Thimphu [Bhutan], November 11 (ANI): India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya, on Tuesday highlighted the 1,020-megawatt Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a joint venture between India and Bhutan that will boost Bhutan’s hydropower generation by 40 percent and export surplus power to India, strengthening the countries’ energy partnership.
Speaking with ANI, Arya said hydropower remains a key area of cooperation, leveraging Bhutan’s estimated 35,000-megawatt potential. “Hydropower is a very strong area for Bhutan, given its large number of rivers with huge potential, estimated to be around 35,000 megawatts. The 1,020-megawatt project, which has been completed and is expected to be jointly inaugurated tomorrow by the leaders of the two countries, is a very important addition. It will add approximately 40 percent to Bhutan’s installed hydropower generation capacity. It will become a crucial project for Bhutan’s economic development. The power produced will be used by the people of Bhutan, with any surplus exported to India. Power generation in Bhutan particularly peaks during the summer months,” he said.
He added that the project aligns with India’s growing energy demands, particularly during the summer when Bhutan’s glacial rivers are at their peak. “Most of the rivers are glacial. So, that’s a time when India also has great demand for power. There is good synergy in that sense. The power generated from the Punatsangchhu-II hydroelectric plant, which will be inaugurated tomorrow, will serve the people of Bhutan and benefit its economy. It will also supply power to India for our own use, creating a strong synergy between the two countries,” he said.
The ambassador also emphasized enhanced connectivity, including physical infrastructure such as roads and railways, as well as digital links like FinTech and QR code-based payment systems. People-to-people ties, rooted in spirituality and culture, further cement the nations’ “special friendship.”
“Connectivity has many dimensions. One is physical connectivity—Bhutan’s 80 percent trade is with India. Many of its exports to other countries pass through India since trading routes run through it. So, development and streamlining of trade, road development, and future plans for railway connections are important areas of discussion. Digital connectivity is also a key focus, and work is ongoing in that area,” he said.
“FinTech or financial technology, such as QR code-based systems linking financial networks in both countries, will allow Indian travelers to Bhutan and Bhutanese travelers to India to make payments using their domestic bank networks. That’s another important area of digital connectivity between the two countries,” he added.
Arya further highlighted the deep people-to-people connections between both nations, grounded in spirituality, yoga, and culture. “At the people level, connections between India and Bhutan are rooted in spirituality, yoga, cinema, and cultural performances. These are very important aspects of connectivity between the two countries. It’s a very strong, deep, and special friendship, built over decades,” he said.
Arya noted that the partnership aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Bhutan’s aspirations to become a high-income economy. The relationship, often described as one of India’s closest partnerships, is poised to reach new heights through educational, technological, and economic collaboration.
“I think the potential is immense. India is working toward Viksit Bharat 2047, while Bhutan also has strong development goals to become a high-income economy. On the economic front, there is natural synergy between the two neighbors—in trade, development partnerships, and shared approaches to regional and global issues, such as the Global Peace Prayer Festival,” he said.
“It’s a relationship with immense potential to progress in different areas. There are educational, technological, and cultural partnerships, as well as people-level connections, through which we can continue to strengthen ties,” he added.
Arya concluded by describing Bhutan-India relations as among the closest partnerships between India and any neighboring country. “I see this as a relationship of immense potential built on a very strong foundation. Some even describe it as the closest partnership between India and its neighboring countries. Our objective, with the support of both governments, is to take it to greater heights in the future,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a State visit to Bhutan from November 11–12. During the visit, PM Modi will also participate in the Global Peace Prayer Festival organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan. (ANI)
About The Author
