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Business

Bhutan’s trade with Thailand hits record high

Bhutan’s imports from Thailand surged to Nu 2.67 billion in 2024, making the Southeast Asian country the third-largest source of imported goods.

Apr 23, 2025 2 mins read
New vegetable market under construction in Samtse

Samtse—For many years, farmers in Samtse have sold vegetables from under makeshift tents, battling monsoon rains and blazing heat. Now, that chapt...

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
Organic vegetables provide new livelihoods for Kochin farmers

Tashichoeling, Samtse — For 78-year-old Kamala Tamang of Kochin in Tendruk, saving money in a bank had been un...

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Major financial sector reforms crucial to realising 13th Plan goals

Sweeping reforms in the financial sector are essential for the country to achieve the ambiti...

Apr 14, 2025 3 mins read
AmA by Deki Natural Dyes

In an age dominated by fast fashion and synthetic dyes, a Bhutanese entrepreneur is turning to the past to craft a more sustainable future using natural dyes.

Apr 09, 2025 3 mins read
Online potato auction boosts trade and revenue

Potato trade has seen a major transformation since the launch of the online auction system under the Bhutan Commodities Exchange Initiative (BCEI) in 2016.

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
BOB introduces flexible credit line and premium cards

The Bank of Bhutan (BoB) unveiled two financial products—Credit Line Limit (CLL) and BOB Premium Card—at a networking event for its bu...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Mountain Hazelnuts secures USD 7.9M investment for climate-resilient farming

Mountain Hazelnuts, one of Bhutan’s first fully foreign direct in...

Mar 31, 2025 1 mins read
Bhutan auctions wine on global stage

For the first time, Bhutanese vintage wine will go under the hammer on the global stage, marking a historic moment for the country’s nascent wine industry.

Mar 28, 2025 2 mins read
Soyalla: The Bhutanese tofu maker

In much of the world, plant-based diets are gaining traction for their health benefits and environmental sustainability. Yet in Bhutan, where traditional cuisine is deeply rooted in meat and...

Mar 21, 2025 3 mins read
PHPA-II commissions third unit, adding 170 MW to national grid

Wangdue—The third unit of Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project was commissioned yesterday, boosting the plan...

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Manufacturing sector at a crossroads

The country’s economy, facing nearly three decades of premature de-industrialisation, requires a targeted industrial policy that prioritises specialised sectors to reverse this trend.

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Pioneering organic glass noodles

Forty-year-old entrepreneur Sonam Zangmo from Wangdue is pioneering organic glass noodles (Finn) made from buckwheat and vegetable extracts.

Mar 19, 2025 3 mins read
Agricultural exports surge to Nu 3.51 billion despite production challenges

Bhutan’s agricultural exports saw a strong performance last year, ge...

Mar 18, 2025 2 mins read
Agenda Chikha commits USD 8 million to strengthen disability inclusion

Agenda Chikha, a collaborative initiative between the government and key stakeholde...

Mar 18, 2025 3 mins read
Building startups for Gelephu Mindfulness City

After a four-year hiatus, the National Startup Weekend is back, aiming to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential skills, mentorship, and resources to...

Mar 13, 2025 3 mins read
Smartphone imports hit record high of Nu 2.7 billion, raising eyebrows

Smartphone imports spiked to Nu 2.72 billion in 2024, a sharp increase from Nu 2.2 billion in 2023. This jump propelled smartphones to the fifth-highest imported commodity, up from eighth place the previous year, according to Bhutan Trade Statistics.

Mar 08, 2025 2 mins read
BDBL receives almost 4,000 loan applications under ESP Window-I

Bhutan Development Bank Limited (BDBL) has received 3,969 loan applications across its 35 branches natio...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Card payment and SWIFT transfers drive international transactions

Bhutan’s international payment systems showed mixed trends in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, rec...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Hydropower generation spikes by 11 percent in 2024

The country’s total hydropower generation increased by 11 percent, reaching 11, 699.68 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity in 2024, up from 10,...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Forex reserves reach USD 700 million, up by 15 percent

The country’s foreign exchange reserves grew by 15.39 percent year-over-year, reaching USD 700.51 million as of December 2024, an increase  of USD 93.48 million, according to the National Statistics Bureau’s socio-economic fourth-quarter update.

