30th June 2025: Her Excellency Ms. Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bhutan, visited the Department of Livestock on 30th June 2025. Her Excellency was received by the officials of the Department. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bhutan and Slovenia in the development of the apiculture sector.
During the discussions, the Department of Livestock underscored the growing importance of apiculture farming in Bhutan, highlighting the countryโs increasing investment and strategic focus on this sector. Recognized as a high-value livestock commodity, honey and related products have been identified as a priority under Bhutanโs 13th Five-Year Plan. Key areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration in the Apiculture sector between the two countries were explored.
To institutionalize the collaboration, the Department proposed the establishment of a formal partnership mechanism through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This long-term framework would clearly define roles, responsibilities, and structured deliverables to support sustainable apiculture development.
The Department also emphasized the urgent need to establish domestic honey testing and certification facilities, alongside robust capacity-building programs and knowledge exchange platforms for beekeepers and professionals. Strengthening apiculture research and advancing queen breeding and genetic improvement initiatives were highlighted as critical to ensuring quality assurance and the long-term sustainability of the honey sector. Honey has been designated as a Geographical Indication (GI) product and is expected to contribute significantly to the livestock sectorโs share of the national GDP.
Her Excellency acknowledged the importance of the proposals and expressed her strong support for the initiatives. She assured that the proposals would be conveyed to the Slovenian Government and pursued further through her successor to ensure continuity and sustained cooperation in this sector.
The Department of Livestock extends its sincere appreciation to Her Excellency for her keen interest and support in promoting sustainable apiculture development in Bhutan. The Department looks forward to fostering a fruitful and enduring partnership with Slovenia in the years ahead.
