India and Bhutan Hold 6th Joint Group of Customs Meeting to Boost Trade and Cooperation

Thimphu: The 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting between India and Bhutan concluded successfully in Thimphu on April 25, 2025, marking another step towards deepening bilateral trade relations and customs cooperation.

The meeting was co-chaired by Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary and Member (Customs), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Government of India, and Sonam Jamtsho, Director General, Department of Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan.

India, being Bhutan’s largest trade partner—accounting for nearly 80% of Bhutan’s overall trade—continues to play a pivotal role in facilitating economic exchanges. With Bhutan’s trade heavily reliant on land routes, the role of the 10 Land Customs Stations located across West Bengal and Assam becomes crucial in ensuring seamless cross-border transactions.

The two-day meeting focused on redefining and reengineering customs procedures, with the aim of aligning practices with global standards and boosting cross-border trade facilitation. Key topics discussed included automation and digitisation of transit processes, Coordinated Border Management (CBM), pre-arrival customs data exchange, implementation of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA), and the expansion of Electronic Cargo Tracking Systems (ECTS) for transit cargo.

The Bhutanese delegation extended their gratitude to CBIC for its ongoing support, particularly acknowledging the positive impact of the capacity-building workshop titled ‘Advancing India Bhutan Trade and Economic Partnership’ held in 2024. The workshop was instrumental in streamlining export processes and resolving trade-related challenges.

India, reaffirming its commitment to fostering a strong trade partnership, proposed further capacity-building initiatives for Bhutan in areas such as Risk Management Systems (RMS), Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) schemes, food safety standards, and tailored training programmes for Bhutanese importers and exporters.