At the 32nd Meet-the-Press, Finance Minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji said the government recognizes concerns over the cost of credit, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and private sector businesses that depend on affordable financing for investment, expansion and job creation. He said the current interest rate spread in Bhutan …

Prime Minister says focus is on strengthening implementation, expanding financial services and preparing Bhutan’s workforce for long-term economic transformation The 10X Economic Roadmap is broadly on track in its first full year of implementation, with the government focusing on establishing the institutional framework, launching the first program, and preparing the …

Access to land, taxation and foreign exchange, market access and licensing emerge as major concerns The nationwide Business Regulatory Process Review has identified 371 business-related issues among 399 issues raised during consultations across the country, with access to land and public infrastructure, taxation, market access and licensing emerging as the …

Drainage improvements, slope stabilization and early warnings among measures to reduce recurring road damage The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) is strengthening road resilience against extreme weather, with a focus on drainage, slope stabilization, preventive maintenance and early warning systems to reduce recurring road damage. Speaking during the 32nd …

Gewog initiative aims to reduce reliance on imported oil as farmers expand mustard cultivation Metakha Gewog in Chukha has stepped up efforts to produce mustard oil locally as part of an initiative to reduce dependence on imported edible oil and strengthen local agricultural production. The gewog administration, in collaboration with …

The Annual Cordyceps Auction 2026 recorded the transaction of 300.16 kilograms (kgs) of cordyceps across eight auction centers, with 73.02 kgs sold through auction and 227.15 kgs withdrawn. According to the auction records, the withdrawn quantity accounted for 75.67 percent of the total quantity transacted. The withdrawal was mainly attributed …

During heavy rainfall, particularly during the monsoon season, drains along the stretch from Changzamtog school to NoNo Furniture shop in Thimphu tend to overflow as increased surface runoff puts additional pressure on the existing drainage system. The overflow can result in water accumulating along roadsides and low-lying areas, affecting pedestrians, …

Dorji Namgyal Rinchhen has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer of Bhutan National Bank (BNB), assuming leadership of one of Bhutan’s established commercial banks as the financial sector undergoes rapid digital transformation and faces changing customer expectations. Dorji Namgyal Rinchhen previously served as BNB’s Director of Customer Experience, a …

The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA) and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) launched the second phase of the Bhutan-India cross-border QR payment interoperability project on 17th September, enabling Bhutanese users to make QR payments at merchant establishments in India directly through their domestic mobile banking applications. The initiative builds …

Industry body proposes changes to lending rules, collateral requirements and working capital financing to support businesses and manufacturing Improved liquidity in the banking system has not translated into proportionate improvements in access to credit, according to the Association of Bhutanese Industries (ABI). ABI said liquidity and access to finance are …