th 14 Round Table Meeting Enhancing Happiness and Sustainable Development through Partnerships th Report on the Proceedings of the 14 Round Table Meeting Prepared by the Joint Task Force (JTF) for the 14th RTM Royal Government of Bhutan and United Nations System in Bhutan CONTENT I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1 II. SUMMARY OF THE 14TH RTM PROCEEDINGS ................................................. 3 Day One: Inaugural Session .......................................................................................................... 3 Inaugural Address by the Prime Minister of Bhutan ................................................................. 3 Introductory Remarks by the UN Co-Chair ............................................................................... 4 Days Two and Three: Thematic Sessions ....................................................................................... 5 Introductory Remarks by the RGoB Co-Chair .......................................................................... 5 Thematic Sessions ...................................................................................................................... 6 Side Events ................................................................................................................................ 6 Concluding Session .................................................................................................................... 7 III. THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS ...................................................................................... 8 SESSION 1: GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS – REIMAGINING DEVELOPMENT FOR HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING ............................................................................................................................... 8 SESSION 2: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES...................................................................... 18 12th Five Year Plan and SDG Integration .................................................................................... 18 SESSION 3: CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT ............................................... 25 SESSION 5: STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCING ..................................... 33 (1) Bhutan’s Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook ..................................................... 33 (2) Economic Diversification ................................................................................................ 37 SESSION 6: LAST MILE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES........................................................ 43 Development Challenges, Opportunities, and Continued Partnership ........................................ 43 IV. DEVELOPMENT PARTNER STATEMENTS...................................................... 47 SESSIONS 4 AND 7: PARTNERSHIPS ................................................................................................. 47 Summary of Commitments and Recommendations ................................................................. 47 V. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 60 ANNEXURES ......................................................................................................................... 62 ANNEX 1: PROGRAMME FOR THE 14TH RTM ................................................................................. 62 ANNEX 2: INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER OF BHUTAN ........... 66 ANNEX 3: INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE RGOB CO-CHAIR FOR THE 14TH RTM............. 72 ANNEX 4: STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS .......................................... 76 Annex 4.1: Statement by Asian Development Bank (ADB) .......................................................... 76 Annex 4.2: Statement by Australia ............................................................................................... 78 Annex 4.3: Statement by Austria .................................................................................................. 81 Annex 4.4: Statement by Bangladesh ........................................................................................... 83 Annex 4.5: Statement by Bhutan Foundation ............................................................................... 86 Annex 4.6: Statement by Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation ........................... 88 Annex 4.7: Statement by the European Union ............................................................................. 89 Annex 4.8: Statement by Finland ................................................................................................. 91 Annex 4.9: Statement by Green Technology Center ..................................................................... 93 Annex 4.10: Statement by HELVETAS ......................................................................................... 94 Annex 4.11: Statement by ICIMOD .............................................................................................. 95 Annex 4.12: Statement by India .................................................................................................... 97 Annex 4.13: Statement by Indonesia ............................................................................................ 99 Annex 4.14: Statement by International Finance Corporation (IFC) ........................................ 101 Annex 4.15: Statement by International Monetary Fund (IMF) ................................................ 103 Annex 4.16: Statement by International Union for Conservation of Nature .............................. 105 Annex 4.17: Statement by Ireland .............................................................................................. 107 Annex 4.18: Statement by Israel ................................................................................................. 109 Annex 4.19: Statement by Japan ................................................................................................ 111 Annex 4.20: Statement by Korea Development Cooperation Agency (KOICA) ......................... 113 Annex 4.21: Statement by Kuwait .............................................................................................. 115 Annex 4.22: Statement by Norway (NORAD) ............................................................................ 116 Annex 4.23: Statement by SAARC DEVELOPMENT FUND ..................................................... 118 Annex 4.24: Statement by Save the Children International ....................................................... 119 Annex 4.25: Statement by Singapore .......................................................................................... 121 Annex 4.26: Statement by Slovenia ............................................................................................ 123 Annex 4.27: Statement by SNV, Netherlands Development Organisation ................................. 124 Annex 4.28: Statement by Thailand ............................................................................................ 125 Annex 4.29: Joint UN Statement ................................................................................................ 128 Annex 4.30: Statement by the World Health Organisation ........................................................ 135 Annex 4.31: Statement by the World Bank ................................................................................. 138 ANNEX 5: CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR .................................. 141 ANNEX 6: CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY, GNH COMMISSION, RGOB ................ 143 I. Introduction The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) held the 14th Round Table Meeting (RTM) from 12th to 14th March 2019, coinciding with the beginning of the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) and at an important point in Bhutan’s development journey. With the country set to graduate from the United Nations (UN) Least Developed Country (LDC) category by 2023, the 12th FYP period (2019-2023) is considered critical to ensuring that development gains to date are consolidated, that last mile challenges are overcome, and that progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is sustained. The 14th RTM was therefore geared towards apprising Bhutan’s development partners on its socio-economic achievements and challenges; and on the way forward in the form of the 12th FYP, including efforts to strengthen and broaden partnerships for its effective implementation. The Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Lyonchhen (Dr.) Lotay Tshering, inaugurated the event, which was jointly organised by the RGoB and the United Nations (UN) System in Bhutan. The RTM was co-chaired by H.E. Lyonpo Dr. Tandi Dorji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator and UN Under-Secretary General. Close to 200 participants attended the meeting, including representatives of Bhutan’s international and resident development partners, Government ministries, constitutional bodies, Parliament, political parties, autonomous agencies, Local Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and private sector associations. Of this, 37 delegates represented 23 resident development partner agencies, and 69 delegates represented 22 bilateral and 19 multilateral development partners based in the region and internationally. Background, Theme and Objectives