Opinions

Agri-preneurship in Bhutan

After a fulfilling 18-year tenure in public service, I found myself yearning for change—one that would let me continue to impact my community positively while forging a more profound connection with nature.

Feb 15, 2025 4 mins read
Paper or digital but not both

While we boast of digital transformation in governance, our citizens remain ensnared by an antiquated bureaucratic framework that defies our claim.

Feb 15, 2025 3 mins read
Potential influence of property taxes in GMC’s land market

Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) adopts Singapore’s Property Tax Act 1960 to build GMC to harmonise econom...

Feb 01, 2025 3 mins read
Ed Sheeran in Bhutan

There are some Bhutanese Ed Sheeran fans who worry that the iconic superstar star, used to larger and more vibrant crowds, would have been disappointed by a comparatively lackluster response from the audience at the Friday concert in...

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan’s climate resilience: Ten years of partnership and path forward

In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan, the kingdom that pioneered Gross Natio...

Jan 25, 2025 4 mins read
The Decadal Tenure as a tool for Judicial Transformation

The Constitution of Bhutan equips the judiciary to foster transformative justice. The High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC),...

Jan 25, 2025 3 mins read
Nurture small industries for healthy business ecosystem

All of us, the Bhutanese, would have reflected on the words of wisdom of His Majesty The King expressed through the Royal Addres...

Jan 20, 2025 7 mins read
Crastination: The balance between action and timing

In today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, the age-old adage, “The early bird gets the worm,” often holds sway. But what about the late...

Nov 02, 2024 4 mins read
Toward economic resilience: Why Bhutan needs Universal Basic Income over recurrent stimulus plans

For over a decade, Bhutan has implemented Economic...

Nov 02, 2024 5 mins read
Lawmakers snooze as digital dangers escalate among our youth

The COVID-19 pandemic’s forced transition to online education has inadvertently exposed Bhutan’s children to unpr...

Nov 02, 2024 2 mins read
A letter from Finland

Dear Bhutanese, greetings from Finland! Finland and Bhutan have much in common. Both countries have relatively small populations.

Oct 29, 2024 3 mins read
Being indispensable: How to survive and thrive at work

It is a critical time in the history of our country.  We are just picking up ourselves from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic...

Oct 25, 2024 4 mins read
The Royal visit – A blessing beyond measure

The Bhutanese diaspora in Australia witnessed an exhilarating month this October. The opportunity with eagerness and excitement to participate in the Royal Audience with His Majesty, Her Majesty, HRH the Gyalseys, and HRH the Gyalsem captivated the southern hemisphere.

Oct 23, 2024 4 mins read
A reflection on Bhutanese identity, values, and Gelephu Mindfulness City

Long before Einstein’s famous discovery that “time is relative,” many Buddhis...

Oct 07, 2024 5 mins read
Time to decriminalise sex work in Bhutan

In Bhutan, the discussion around sex work has been virtually non-existent in national spaces and the casual conversations when they do occur are limited and primarily center...

Oct 08, 2024 5 mins read
The parable of a sublime disruptor

A personal reflection on why Gelephu Mindfulness City is a disruptor of the old business-as-usual approach to achieving the ideals of economic development and has the potential to be a table...

Oct 09, 2024 9 mins read
Dual legal systems in mindfulness city for sustainable and economic growth

The Bhutan Innovation Forum (BIF) witnessed a flurry of major announcem...

Oct 05, 2024 3 mins read
Dual legal systems in mindfulness city for sustainable and economic growth

The Bhutan Innovation Forum (BIF) witnessed a flurry of major announcem...

Oct 05, 2024 3 mins read
Gewanomics: Powerful secret to joy and progress

The world has come a long way since the father of Economics Adam Smith published his ‘the wealth of nations’ in 1776.  I did not read the book and I hav...

Oct 05, 2024 5 mins read
A home called Gelephu

“The mind not only illuminates the surroundings but it also illuminates itself. It knows the objective world but simultaneously it also knows itself,” said Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche at the just concluded Bhutan Innovation Forum,...

Oct 05, 2024 3 mins read
Doping in sports: What is it and why is it important?

Have we ever realised that some medicines and medical procedures used in hospitals to treat illnesses are also prohibited in sports under anti-doping rules?

