Local manufacturers see strong competition from traders

As the first phase of chain-linked fencing projects worth Nu 174 million (M) is being implemented in all 20 dzongkhags, local wire mesh manufacturers find themselves at the losing end.

Manufacturing sector’s focus to boost GDP growth

The manufacturing sector is back in focus as the government plans to more than double its contribution to the gross domestic product by 2029.

Samtse dzongkhag working on waste management

In an effort to tackle waste problems and human-wildlife conflicts (HWC), the growing social concerns in Samtse, the dzongkhag initiated zero waste mobile application, and vermi composting to reduce bio-degradable waste.

Governments work on reducing hassles for commuters on Indian Highways

Bhutanese drivers could expect better travelling experience on Indian highways once the measures to eliminate exploitation on toll fees materialise.

284 water sources in Dagana dried up or drying

A total of 281 water sources—271 are drying and 13 dried has already up, according to the water sources assessment carried out by the Watershed Management Division in December 2021.

Supreme Court rules not to reinstate seven lecturers of CLCS

The Supreme Court (SC) recently overturned lower courts’ decision and upheld the decision of the College of Language and Culture Studies (CLCS) to not reinstate the seven lecturers involved in the sexual harassment of f…

Pvt. sector needs conducive environment for development: ADB

Years after identifying it as the engine of economic growth, Bhutan’s private sector is still struggling to grow with policies creating barriers, according to the Asian Development Outlook April 2023.

Trashigang DT decided to auction free-ranging animals

During the recent dzongkhag tshogdu (DT), local leaders in Trashigang expressed concerns over the welfare of animals in the area.

Imports rise to Nu 118 billion

Bhutan’s import bill rose by about 32 percent to Nu 118.79 billion (B) in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, exports dropped by 2 percent.

Police investigate nexus in land and money deal, four detained

Thimphu police are investigating a nexus of fraudulent practices involving illegal private money lending and land transactions between 2018 and 2021 and recently detained three men after a 34-year-old woman was arrested …

1,856 water sources drying up in Bhutan

Of the 7,399 water sources in the country, 0.9 percent (69) have dried up and 25.1 percent (1,856) are in the process of drying up. Climate change and forest degradation, experts say, are further accelerating the drying …

Chukha export tariff revised by 45 Chhetrum a unit

With the revision of the export tariff of the Chukha hydropower by Nu 0.45, the 336 MW Chukha hydropower project is estimated to earn an additional revenue of Nu 580 M annually.

Second suspect arrested in murder case

Wangdue police detained a man from Sephu on April 3 in the alleged murder investigation of a 34-year-old man whose body was found in a roadside drain early on February 9.

Bhutan’s economy to slow down to 4.6 percent this year: ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected growth in Bhutan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to slow down from 4.7 percent in 2022 to 4.6 percent in 2023, and further decline to 4.2 percent in 2024.

His Majesty meets President, PM Modi in India

His Majesty The King is in Delhi on a 3-day official visit to India on the invitation of India’s President.

A change of education policy for disabled children

Karma (name changed) is a mother of a child with autism. Her son is 12 years old and is studying at the Special Education Needs (SEN) or inclusive school in Changangkha Lower Secondary School (CLSS).

Govt. mulling to restrict foreign currency for import of non-essential items

The government will restrict issuing foreign currency for import of non-essential items if the country does not have enough foreign currency, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said during a meeting with the representative…

Mongar candidates focus on improving livelihoods

Upholding the Constitution, enacting timely laws and formulating policies were some of the common pledges of the seven candidates contesting the National Council’s (NC) election from Mongar.

Most trees planted in mass plantations die

From 1951 to 2012, Bhutan planted trees on 54,782.38 acres, bringing 898.07 acres of land under forest cover. Of this, trees planted on 34,077.30 acres (62.20 percent) died or couldn’t be traced.

Govt. waives SDF for border towns

Tourists visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrupjongkhar towns for 24 hours need not pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) beginning April 14.

