Thimphu, Aug 18 (TIWN) Saying India is home to among the biggest start-up eco-systems in the world and witnessing transformation in many sectors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was a great time to innovate in his country, proposing extensive cooperation between the two neighbours in new areas like space and digital payments.

 The remarks came while addressing students at the Royal University of Bhutan on the final day of his two-day visit to hold talks with Bhutanese leaders to further deepen bilateral ties.  Elaborating, Modi said: "Today, India is witnessing historic transformations in a wide range of sectors. India is eliminating poverty faster than ever before. The pace of infrastructure construction has doubled in the last five years. India is home to the world's largest healthcare programme, Ayushman Bharat, that offers health assurance to 500 million Indians. 

"India has among the cheapest data connectivity in the world, which is, directly and indirectly, empowering millions. India is also home to among the biggest start-up eco-systems in the world. This is indeed a great time to innovate in India."  Modi said many other transformations have at their core dreams and aspirations of the Indian youth.  He asked the "brightest minds" of Bhutan to work hard and take the Himalayan nation to great heights. "There is no better time to be young than now." 

Pointing out that India-Bhutan cooperation in hydro-power and energy was exemplary, Modi stressed on building a relationship between people of both the countries and showed India's eagerness in cooperation in new frontiers -- from schools to space and digital payments to disaster management.  "Our cooperation in all these sectors will have a direct impact on young friends like you."  Mentioning that it was crucial to connect scholars and academics beyond borders in this day and age, Modi said: "Cooperation between India's National Knowledge Network and Bhutan's DrukREN, which became a reality yesterday, will serve this purpose.