Shimla, Aug. 21 -- The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department on Thursday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB-BIPP) to unlock the state's estimated Rs 22,600 crore untapped forest and pastoral economy potential through science and technology-enabled governance.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Sanjay Sood on behalf of the Forest Department and Executive Director of BIPP, ISB, Professor Ashwini Chhatre on behalf of the institute.

Speaking on the occasion, Sukhu described the partnership as an important step towards strengthening Himachal Pradesh's rural econ...