BTP declares two more candidates

Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) declared one candidate each from Trashigang and Punakha yesterday.

Bhutan observes International Zero Waste Day with mass cleaning

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) organised a mass cleaning campaign to observe the International Day of Zero Waste yesterday.

Full commission upholds CEDSB’s decision on Punakha dispute case

The full commission of the ECB upheld the Central Election Dispute Settlement Body’s (CEDSB) decision to not penalise Namgay Tenzin, a cousin of Toebisa gewog’s National Council candidate Dophu Drukpa, for alleged viol…

Thimphu’s NC candidates pledge laws for people’s interests

The two National Council (NC) candidates of Thimphu noted that the economy of the country was in a dire state and pledged to enact laws and formulate policies to help revive it.

Manufacturing sector stagnates for 10 years

The country’s manufacturing sector has stagnated for a decade, averaging a growth of 4 percent. Going by figures, the sector’s share of GDP has been declining over the years.

GBV and DV cases decrease

RENEW and Royal Bhutan Police recorded 565 cases last year compared to 751 cases in 2021.

Court hands former labour minister and DG two-year prison term

Thimphu District Court recently sentenced former Minister of erstwhile Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) Ngeema Sangay Tshempo and Director General (DG) of the Department of Employment and Human Resources (DoEHR), Shera…

Volunteers in orange descend for clean and green Bhutan

To create awareness and encourage residents to maintain a clean and green city, more than 400 de-suups carried out a cleaning campaign along Norzin Lam in Thimphu on March 25

Trashigang’s NC Candidates offer same pledges

The five National Council (NC) candidates of Trashigang pledged to resolve the goongtong and youth unemployment issues in the dzongkhag.

Amid rising inflation, import bill and spending increases

Contradicting talks about rising inflation, retail business not doing well or decreasing disposable income, available statistics show a different trend.

Balanced diet costly for urbanites

Consecutive national reports in recent years pointed out that the Bhutanese people need to eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. Consumers in urban areas say that their monthly income cannot afford a…

Issuing banks reject international payment gateway

Many a time, when tourists try to pay their visa and sustainable development fee (SDF) through international payment gateway in Bhutan, the transaction fails. The tourists panic, and there is not much that can be done.

Court freezes Nu 2.4M crowdfunding

Gelephu drungkhag court ordered freezing of Nu 2.43 million (M) in a suspected illegal online crowdfunding case involving Drungtsho Tshering Penjor and three other defendants.

RENEW transfers BBCC Mandate to BQPCA

The Bhutan Board for Certified Counsellors (BBCC) Mandate was transferred from the Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women (RENEW) Secretariat to the Bhutan Qualification and Professional Certification Authority (BQ…

Bhutan to use multimodel transports for movement of goods

Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister Karma Dorji and the visiting Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, Tipu Munshi signed the agreement in Thimphu yesterday.

The great treasure discoverer in Buli

During the third month of the lunar calendar, an old woman saw a man a few metres below her house gathering stones to build a foundation to raise a shack. The man emanated a special aura.

Buli, a village frozen in time

Sonam, the Mangmi of Nangkor gewog, said that Buli has a rich history that enthrals locals and tourists alike even today.

Election Act and rules too rigid?

As Bhutan hosts its fourth National Council elections, many eligible voters living in Thimphu and overseas including service providers expressed their concerns and disappointment with the discontinuation of postal ballot…

More than 100,000 register for postal ballot services

The voter turnout for the National Council (NC) elections for this year could decrease drastically.Going by the past elections records of Council and National Assembly elections, voter turnout increased with facilitation…

His Majesty ends Royal tour of the south

His Majesty The King arrived in Thimphu yesterday, having concluded a weeklong tour of the South.

Govt. to grant investment allowance to businesses for economic growth

e government has decided to grant an “investment allowance” to any investment made in projects for the promotion and development of 14 high-priority sectors, for research and development, improving energy efficiency

Remittance drops by more than 40 percent in 2022

With a dozen years spent in Australia, Namgay and her husband are comfortable financially. The couple arrived in Australia in 2012.

