20 September, Thimphu: Hon’ble Finance Minister, Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Royal Government of Bhutan and the EU Ambassador to Bhutan and India, H.E. Mr. Ugo Astuto launched the ‘Promoting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Bhutan’ programme in the presence of the H.E. Lyonpo Yeshey Penjor, Minister for Agriculture & Forests and EU Members of Parliament (MEP). The EU has earmarked EUR 15 million for this five-year EU-funded budget support programme.
The EU budget support programme will assist Bhutan in promoting sustainable agriculture-food systems in Bhutan which are inclusive and resilient to the impact of climate change. The programme will support Bhutan in diversifying the RNR Sector through green economic growth opportunities, which in turn will help to ensure food and nutritional security, manage natural resources sustainably and combat climate change. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forests will be the lead implementation agency. This programme is aligned with the RGOB priorities and EU’s Green Deal, Farm2Fork and Adaptation Strategies and will enable Bhutan to be better prepared for future crises.
Highlighting that Bhutan values its relation with the EU, H.E. Lyonpo Namgay Tshering said, “The EU is a long-term friend and partner of Bhutan and our relations with the EU is exemplary based on mutual trust, goodwill and understanding.” He added, “We are appreciative that the EU has committed yet similar support to address Bhutan’s strategic priorities through the Multi-Indicative Programme 2021-2027 of which one of the priority areas is the RNR sector which is launched today. This support will enable us to make our agriculture system more resilient to shocks and adversaries, responsive to the needs of our youths, and more conducive for it to thrive in a post-COVID world.”
Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador H.E. Ugo Astuto said: “I am pleased to launch this new EU budget support programme for Bhutan. The EU assistance will contribute to reinforcing the resilience of food systems, enhancing food security.” He added, “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that there is an urgent need to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems, resilient to climate change. This programme will enable Bhutan to be better prepared for future crises, in line with the EU Green Deal strategy”.
The EU has supported the Renewable Natural Resource (RNR) sector in Bhutan since 1984. Over the last four decades, the support has evolved from a modest water supply project to the current budget support programme, which aims to strengthen the food system resilience, in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic.
The EU has also been collaborating with the Bhutanese Government to mainstream climate change in the RNR sector through Global Climate Change Adaptation flagship initiative (GCCA+) as well as by providing budgetary support during the last programming period (2014-2020). The EU has reaffirmed its commitment of EUR 31 million for the first phase of its Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP 2021-2027) for Bhutan.
The EU MEPs Delegation which is currently visiting Bhutan is led by Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms Evelyn Regner. The delegates will be in the country from 20-24 September 2022.
-GNHC & PPD