Oct 05, 2024 2 mins read
Farming Sector Distress: Alarm Bells Are Ringing

Perspective

Jul 17, 2024 4 mins read
How to survive the hottest summers

Perspective

Jul 14, 2024 4 mins read
How safe is Roof-harvested Rainwater?

Perspective

Jul 14, 2024 3 mins read
A Funeral for Bhutan's Tourism Industry

Perspective

Jun 28, 2024 3 mins read
Browse Archives
Gelephu CRRH installs advanced endoscopic system

Gelephu—The Gelephu Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) yesterday installed the advanced EVIS X1 CV-1500 endoscopy system to enhance the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, such as ulcers, gastritis, and cancer.

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan receives high-resolution digital topographic map for strategic developmental projects

Bhutan marked a major milestone in its digital development journey with the official handover of the Digital Topographic...

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
120 Bajaj Allianz delegates in Bhutan for MICE event

Indian insurance giant Bajaj Allianz chose Bhutan as the destination for its annual company event, bringing about 120 de...

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
Highland schools struggle to feed children nutritious food

In the two most remote gewogs of the country, Lunana in Gasa and Lingzhi in Thimphu, both located 4,000 metres above sea...

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
Tashichoeling transforms into emerging urban centre

Samtse-Tashichoeling in Samtse, once a quiet settlement of scattered homes and narrow roads, is rapidly transforming int...

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
I, the Song: A review

After earning critical praise and a string of international accolades, filmmaker Dechen Roder’s psychological drama “I, the Song” premiered in Thimphu on April 17.

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
How rising global fuel prices will impact Bhutan

A 20 percent surge in global oil prices could drag the country’s economic growth down by as much as 1.4 percent, accordi...

Apr 18, 2025 2 mins read
CCAA finds unfair practices in private schools’ terms and conditions

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) has found several shortcomings in the terms and conditions used by...

Apr 18, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan NDI to launch training to bridge digital skills gap

The Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) is set to launch the “NDI Xcelerator Programme” from May 8 to June 6 this yea...

Apr 18, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan explores wildlife and nature-based tourism to boost conservation and local livelihoods

Bhutan’s tourism sector remains largely focused on cultural experiences, with around 90 percent of current offerings cen...

Apr 18, 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
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 statistic—it is a serious problem. The country has seen 261 separate incidents between 2020 and 2024, with fires burning through ecosystems, livelihoods, and a piece of our natural identity. Behind these numbers lies a pattern that is as troubling as the flames themselves—the rising

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
What are we hiding?

In recent months, Kuensel and other media outlets have raised critical questions about the government’s Nu 15 billion Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). These inquiries focus on...

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 the country are undergoing specialised training to detect forged documents and improve investigative techniques. This tr...

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 QNet scam are painfully realising the wisdom behind this old adage. After Kuensel’s recent...

Apr 10, 2025 2 mins read

Stock Today

Change Current Price (BTN)
BNBL -0.64 29.34
BBPL -2.57 17.50
BCCL -1.03 48.14
BFAL -5.50 128.31
BIL -0.44 64.50
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 -0.95 28.05
RICB 1.45 84.50
STCB 2.42 48.46
TBL -4.55 45.54
SVL 0.60 5.30
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 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
Investing in food security

Food prices in Bhutan have been rising steadily, making it harder for families to afford what they need. Recent data sho...

Apr 07, 2025 2 mins read
Saving our crafts

There are growing concerns in the arts and craft business. Those in the business are increasingly alarmed by the influx...

Apr 05, 2025 2 mins read
Scamming at next level

A banker in Turkey died after the Covid-19 pandemic. His “head of finance" is reaching out to people so that she can sha...

Apr 04, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

Empowering parents of children with disabilities

The Draktsho Vocational Training Centre for Children and Youth with Disabilities is launching a major initiative to train 80 parents of children with disabilities, aiming to empower families left behind by traditional educational and support systems.

Read More

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 statistic—it is a serious problem. The country has seen 261 separate incidents between 2020 and 2024, with fires burning through ecosystems, livelihoods, and a piece of our natural identity. Behind these numbers lies a pattern that is as troubling as the flames themselves—the rising

Read More

Royal Visit of Thai King & Queen, beyond diplomacy

On the evening of February 21 this year, waves of messages extending warm felicitations on the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The King were still echoing across all social media platforms. In Thailand, the occasion blossomed into an extraordinary declaration from the Royal Court– the state visit of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn to Bhutan.

Read More

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