High-Level visit further strengthens UN-Bhutan ties

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana visited Bhutan from 30 June to 2 July. Her visit reinforced the commitment of the United Nations, and ESCAP in particular, to supporting Bhutan's development goals and promoting sustainable, inclusive growth.

Ms. Alisjahbana also met with the Prime Minister, Dasho Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay, the Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Minister of Finance. 

Ms. Alisjahbana expressed her appreciation to the Royal Government of Bhutan for their active engagement with ESCAP and congratulated Bhutan on its graduation from LDC category. She recommitted ESCAP’s continued support to the strategic priorities outlined in the 13th Five Year Plan that retains its sustainable development philosophy of balancing Bhutan’s natural and social-cultural heritage with modernization.

While in the country, Ms. Alisjahbana took the opportunity to meet women entrepreneurs who had been trained by ESCAP.  They discussed the critical role of women's empowerment in Bhutan's socio-economic growth. These interactions were designed to support and inspire the next generation of female leaders in the country.

ESCAP has provided support on SDG financing, including through the use of sustainability bonds, FDI and trade facilitation, disaster risk resilience and energy transition.  In recent years, ESCAP also supported Bhutan’s digital economy strategy formulation and women’s e-commerce training. 

In the coming months, ESCAP will co-organize with the Royal Government of Bhutan, a multi-stakeholder workshop on trade and transport cross-border connectivity, inviting government and private sector stakeholders from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and India and development partners to promote subregional cooperation to foster inclusive trade and value chains benefiting medium/small enterprises and communities.

Ms. Alisjahbana underscored that her trip to Bhutan, and the partnership between Bhutan and the UN for the past 50 years, is a testament to what can be achieved when the partnership is built on trust and mutual understanding towards a common goal. 

"I leave Bhutan inspired by the dedication and spirit of its people and more committed than ever to our shared vision of a better world for all,” said Ms. Alisjahbana.