India and Bhutan have opened a new trade route between Jaigaon in West Bengal and Pasakha in Bhutan. 

This new land route for movement of industrial raw materials and goods destined for Pasakha Industrial Estate will boost bilateral trade and commerce and lead to decongestion of vehicular traffic along the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing route which leads to Thimphu.

India has also set up an additional Land Customs station at Ahllay in Pasakha.

India-Bhutan relations

India and Bhutan share a unique and time tested bilateral relationship, characterized by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding. The special relationship has been sustained by a tradition of regular high level visits and dialogues between the two countries.

The basic framework of India-Bhutan bilateral relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries and revised in February 2007. 

Mutually beneficial hydropower cooperation with Bhutan forms the core of bilateral economic cooperation.

India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner. In 2018, total bilateral trade between the two countries stood at Rs 9,227.7 crore. 

Major exports from India to Bhutan are mineral products, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipments, base metals, vehicles, vegetable products, plastics and articles. The major items of export from Bhutan to India are electricity, ferro-silicon, portland cement, dolomite, carbides of calcium carbides of silicon, cement clinkers, timber and wood products, potatoes, cardamom and fruit products.

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