Bilateral meeting with H.E. Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan

Rome - During the World Food Forum (WFF) 2024, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu met today with H.E. Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, to discuss deepening collaboration on shared priorities including agricultural development and food security. The Director-General warmly welcomed the Prime Minister, praising Bhutan's active role in global agrifood systems conversations.

The Director-General emphasized the importance of introducing the ‘School Meal + School Garden’ model in Bhutan, which aims to improve both student nutrition and agricultural education. He also highlighted the ‘One Child, One Egg’ initiative, which will benefit over 200,000 Bhutanese children by addressing the widespread vitamin D deficiency affecting 99 percent of children. The Director-General reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to working closely with Bhutan to ensure the project's successful launch.

The Director-General also referred to the FAO Green City Initiative, aimed at integrating sustainable urbanization with agrifood system development, aligning with Bhutan’s goals of managing urban growth while promoting environmental sustainability. 

The Prime Minister expressed his sincere gratitude for FAO’s ongoing support and acknowledged the positive impact of its initiatives in Bhutan. He emphasized the ‘One Child, One Egg’ project’s importance in improving children's health and supporting the agricultural sector. The increased demand for eggs, he noted, would create opportunities for local farmers and strengthen the country's agricultural infrastructure. He also affirmed Bhutan’s commitment to working with FAO to mobilize resources for the project’s success. 

Finally, the Director-General encouraged Bhutan to focus on actionable outcomes and assured that FAO would provide the necessary support to promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Bhutan.