India-Bhutan Commerce Secretary-Level Meeting in Thimphu Focuses on Boosting Cross-Border Trade and Connectivity

Thimphu: The 8th edition of the India-Bhutan Commerce Secretary-Level Meeting (CSLM) was held in Thimphu today, co-chaired by India’s Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Bhutan’s Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) Dasho Tashi Wangmo. The discussions centered around enhancing cross-border trade and infrastructure development, with a shared commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations.

One of the meeting’s key outcomes was the agreement to expedite the development of cross-border connectivity infrastructure, which includes the establishment of an Integrated Check Post at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing and rail links between Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse. These infrastructure projects are expected to significantly improve the flow of goods and services between India and Bhutan, promoting mutual economic growth.

Both sides also discussed the notification of Land Customs Stations (LCS) at Hatisar and Darranga as additional routes for importing areca nut and food items from Bhutan into India. India agreed to notify an LCS at Samrang following the necessary infrastructure upgrades, which will further enhance trade facilitation between the two countries.

Another topic of discussion was the consideration of the Jaigaon LCS for importing scrap from Bhutan. The two sides explored the establishment of border haats along the India-Bhutan border to promote local trade and discussed measures to facilitate the movement of businesspersons between the two nations. The import of boulders from Bhutan to India and the inclusion of three additional species of timber for trade were also reviewed.

The deployment of Phyto Quarantine Inspection Services (PQIS) at LCS Darranga was approved, alongside efforts to operationalize an agreement between the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI), which was signed in March 2024. Additionally, discussions on an agreement for fertilizer supply between Bhutan’s National Seed Centre and India’s Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation are expected to be finalized soon.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing bilateral cooperation, particularly in ensuring the smooth supply of essential commodities, including potato, wheat, sugar, non-basmati rice, fertilizer, and coal, to and from Bhutan. They acknowledged the recent signing of key agreements, such as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the general supply of Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) from India to Bhutan, and the progress on establishing India-Bhutan rail links.