Yangyel Lhaden

Namgyal Dorji, the Minister for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment (MoICE), brings a fresh perspective to the government at the age of 38, making him the youngest among the nine ministers in this administration.

Before his current role, he served as the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York.

Expressing his commitment to transformative initiatives, Namgyal Dorji highlighted the need for reforms not only within the civil service but also in the parliamentary arena.

His decision to join the political sphere, he said, was driven by the desire to actively contribute to these changes.

“I resigned at a time when transformation was at its peak, and I joined the party in hopes that I could work on reforms,” Namgyal Dorji explained. “Reforms should not be limited to the civil service; even the parliament has a significant role in bringing about change.”

Anticipating his role in the MoICE ministry, Namgyal Dorji conveyed his enthusiasm for driving transformation with an open-minded, out-of-the-box approach. He emphasised the interconnected nature of commerce, industry, and employment, seeing abundant opportunities for positive change.

“The MoICE ministry is associated with numerous mandates for transformation, and commerce, industry, and employment are interconnected, offering ample opportunities for change, which I believe is a great opportunity for me to work on,” he stated.

Namgyal Dorji’s educational background aligns well with his responsibilities.

He holds a BA in English (Hons) from Sherubtse College and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Royal Institute of Management. He is also a recipient of the Australia Awards, having pursued a Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Coral Bell School of the Asia-Pacific College at the Australian National University.

His journey to the ministerial position reflects the trust and support he garnered from the voters of Kabisa-Talog in the general election.

Elected as a Member of Parliament with 1,277 postal ballot votes and 3,194 votes through electronic voting machines, Namgyal Dorji got the ministerial role that reflects both his qualifications and the hopes vested in him by the electorate.