For a long time, Bhutan had the high value and low volume tourism policy, but things changed when Bhutan hired McKinsey during the time of the first government. The McKinsey team which had a lot of young Indian graduates studying and prescribing solutions to accelerate Bhutan’s economic development recommended promoting …
Read More »Trump’s Tariffs Will Accelerate America’s Economic Decline
By Kaushik Basu NEW YORK – On March 26, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all cars and light-duty trucks imported into the United States. This measure took effect on April 3 – one day after the administration rolled out its “reciprocal tariffs” on US trading …
Read More »A Reflective Moment at Pemathang: The 2nd Batch Gyalsung Passing Out Parade
By Goob Sonam Drukpa It was a great privilege and honour to be invited to the 2nd batch passing out parade ceremony of Gyalsung at Pemathang, Samdrupjongkhar, on March 23, 2025 It was an emotional and proud moment to witness our young Bhutanese, mostly from humble background, who have attained …
Read More »A game rigged against the private media
From available public records Kuensel in 2021 made a revenue of Nu 150.09 million a good chunk of which was made possible by direct government printing, advertising and other works as pointed to by the current Finance Secretary who said the government subsidizes Kuensel through such jobs. However, the same …
Read More »A changing world
For the first time in many decades, the global tectonic plates of geopolitics are shifting and it will have significant impacts on Bhutan in the years to come. The foreign policy of U.S. President Donald Trump is firstly an isolationist one that withdraws from its global role, and secondly there …
Read More »A World Turned Inside Out
By Stephen S. Roach The world’s major growth engines are about to run in reverse. The policies and uncertainties of US President Donald Trump’s second administration have hit a sluggish global economy with a transformational exogenous shock. Risks are especially worrisome in both the United States and China, which have collectively accounted …
Read More »A silent threat
The last week has not been a good one for Bhutan in terms of its international image and diplomacy, with reports of Bhutan falling in the traffic colour lists of the US government. There was a lot of hurt and understandable anger given how Bhutan does not pose a threat …
Read More »Deportations Will Deepen the Trump Slump
BERKELEY – In his inaugural address this January, Donald Trump framed immigration to the United States as a national security threat, proclaiming, “I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country.” He then directed the Department of Defense to draw up a plan to “seal the …
Read More »Bhutan moves to Yellow List as reason given is Visa Overstay
According to an official source, Bhutan is no longer on the dreaded draft ‘Red List’ of the United States government which would mean an absolute travel ban, but is now on the milder ‘Yellow List’. The draft “Yellow List’ is around two dozen counties that will get some time to …
Read More »A changing world
As a small landlocked country further hemmed in by high mountains and deep valleys, we Bhutanese like to mind our own business and keep to our local affairs. However, in an interconnected and fast changing world it is important for Bhutan to not only keep up to date with international …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.