Visit: Prime minister Tshering Tobgay leaves the country today for a nine-day visit to the United States of America (USA).

Lyonchoen will be in the USA to raise awareness for the Bhutan for Life initiative.

The initiative is a funding approach created by the agriculture ministry and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to ensure that Bhutan remains economically and environmentally sustainable.

Funding generated through Bhutan for Life will be used to maintain, manage and conserve the country’s parks and wildlife corridors. It will also be used to enhance sustainable economic opportunities and the livelihoods for communities residing in the parks through eco-tourism and organic farming.

The initiative will also attempt to mobilise, in one single agreement, all governmental, financial and other commitments required to develop and maintain Bhutan’s protected area system over the long term.

Lyonchoen will meet with potential partners and institutions for the initiative through events that will be hosted in New York city, San Francisco and Washington DC.

Lyonchoen will also meet with the president of the World Bank, (Dr) Jim Yong Kim and officials of WWF.

Officials of the agriculture and foreign affairs ministries will accompany lyonchoen, who will be in the USA from March 15-24. The total size of the delegation travelling today is five while the officiating foreign secretary will join the delegation later.

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