Though the main focus of the current debate around the Business Information and Opportunity Centre (BoIC) is on its legality, the main heart of the controversy around BoIC is political in nature. It is this political element that has brought up BoIC before discussions in the Parliament, where even its …

An important precedent was set earlier this week when the Prime Minister called the contractors executing the Nu 8 bn East-West Highway from Thimphu to Trashigang and asked them to do a good quality job. The precedent was not so much in the meeting but in the PM warning of …

There are 53 countries that Bhutan has formal diplomatic relations with, are there any plans from the government’s side to further increase the number? For the moment, we will focus on consolidating relations with countries with which we already have diplomatic ties rather than expand ties for the sake of …

Rocky and Mayur in conversation with Rachana Sharma.  Foodies and best friends Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma brought a healthy appetite and a large serving of irreverence to food journalism in their showHighway on My Plate but their next journey to Bhutan might not just be about a Lit Fest …

I n school we were told plastic was among the worst things that could pollute our environment because it would not disintegrate in 800 years, just say forever. It means the very first batch of plastic mankind produced, which was in 1862, hasn’t yet disappeared and in the last many …

Our road crossing culture is a chaotic most of the time! And in the absence of traffic lights it is difficult for the pedestrians to know when exactly to cross a road, be it in the town or at certain sections of our roads. Sadly, zebra crossing is a highly …

I n 2010 more than the umbrella Economic Development Policy business houses showed interest in the Fiscal Incentives or tax exemptions that accompanied it. This was rightly so as this was where the main meat and intent of the document lay. However, four years later it is disappointing to find …

The Cabinet in a meeting held earlier this year turned down the Druk Holdings and Investment’s (DHI) proposal to do away with what DHI said was double taxation of its earnings. According to a senior government official the cabinet turned down DHI’s proposal as the cabinet felt that if the …

For all our claims of happiness and ambitious goals it is clear that Bhutan is struggling to even get its basics right. In every society the basic ability to provide food on the table is followed by the ability to have the means to cook it. However, the government, helped …

Bhutan is known for many of rich and colorful festivals. Every Dzongkhag has its own Tshechu to celebrate and rejoice. And of course many tourists come to watch and experience many of these festivals. Today, in urban Bhutan, we perform mask dances to entertain tourists; I am not sure if …