Feb 18, 2025 2 mins read
Will Starlink disrupt local internet market?

Starlink’s recent entry into the country promises high-speed connectivity, potentially disrupting the market long dominated by Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell—the t...

Feb 15, 2025 2 mins read
Businesses in Phuentsholing struggle to rebound

Phuentsholing—Despite an uptick in the number of Indian tourists visiting Phuentsholing, local businesses in the country’s commercial hub are struggling...

Feb 15, 2025 3 mins read
Finance ministry revises hospitality and entertainment budget

Following recommendations by Royal Audit Authority (RAA), the finance ministry has revised the guidelines for...

Feb 15, 2025 3 mins read
Two textile startup ideas awarded

Two Bhutanese textile startup ideas were awarded Nu 50,000 each for their business ideas during a recent 15-day Basic Entrepreneurship Course focused on the textile sector, held at the Royal Textile Academy.

Feb 15, 2025 2 mins read
ORO Bank to reinvent banking in Gelephu Mindfulness City

ORO Bank, Asia’s first full-reserve bank, is positioning itself as a pillar of trust and transparency in the country’s ambiti...

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read
RMA pilots central bank digital currency

The central bank, Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), has initiated a pilot programme for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in a controlled and experimental environment, fo...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read
At 9.9 percent, industry growth falls short of plan’s target

The industry sector’s growth rate is estimated at 9.9 percent in the 13th Plan, which is lower by 0.3 perce...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read
New measures to streamline exports from Samdrupjongkhar

Samdrupjongkhar—Authorities in Samdrupjongkhar are cracking down on illegal mandarin exports to prevent market disruptions and loss of government revenue.

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read
Browse Archives
Dhamdum Industrial Park allots plots to 63 industries, employment on the rise

Samtse—Two months after its inauguration in February, Dhamdum Industrial Park in Samtse has allotted plots to 63 industries and continues to expand its industrial footprint and employment prospects.

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Thailand leads Bhutan’s agro-export markets beyond India and Bangladesh

Thailand emerged as Bhutan’s one of the top agricultural export destinations, importing goods worth Nu 83.21 million las...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Gangtey-Phobji biking trail poised for revival

Wangdue-Once a favourite among biking enthusiasts, the Gangtey-Phobji Biking Trail is gearing up for a much-anticipated...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan-Thailand celebrate friendship through football

To mark the Royal visit of Thailand’s King and Queen on April 25, a highly anticipated under-17 (U-17) football match be...

Apr 22, 2025 1 mins read
Empowering parents of children with disabilities

The Draktsho Vocational Training Centre for Children and Youth with Disabilities is launching a major initiative to trai...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutanese teen helps build satellite in Australia

Pema Tsho Sakhu, a 13-year-old Bhutanese student living in Perth, Australia, is already reaching for the stars, literall...

Apr 21, 2025 3 mins read
Maedgang farmers thrive with poultry and pig farming boom

Samtse—Poultry and piggery farming has become a primary source of livelihood for many farmers in Maedgang, under Norbuan...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Heli Bhutan to begin operations this month

Bhutan’s first private helicopter operator, Heli Bhutan Private Limited (Heli Bhutan), will begin its operations by the...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Blazing cost of forest fires

Forest fires have destroyed around 70,696 acres of forest land across the country in the past five years, according to records with the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS).

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan medical relief team returns after successful mission in Myanmar

“Working among the 87-member Bhutan Medical Relief Team (BMRT) in Myanmar for 18 days, I realised that co-operation, dis...

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
New vegetable market under construction in Samtse

Samtse—For many years, farmers in Samtse have sold vegetables from under makeshift tents, battling monsoon rains and blazing heat. Now, that chapter is finally closing.

