India and Bhutan hold 7th Joint Group of Customs meeting in Munnar, Kerala on 20th-21st April 2026

Key facts

• The 7th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting between India and Bhutan was held on 20th–21st April 2026 in Munnar, Kerala.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Yogendra Garg, Special Secretary and Member (Customs) of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Mr. Sonam Jamtsho, Director General of the Department of Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan.
• India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan, accounting for nearly 80% of Bhutan's total trade.
• Bilateral trade between the two nations exceeded $1.9 billion in FY 2024–25, reflecting a growth of over 46% compared to the previous financial year.
• There are 10 notified land customs stations along the India–Bhutan border, located in West Bengal (6) and Assam (4).
• Priority areas discussed included Coordinated Border Management (CBM), digitization of customs processes, and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) for transit cargo movement.
• The sides discussed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on pre-arrival exchange of customs data and the strengthening of anti-smuggling mechanisms through intelligence sharing.
• The Bhutanese delegation visited the Kochi Port to review import and export procedures, maritime enforcement, and the Automatic Identification System (AIS).
• The engagement is conducted under the framework of the Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.