NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Prashant Das, India’s Consul General in Bhutan, yesterday handed over the 10th shipment of Covid-19 RT-PCR test kits for 50,000 tests to Director-General Dr Pandup Tshering, Ministry of Health, Phuentsholing, Bhutan.
The timely distribution of these RT-PCR test kits is intended to assist the Bhutan Ministry of Health in carrying out crucial tests during the current lockdown effective from December 23.
In a statement released yesterday by the Indian Embassy in Thimphu, said “in line with Prime Minister’s assurance India will stand by its closest friend and neighbour, Bhutan, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Ruchira Kamboj the, Indian Ambassador in Bhutan said, “Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bhutan, India will always be a reliable partner and a dependable friend.” India’s gesture to continue providing vital medical supplies illustrates the special confidence and understanding between India and Bhutan that have existed for decades. In the future, India will continue to provide all necessary assistance to Bhutan to minimise the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
India is also partnering with Bhutan to perform Phase-III clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Meanwhile Kamboj yesterday announced the feasibility of creating an Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) in Bhutan, while speaking at the 4th India-Bhutan Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) on trade-related operational issues meeting between India and Bhutan’s Department of commerce to address and resolve trade-related operational issues.
She also added India will offer training to more than 100 Bhutanese entrepreneurs at EDI, Gandhinagar, and the Indian Institute of Packaging, New Delhi and Bhutan’s request for training visits will happen once the situation of covid-19 has improved.
She thanked both the delegations for agreeing to open the new year with the fourth DVC meeting and said that India is Bhutan’s priority and trading partner and that we value free trade and commerce with Bhutan. “It is also no exaggeration to suggest that our relationship is an exception. Our strong trade and economic links reflect the unique bond of confidence and understanding that we share,” she said.
(Venkatesh Iyer)