NEW DELHI, June 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a two-day visit to Bhutan tomorrow, during which he would be raising all issues of national interest, including security related matters.
Mr Modi will be accompanied on the trip, his first trip abroad since he took over as PM three weeks back, by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.
During his visit, Mr Modi would be raising all issues of national interest, including matters relating to security, MEA sources said.
“Mr Modi would discuss the whole gamut of bilateral relations with Bhutan,” the Foreign Secretary said here yesterday in a briefing to the media.
Mr Modi, during his visit, will meet Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and address the National Assembly.
He will also address the joint session of the National Assembly and National Council of Bhutan and meet the Leader of the Opposition.
The Foreign Secretary described the Prime Minister’s coming visit as a “good-will visit” which was taking place at the invitation of the King and in keeping with the high priority he gave to neighbourhood.
She described ties with Bhutan as “unique and specially warm” and described the two countries as natural and strategic partners.
The Foreign Secretary said the joint ventures in Hydro power sector were a classic case of the win-win cooperation between the two countries as it would provide an economic boost to Bhutan and low price electricity to India.
At present, three hydel projects set up with Indian cooperation were in operation and three more would become operational in 2017-18. Besides hydro power, India had heavily invested in cement and IT in Bhutan and was exploring cooperation in education and tourism.
Ms Singh pointed out that India had already given Rs 4,500 crore to Bhutan’s five-year plan of 2013-18 to be spent on various sectors including agriculture, tourism, building of schools and libraries, irrigation and drinking water projects.
India and Bhutan relations have been marked by exchange of high-level visits. Last month, the Bhutanese Prime Minister visited India to take part in the oath taking ceremony of Mr Modi. (UNI)
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