Thinley Namgay

Paro—To cultivate a more connected, efficient, and prosperous Bhutanese society, accelerating digital transformation is viewed as a crucial pathway forward. In the 21st century, as countries rapidly advance digitally, Bhutan must implement timely initiatives to engage with global trends and enhance the livelihoods of its people.

Over the years, successive governments in Bhutan have made significant investments in digital infrastructure. Noteworthy advancements include broadband access for 95 percent of the population, Government-to-Citizen services, national digital identity systems, e-learning platforms, ICT facilities in schools, digital payment systems, and digital health records.

Despite these achievements, there is substantial potential to harness new technologies, streamline government services, enhance transparency in business operations, and improve access to healthcare, education, and public services. However, digital advancement—particularly in rural areas—continues to lag behind.

At the Bhutan Innovation Forum yesterday, digital transformation expert, Florian Marcus, said that successful initiatives must be people-centric. “A people-centric approach builds trust between the government and the populace,” he said.

While he underscored the importance of legal frameworks in digital transformation, he also highlighted the need to update laws and regulations that hinder digital processes.

He pointed to Estonia and Singapore as exemplary models, suggesting Bhutan can learn from their best practices to enhance government-citizen interactions and create a seamless digital experience.

“In Estonia, citizens have immense trust in how their personal data and privacy are handled. They can track every instance when their data is accessed by the government,” he said.

He suggested that Bhutan could leverage artificial intelligence, people-centric digital services, and cross-border data exchanges to enhance its digital landscape.

The head of Connectivity and Access Policy for the Asia-Pacific, Tenzing Norbhu, said Bhutan has to align its digital transformation with its national goals, such as developing Gelephu Mindfulness City, becoming a GNH economy by 2034, and achieving economic progress through the 13th Plan.

She stressed the need to change mindsets and address organisational redundancies for meaningful digital progress. “Some of our online services still require a legal stamp, and we need to reconsider that,” she said.

While she commended the strides made in digital services, she called for concerted efforts to combat cyberbullying, online fraud, scams, and identity theft.

Tenzing Norbhu also stressed the importance of gathering substantial data to drive digital transformation. “For instance, public transport in Singapore is affordable and convenient, which is the result of extensive planning and data availability.”

GovTech Secretary Jigme Tenzing said that the government has been providing reliable services to the people. “For instance, the government considered the risks of digital transformation and created the self-sovereign identity known as the national digital identity.”

He added that the government could also learn from best practices in the private sector. He emphasised the need to protect data privacy and invest in online services that are accessible to the public at all times.