Thimphu, Bhutan — The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union will convene the Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum 2.0 on 21 and 22 May 2026 in Thimphu.
The Forum will feature high-level participation including H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Ambassador Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan; Mr Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific; and Mr Bhargav Dasgupta, Vice-President (Market Solutions), Asian Development Bank. It will also bring together international investors and national stakeholders to advance strategic partnerships and investment in Bhutan’s agrifood sector.
Building on the success of BATIF 2024, which brought together over 250 stakeholders and opened international market access for Bhutanese products, BATIF 2.0 marks a significant shift from dialogue to deal-making, leading to concrete pledges and commitments.
BATIF 2.0 will bring together the Royal Government of Bhutan, agribusiness leaders, investors, development finance institutions, and development partners to translate priority opportunities into implementable collaborations. A defining feature of the Forum is its dual pitching format: national private sectors and State-owned Enterprises (SoEs) will present bankable agribusiness investment cases, while international investors will deliver reverse pitches outlining their funding priorities and criteria, leading to deal-making and financing partnerships.
The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Honorable Younten Phuntsho said that through collaboration with FAO under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, Bhutan has developed a strong pipeline of bankable agrifood investment opportunities across priority value chains, including aquaculture, citrus, spices, dairy, and high-value specialty crops rooted in the country’s rich biodiversity and pristine natural environment.
“BATIF 2.0, moves beyond dialogue toward concrete partnerships, investments, and action, exploring opportunities that are not only investments in markets, but investments in sustainability, food security, and the well-being of communities across Bhutan”, the minister added.
The Forum seeks to boost investment momentum, attract firm commitments, and convert these efforts into the signing of Letters of Intent or Memoranda of Understanding.
For more information, visit batif.org or contact the BATIF Secretariat at contact@batif.org
