25 September 2025: The Honโble Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, warmly welcomed Mr. Jean Pesme, Mr. Imad N. Fakhoury, and the World Bank delegates, expressing gratitude for their continued partnership in strengthening Bhutanโs agriculture sector, crucial for rural livelihoods, youth employment, and food security.
He highlighted the Ministryโs shift from subsistence to modern farming under the 13th FYP, focusing on large-scale farming, smallholder resilience, high-value products, sustainable biodiversity, and an enabling business ecosystem, alongside initiatives like the RNR Jobs project. Both sides emphasized leveraging Bhutanโs organic and sustainable brand, scaling agritech, mobilizing private investment, and aligning with the Gelephu Mindfulness City vision to create greater impact in high-value markets.