Thimphu: India and Bhutan have reviewed the progress of New Delhi-supported development projects in the Himalayan nation and signed a concessional Line of Credit agreement worth ₹4,000 crore, further strengthening their long-standing development partnership. The agreement was signed as senior officials from both countries met for the fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu on Thursday. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Dasho Pema Lektup Dorji co-chaired the talks, which focused mainly on projects being implemented with Indian assistance under Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan. According to the Indian Embassy in Bhutan, both sides discussed the implementation and progress of development initiatives across a range of sectors.

The ₹4,000-crore concessional Line of Credit is one of the major outcomes of the latest round of discussions. The financial arrangement is expected to support Bhutan's development priorities as projects under its 13th Five-Year Plan move forward. India has traditionally been one of Bhutan's key development partners, and development cooperation remains an important part of bilateral relations. During the meeting, officials from the two countries took stock of ongoing India-supported projects and reviewed how they were progressing on the ground. The discussions covered projects across diverse sectors, though the information provided does not specify each individual project reviewed during the talks. Alongside the credit agreement, India and Bhutan also expanded their cooperation in the health sector, adding another area to the broader development partnership between the neighbouring countries.

The fifth Development Cooperation Talks provided both governments an opportunity to assess the implementation of commitments already made and discuss priorities under Bhutan's current Five-Year Plan. The talks come as India and Bhutan continue close engagement on economic and development issues, with New Delhi-backed projects forming an important part of Bhutan's infrastructure and development programmes. The latest ₹4,000-crore Line of Credit agreement adds a significant financial component to that cooperation. With senior officials reviewing projects directly and both countries expanding collaboration in areas such as health, the latest discussions signal continued emphasis on practical development initiatives. The two sides are expected to continue monitoring India-supported projects as Bhutan moves ahead with its 13th Five-Year Plan.