Bhutan has received Nu 2.15 billion in financial assistance to support priority programmes under the 13th Five-Year Plan, reinforcing development cooperation between Bhutan and India. The cheque was formally handed over during the 14th Monthly Coordination Meeting held yesterday between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Indian Embassy.
According to a news release from the Ministry of Finance, more than half of the total allocation will be directed towards strengthening the country’s education system, particularly through the development of central schools. Funding will support 20 central schools and 17 cluster schools, covering infrastructure upgrades, technological improvements, green energy initiatives, enhanced safety and security measures, and improved sports facilities.
Security and emergency response services will also see significant investment. An allocation of Nu 250 million has been set aside for infrastructure development of the Royal Bhutan Police. The funding will be used for the construction and upgrading of offices and police stations, human resource development, and the procurement of firefighting and rescue vehicles.
In the transport sector, Nu 239 million has been earmarked for upgrading the Samtse–Norbugang Primary National Highway. The project aims to improve connectivity in southwestern Bhutan through road widening and better ride quality, while also enhancing overall road safety.
Higher education institutions are also set to benefit. Under the 13th Five-Year Plan, Phase II construction works at JSW Law will be undertaken to accommodate new academic programmes and a growing number of students and faculty. The project, which focuses on strengthening legal education and research infrastructure, has been allocated Nu 165 million.
Additionally, the Royal University of Bhutan will receive Nu 146 million to develop digital infrastructure across its eight colleges. Planned initiatives include the adoption of educational technology tools, the establishment of a digital library, and the introduction of an Information Management System to improve teaching, research, and service delivery.
The overall budget outlay for the 13th Five-Year Plan is estimated at over Nu 500 billion, supplemented by an additional Nu 15 billion Economic Stimulus Programme. During the coordination meeting, officials also reviewed the progress of India-supported projects under the plan and discussed key implementation challenges.
The 13th Five-Year Plan is a central pillar of Bhutan’s long-term development strategy, with the overarching goal of transforming the country into a high-income economy by 2034.