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
Organic vegetables provide new livelihoods for Kochin farmers

Tashichoeling, Samtse — For 78-year-old Kamala Tamang of Kochin in Tendruk, saving money in a bank had been unimaginable...

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Major financial sector reforms crucial to realising 13th Plan goals

Sweeping reforms in the financial sector are essential for the country to achieve the ambitious goals of its 13th Plan,...

Apr 14, 2025 3 mins read
AmA by Deki Natural Dyes

In an age dominated by fast fashion and synthetic dyes, a Bhutanese entrepreneur is turning to the past to craft a more sustainable future using natural dyes.

Apr 09, 2025 3 mins read
BOB introduces flexible credit line and premium cards

The Bank of Bhutan (BoB) unveiled two financial products—Credit Line Limit (CLL) and BOB Premium Card—at a networking ev...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Online potato auction boosts trade and revenue

Potato trade has seen a major transformation since the launch of the online auction system under the Bhutan Commodities...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Mountain Hazelnuts secures USD 7.9M investment for climate-resilient farming

Mountain Hazelnuts, one of Bhutan’s first fully foreign direct investment (FDI) companies, has secured USD 7.9 million e...

Mar 31, 2025 1 mins read
Bhutan auctions wine on global stage

For the first time, Bhutanese vintage wine will go under the hammer on the global stage, marking a historic moment for the country’s nascent wine industry.

Mar 28, 2025 2 mins read
Soyalla: The Bhutanese tofu maker

In much of the world, plant-based diets are gaining traction for their health benefits and environmental sustainability. Yet in Bhutan, where traditional cuisine is deeply rooted in meat and dairy, soy-based products like...

Mar 21, 2025 3 mins read
PHPA-II commissions third unit, adding 170 MW to national grid

Wangdue—The third unit of Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project was commissioned yesterday, boosting the plant’s total gen...

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

As a collective, humanity has never been richer, more connected, more informed, and more protected from all cause disease and mortality. Yet it is very clear that this new reality has not translated into a happier existence. More is not the answer.

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

A significant portion of our youth’s challenges stems from our shortcomings as responsible, patient, and mindful elders. We should minimize criticism and punis...

Mar 22, 2025 1 mins read
Happiness with Mr Bhutan

Mar 15, 2025 4 mins read
For inclusive healthcare

A recent medical and dental camp organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), in collaboration with DANTAK healthcare professionals, offers a small but powerful glimpse of what inclusive healthcare can and should look like in the country. Held in Babesa in Thimphu, the one-day outreach served children with disabilities who are too often left behind by mainstream services.

Apr 24, 2025 2 mins read
Let profits trickle down to the masses

At last, the government has managed to persuade Bhutan Telecom to reduce mobile data charges by 50 percent.  From July 1, data charges will be cheaper by 50 percent. In other words, we will get more data with the same price.

Apr 23, 2025 2 mins read
The future is ours

A remarkable transformation is unfolding in the southern plains of Bhutan. The quiet frontier town of Gelephu is now emerging as the beating heart of a national dream—the Gel...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
When the forest burns and no one knows why

More than 70,000 acres of forestland have been lost to fire in the country in just five years. This is not merely a stat...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
In search of quality

As Thimphu Thromde undergoes a flurry of repairs and maintenance in preparation for an upcoming VIP visit, the city’s transformation offers more than just a polished façade. It is...

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
Life after kidney transplant

For a person diagnosed with kidney failure, a transplant gives a new lease of life. However, a study published in the Bhutan Health Journal reveals that many kidney transplant recipients in the country ar...

Apr 18, 2025 2 mins read
Inflation may be easing, but the pain still lingers

The Asian Development Bank forecasts that inflation in Bhutan will cool to 4.2 percent this year. That is welcome news....

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
A knockout triumph

Bhutanese boxers, over the weekend, not only excited spectators at the clock tower square, but also made the country proud by dominating the Four Nations Boxing Championship....

