Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade RGOB
The 14th Bhutan-Japan Annual Bilateral Consultations on Economic Cooperation was held in Thimphu on 15 July 2019.
Mr. Sonam Tobgay, Director, Department of Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Bhutanese delegation. Other members of the Bhutanese delegation comprised of officials from the Gross National Happiness Commission; Ministry of Works and Human Settlement; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Information and Communication; Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital; Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan; and Bhutan Broadcasting Corporation Limited.
Mr. Kenko Sone, Minister (Economic & Development), Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, led the Japanese delegation. Other members of the Japanese included an official from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi and officials from the JICA Bhutan Office.
The two sides discussed the Flagship Programs in the 12th Five Year Plan, Comprehensive National Development Plan for Bhutan 2030, status of Japanese assistance to Bhutan, Bilateral Assistance Needs Survey, and other areas of cooperation. The two sides reviewed the ongoing projects and deliberated on the prioritised projects submitted for approval by the Royal Government.
Since its inception in 2006, the Annual Bilateral Consultations continues to serve as a meaningful and purposeful avenue for the two governments to hold dialogue to review and exchange views on on-going bilateral economic cooperation, as well as on future cooperation programs.
Mr. Sonam Tobgay conveyed the deep appreciation of the people and the Royal Government of Bhutan to the people and Government of Japan for their steadfast and generous support to Bhutan’s socio-economic development for many decades, and for their assurances of continued support in the years ahead. Japan has been a long-standing development partner for Bhutan.
