Bhutan’s Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship has reported a record 2,000 applications for its Youth Startup Fund this year—double the number from 2024. This initiative, supported by the UNDP and local banks, offers grants and mentoring to youth-led startups across agriculture, fintech, and ecotourism.
The trend reflects growing youth engagement in innovation, with many ventures coming from rural districts. Bhutanese authorities are also in talks with Indian and Bangladeshi incubators to form cross-border mentorships and product distribution networks.
The program is being promoted as a replicable model for neighbouring regions—including Sikkim and North Bengal—where youth unemployment and migration remain challenges.