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Strengthening ties on steel rails: New chapter in Bhutan-India friendship

The decision to integrate the Gelephu-Kokrajhar cross-border railway into the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness Cit...

Apr 15, 2025 2 mins read
National problem that demands urgent attention

Mental health is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Globally, it accounts for one in six years...

Apr 14, 2025 2 mins read

Stock Today

Change Current Price (BTN)
BNBL -0.64 29.34
BBPL 0.50 18.00
BCCL -1.03 48.14
BFAL -5.50 128.31
BIL -0.43 62.00
BPCL 0.00 43.00
BTCL 4.37 570.00
DFAL -9.05 92.44
DPL -0.04 12.50
DPNB 0.11 29.21
DWAL -2.26 92.74
GICB -1.50 26.50
KCL -0.01 34.00
PCAL -0.05 28.00
RICB 1.53 86.03
STCB 2.42 48.46
TBL -4.55 45.54
SVL -0.33 5.60
Manufacturing sector at a crossroads

The country’s economy, facing nearly three decades of premature de-industrialisation, requires a targeted industrial pol...

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Pioneering organic glass noodles

Forty-year-old entrepreneur Sonam Zangmo from Wangdue is pioneering organic glass noodles (Finn) made from buckwheat and...

Mar 19, 2025 3 mins read
Agricultural exports surge to Nu 3.51 billion despite production challenges

Bhutan’s agricultural exports saw a strong performance last year, generating Nu 3.51 billion from both primary and proce...

Mar 18, 2025 2 mins read
Agenda Chikha commits USD 8 million to strengthen disability inclusion

Agenda Chikha, a collaborative initiative between the government and key stakeholders, has committed USD eight million t...

Mar 18, 2025 3 mins read
Building startups for Gelephu Mindfulness City

After a four-year hiatus, the National Startup Weekend is back, aiming to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential sk...

Mar 13, 2025 3 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

The rise in youth crimes in Bhutan stems from various causes, requiring a multifaceted solution. My experiences living i...

Feb 08, 2025 1 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

The rise in youth crimes in Bhutan stems from various causes, requiring a multifaceted solution. My experiences living i...

Feb 08, 2025 1 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

The rise in youth crimes in Bhutan stems from various causes, requiring a multifaceted solution. My experiences living i...

Feb 08, 2025 1 mins read
What are we hiding?

In recent months, Kuensel and other media outlets have raised critical questions about the government’s Nu 15 billion Ec...

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Building stronger shield against forgery

A  quiet but powerful step is being taken to strengthen Bhutan’s national security. Fifteen police officers from across...

Apr 11, 2025 2 mins read
Beware of get-rich-quick scams

It is said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many Bhutanese who have fallen victims to the Q...

Apr 10, 2025 2 mins read
What plans for urban roads?

The Thimphu-Babesa expressway is undergoing a facelift, perhaps to welcome a VIP. While this may be welcome news , the t...

Apr 09, 2025 2 mins read
Prevention must lead our health response

Bhutan is facing a silent but dangerous health crisis. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as heart disease, stroke, d...

Apr 08, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

For inclusive healthcare

A recent medical and dental camp organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), in collaboration with DANTAK healthcare professionals, offers a small but powerful glimpse of what inclusive healthcare can and should look like in the country. Held in Babesa in Thimphu, the one-day outreach served children with disabilities who are too often left behind by mainstream services.

Read More

Changyuel-Ritsa irrigation scheme offers lifeline to farmers

Punakha— As the paddy cultivation season nears, farmers in Guma gewog in Punakha, long plagued by water shortages, are seeing a glimmer of hope. The Changyuel-Ritsa lift irrigation project has been officially approved, offering a lifeline to two of the gewog’s most agriculturally dependent villages.

Read More

Brazil to pilot GNH framework

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is making its way to Brazil. The Centre for Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Studies (CBS) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian organisations to adapt and implement the country’s pioneering GNH framework in Brazil.

Read More