Paro’s five NC candidates

Five of the seven aspiring National Council (NC) candidates from Paro have been nominated.

Lungtenphu fire leaves 20 households homeless

A fire that started from the Lungtenphu army colony in Thimphu, above the helipad, burnt down about 20 units of houses yesterday afternoon.

His Majesty meets de-suups piloting Gyalsung training component

His Majesty The King granted an audience to participants of the 56th Batch DeSuung Training Programme, ongoing at Pelrithang, in Gelephu yesterday.

Trashiyangtse nominates five NC candidates

Trashiyangtse dzongkhag has five candidates vying for a seat in the National Council (NC) this election. Trashigyangtse had only three candidates in 2018 NC election.

Voters educated to enhance electoral participation: ECB

Amid speculations of facilitation booths and restricted postal ballot facility, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is optimistic that their civic and voter education would enhance electoral participation and elector…

Will centralising budget system affect thromdes’ service delivery?

The talk about granting full human and financial autonomy to the thromdes for the collection of revenue and planning their own expenditure has been doing the rounds for many years now.

Financial institutions and corporate offices “hollowing out”

The high rate of attrition is “hollowing out” financial institutions and corporate offices of their human resources even as some of these agencies are moving their services online.

Burnt answer scripts to cost the culprit

The culprit who had stolen Class XII answer scripts from Tashitse Higher Secondary School in Trashigang is under police custody. The case will be forwarded to the Drungkhag court, according to the Royal Bhutan Police.

Dairy farmers call for dedicated feed factory in the east

The price of livestock feed has risen by Nu 1,500 to Nu 1,850 since late 2020, inflicting heavy losses on dairy farmers. Farmers also claim that they suspect contamination of cattle feed.

Govt. foregoes Nu 3.31B as fiscal incentives

The government had foregone estimated tax revenue of Nu 3.31 billion (B) in 2021 with the implementation of the fiscal incentives measures, according to the National Revenue report 2021-22. In 2020, the tax foregone was …

National revenue grows by 8.9 percent

The national revenue saw a growth of 8.9 percent with the collection of Nu 39.04 billion (B) in the fiscal year 2021-22 compared to the previous fiscal year.

Frequent system breakdown irks taxpayers

The deadline for income tax filing ends today but many citizens have not been able to file their personal income tax (PIT) due to the Department of Revenue and Customs’ repeated system breakdowns.

No words enough to express gratitude

His Majesty The King was on a tour of the east from June 8 to June 13.“I cried when I saw His Majesty in trekking boots carrying a backpack,” recalls Tenzin.

Duty-free gold available for tourists after Losar

To mark the double auspicious day (Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The King and Losar, the Bhutanese New Year), the Department of Tourism in partnership with Bhutan Duty Free (BDF) will sell limited quantities of duty-f…

Youth unemployment increases in 2022

The youth unemployment rate in 2022 is estimated at 28.6 percent which is an increase by 7.7 points compared to 20.9 percent in 2021, according to the Labour Force Survey Report, 2022.

Bhutan adds eight new species to Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory

In the last few years, Vector-borne Disease Control Programme in Gelephu identified eight new species of mosquitos.They have been listed in Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory.

Centre for Infectious Diseases to be ready in four years

The groundbreaking ceremony, for Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases (RCID) in Gidagom which is expected to complete in four years, took place yesterday.

Lack of water for agriculture is a shame

Water is a problem of abundance in Bhutan. However, lack of water is a major issue.

Bhutan Airlines loses Nu 150M in the first quarter

Spring is the tourist season in Bhutan, but going by those in the airline business, there are not many reservations, indicating a slow business.

