Society Switzerland-Bhutan

Annual Excursion: Swiss Alpine Herbs Därstetten and its collaboration with Bhutan

22.8.2019, 9.35 am: Meeting Point Bus Station Bahnhof Spiez

 2019 Excursion

Special guests: Lyonpo Dr. Kinzang Dorji (Honorary Council of Switzerland to Bhutan), Wangchuk Dema (Drachukha Flower Group) and Thinley Namgay (Druk Metho).

Wangchuk Dema (Drachukha Flower Group) and Thinley Namgay (Druk Metho) arrived on June 29, 2019 for a two-month study and training trip to Switzerland. The study tour is financed and organized by Mountain Grassroots Association and Swiss Alpine Herbs (SAH).

On our excursion we will visit together with Wangchuk Dema and Thinley Namga one of the farmer families in Aeschi (BE). After lunch Martin Lüdi from Swiss Alpine Herbs will show us around the production center of Swiss Alpine Herbs in Därstetten.

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Click here for Registration till 8.8.2019

 

Focus Newsletter 2019 – Hydropower in Bhutan

2019 Focus News
The SSB Board is happy to present you the newest Focus Newsletter zooming in on hydropower — a sector that has brought immense development to Bhutan but which also displays economic, social and ecological challenges. We were able to compile a few interesting articles from different perspectives — not least from the current Minister of Economic Affairs. We wish you a good reading and are looking forward to hearing your feedback.

 

Former Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay in conversation with
Dr. Hugo Bigi

«The Challenges facing Bhutan»

 190614 1 Tshering Tobgay

On Friday June 14th, 2019, more than 60 people attended the interesting evening talk with Dasho Tshering Tobgay at HWZ Zurich. In his answers to the questions of Dr. Hugo Bigi Dasho Tshering Tobgay was optimistic about the development of Bhutan. He elaborated on how much Bhutan has developed over the last few decades in the areas of democratization, education and economic growth. He pointed out: Democracy is working.

What are the social challenges and how can they be solved? Bhutan faces the challenge to generate enough economic growth and job opportunities for the young and well-educated Bhutanese. Dasho Tshering Tobgay adds that it is important to create additional economic growth centers around the country. In a country of only about 720’000 inhabitants there are limited human resources and there is as well a relatively small interior market. Entrepreneurship and the private sector need to be fostered. There is a need to create and deepen awareness. Dasho Tshering Tobgay stated that the current rural-urban migration is a step in the process of development which can’t be stopped. It will take time and better infrastructure till living and working in rural areas will be attractive again for well-educated young Bhutanese.