaceted bilateral partnership,” the statement said.

India and Bhutan’s relations are governed by the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 and renewed in 2007. Their trade ties are anchored by the India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit, first signed in 1972 and revised in 2016, establishing a free trade regime and duty-free transit for Bhutanese exports.

India remains Bhutan’s largest trading partner and the top source of foreign direct investment. Bilateral trade has grown more than threefold in the past decade—from $484 million in 2014–15 to $1.77 billion in 2024–25—accounting for over 80% of Bhutan’s total trade. Indian investments dominate sectors like hydropower, infrastructure, and IT services.

The visit reaffirmed the strategic and economic importance of India-Bhutan relations, with both sides committed to enhancing connectivity, clean energy cooperation, and sustainable growth.