A Force of Change

Almost a decade after His Majesty’s address to a group of young de-suup trainees at the Military Training Center in Tencholing, Wangdue, the de-suup family today has grown from a few hundred to a formidable group of aro…

Government takes responsibility to support Arts students: PM

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) is relooking at the possibility of increasing the intake for Paro College of Education (PCE) following the Prime Minister’s intervention and discussions with the education ministry.

Butter lamp Ceremony for Turkey & Syria earthquake victims

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced a prayer ceremony yesterday morning to light a thousand butter lamps for those affected by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this week.

Zooming on focused areas & awareness to reduce road crash fatalities: BCTA

Bhutan witnessed an increase in the number of road crash fatalities last year. According to Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority’s (BCTA) record, the current road crash fatality rate is 6.3 persons per 10,000 veh…

An Indian woman dupes security and immigration officials

An Indian visitor, a woman, deceived three Bhutanese taxi drivers and a hotel owner last week.

Regional hospitals start visa medical examination

Those planning to go to Australia will now no longer have to travel and wait in queue at JDWNR Hospital in Thimphu for an immigration medical examination (IME).

Close the access!

The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) has established a Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Division in Thimphu to help address the growing drug abuse cases in the country.

Million Fruit Tree Plantation enters second phase to reduce mortality

The second phase of the nationwide DeSuung National Service Million Fruit Tree planting began yesterday in Guma gewog, Punakha with a demonstration of how to plant fruit seedlings.

Nikachhu hydropower project commission by year-end

With 87.75 percent of the project completed, the 118MW Nikachhu Hydropower Project in Trongsa is expected to commission by December this year.

ACC must open up

Bhutan’s corruption has not improved in five years, according to Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2022.

Policy fails to support private employees

While public and corporate employees have been receiving salary increases over the past year, private sector employees have been out despite many being underpaid.

Supreme Court asked RICB, its employees, and Ugyen Wangchuk to repay a loan Nu 34M each

The Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the High Court regarding the case involving multiple unethical lending between the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICB) and borrower Ugyen Wangchuk in July this y…

De-suung completes another water project

With the handing over of De-suung water project to Yangyner in Trashigang and Jamkhar villagers in Trashiyangtse, residents will have a reliable supply of irrigation water.

Bus accident kills six monks

Six monks of Kanglung Thubten Choekhorling Shedra in Trashigang died when the bus they were travelling in fell more than 300 feet off the road near Takti Koti canteen on the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway on November 12.

Controlling religious events for free and fair elections

It is the annual choku or lochoe (an event to appease the local protective deities) season in western Bhutan. In normal times, it’s the local astrologer who decides when to conduct the choku.

Farmers hopeful of better income after GSB project

In the past five years, vegetable production in Tsaenkhar, Lhuentse has spiked from subsistence to commercial scale. It has become the primary source of cash income for the villagers.

Enhancing the country’s digital future

Around 70 participants are training on Linux administration and network or information security as part of the Bhutan Network Operators Group’s (btNOG) conference in Thimphu which began on October 14.

Bhutan imports tobacco worth Nu 565.63M in first half of 2022

A long wait for a boarding facility

Poor cellular network connectivity affects service delivery

Celebrating guardians of environment

Zero capital budget for a biodiversity conservation agency

Bartsham Wang ends today

Past few days hotter than normal

Are managed-out civil servants eligible to contest elections?

Walups question legality of land, owner refutes

A modern network for survey

Inward remittance scheme incentives hiked to 2 percent

Inflation hit 5.95 percent in May

Bhutan’s borders to reopen in September

Student sustains second degree burns from electrical accident

Tourism Levy Bill not just about USD 200: Lyonchhen

Tourism Levy Bill proposes USD 200 a day in SDF

Five religious organisations recognised for promoting social welfare

Kabisa LAP likely to complete this year

Fiscal year 2021-22 budget revised to Nu 84B

Govt. to discuss legal aid after NC completes Civil Liability Bill discussion

Diesel price down by Nu 8.33 from midnight

Domestic borrowings push debt-to-GDP ratio to 130.9%