Bhutan discusses its 11th Five Year Plan during talks with India

India and Bhutan have held their third round of the Bhutan-India Development Cooperation Talks or the plan talks for the 11th Five Year Plan of Bhutan.

The Bhutanese delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji and the Indian delegation was led by the Secretary of Development Partnership Administration and Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sujata Mehta.

During the talks held here on September 11, the two sides reviewed India's assistance of Nu. 45 billion to the 11th Five Year Plan, which includes the following components: Nu. 8.5 billion for Program Grant, Nu. 8.5 billion for Small Development Projects (SDP) and Nu. 28 billion for Project Tied Assistance (PTA).

The main focus of the talks was on the PTA. The two sides finalized a total of 84 PTA projects to be implemented under the 11th Five Year Plan, which includes the 48 projects which were approved during the current round of Plan Talks.

Noting that the first year of the Plan has already passed, the two sides agreed to speed up the implementation of the mutually agreed projects.

In this regard, the Bhutanese side assured to exert every effort to ensure that all projects adhere to their projected timelines and the Indian side assured timely release of funds.

The two sides also agreed to convene the SDP Committee Meeting at the earliest possible time.