Neten Dorji

Samdrupjongkhar—Access to the market has long been a major hurdle for farmers in Samdrupjongkhar, often leaving them helpless as their products rot at home due to a lack of buyers.

Kuenzang Leki, 44, opened a Cottage and Small Industry (CSI) market for local produce in Samdrupjongkhar yesterday with the support from the Asian Development Bank technical assistance.

The CSI market will supply high-quality, fresh, and safe value-added products to local consumers as well as those from other regions.

“The CSI market in Samdrupjongkhar is designed to be a dedicated platform for artisans and entrepreneurs in Bhutan’s eastern and southern dzongkhags,” said Sonam Jamtsho from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment. “It will serve as a crucial step towards scaling up production, enhancing value addition, and generating employment opportunities in the region.”

The market will be managed by the private operator, who will act as an essential aggregator, helping small-scale producers from remote areas gain visibility and access to larger markets.

“The market will not only promote CSI products in domestic markets but also explore opportunities in international markets,” Sonam Jamtsho said.

The CSI market is also expected to create job opportunities, improve livelihoods, and reduce poverty in Samdrupjongkhar, which currently has the second-highest poverty rate in the country.

During the inauguration of the CSI market, Samdrupjongkhar Dzongdag Tashi Wangmo said that with the opening of the entry and exit points in Samdrupjongkhar, Indian tourists are showing great interest in purchasing local products. “The success of this initiative will depend entirely on our ability to work together.”

The CSI market will feature a wide range of value-added products, including organic agricultural produce, handcrafted goods, traditional textiles, and herbal wellness products.

The dzongkhag administration will monitor whether the CSI markets are offering imported products alongside local ones. Only 40 percent of value-added production, after processing and packaging, is permitted for sale.

“The focus will be on promoting Bhutan-made products,”said Kuenzang Leki, the private operator. “With the right packaging and quality, we aim to tap into larger markets, particularly in Guwahati, and make Bhutanese goods more visible to consumers.”

The CSI market in Samdrupjongkhar is the third of its kind in Bhutan, following successful launches in Thimphu in 2020 and Paro in 2023.