The recent 5.5-magnitude earthquake on the 7th June night with its epicentre around 20 km under the surface near Punakha Dzong is another not-so-gentle reminder of Bhutan’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Bhutan may have accumulated significant tectonic stress over the past three centuries since a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the country …
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The National Council (NC) adopted the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill on 5th June. NC Member for Bumthang, Kencho Tshering, informed the House that the Good Governance Committee (GCC) had reviewed the Bill and made a recommendation concerning goods already imported under categories that are proposed for exemption. The …
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The National Council concluded its deliberations on the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 4th June, paving the way for all insurance companies to provide both life and general insurance services. Representing the government, Finance Minister Lekey Dorji stated that the Financial Services (Amendment) Act of Bhutan primarily serves to …
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The National Assembly on Friday passed the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2026, with all 45 Members voting in favor of the motion. The amendment proposes the inclusion of 22 new items under Schedule IV C of the principal Act, which lists goods exempted from GST. The …
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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gangzur Minjey constituency, Loday Tsheten, raised concerns in the National Assembly regarding currency depreciation risks and the sustainability of the country’s external debt portfolio, particularly non-hydropower debt denominated in convertible currencies. Citing the Debt Situation Report, the MP stated that Bhutan’s total public debt …
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The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, presented the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the nine recommendations submitted by the Economic and Finance Committee (EFC) on 19th May on the Review Report of the Tourism Policy. The EFC recommended reviewing the Tourism Levy Act 2022 to clearly …
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The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Singapore was introduced as an urgent Bill in the National Assembly on 18th May by Finance Minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji. The agreement outlines how different types of income will be taxed in both countries to prevent …
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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill of Bhutan was introduced as a Money Bill in the National Assembly by the Finance Minister, Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, on 18th May. The Amendment Bill was introduced under Section 30 of the Goods and Services Tax Act of Bhutan 2020, which empowers …
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The Renewable Energy Tax Exemption Bill was introduced in the National Assembly (NA) on Friday by Finance Minister Lekey Dorji. The Bill was handed over to the Economic and Finance Committee and will be taken up for deliberation on 6th June. The Bill aims to promote investment in renewable energy …
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The Member of Parliament (MP) Kinzang Wangchuk of Dramedtse-Ngatshang constituency raised concerns in Parliament over the potential impact of the Bhutan Standards Bureau’s (BSB) product certification requirement on imports, small businesses, and market supply. The MP said the recent BSB circular requiring imported products to be certified and included under …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.
