BUSINESS

In line with the values of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Bhutan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) is taking steps to make agriculture more inclusive for persons with disabilities (PWDs) according to the MoAL Minister Younten Phuntsho. While MoAL’s primary mandate remains to enhance …

So far, the overwhelming focus of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill has been on goods, in terms of the impact of GST on various goods like vehicles or locally manufactured goods, like cookies, steel, cement, etc. GST will replace the Bhutan Sales Tax (BST) that we currently pay …

Orange production in Bhutan continues to decline, with major citrus-growing districts such as Samtse seeing drastic reductions in output. Once a leading contributor to the citrus trade, Samtse has gone from exporting over 500 truckloads of oranges annually to just 18 truckloads in recent years. The primary cause of this …

The National Council (NC) endorsed significant recommendations to the Income Tax Bill, increasing exemption limits for non-business individuals on 24th June. One key recommendation is to exempt up to Nu 400,000 per income year on interest earned from fixed deposits. Additionally, the NC recommended the exemption cap for dividend income …

A special prayer ceremony was held at the Grand Kuenrey of the Tashichodzong on 14 June 2025 in memory of the precious lives lost in the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. His Majesty The King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the prayer …

During the recent Parliamentary session, Maenbi-Tshenkhar MP, Tempa Dorji, raised a question to the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment (MoICE) regarding Bhutan’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Bhutan was placed at 152nd out of 180 countries, a …

As part of its strategic efforts to enhance public service delivery, the Royal Government of Bhutan has officially launched the Integrated Service Center (ISC) and the enhanced 1199 Public Service Contact Center (PSCC). These initiatives, under the Public Service Delivery Division (PSDD) of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), are key …

By Tandin Wangchuk The past two years felt like a storm, sometimes destructive, sometimes cleansing, always forcing me to grow. I arrived in Perth in July 2023 with two suitcases, a borrowed student visa, and a CV I stretched like taffy. The IELTS certificate-6.5 bands, was the only real part …

The Finance Minister Lekey Dorji shared the government’s rationale for re-introduction of tax on interest income earned through Fixed Deposit. He said the Income Tax Act of Bhutan 2025 proposes to levy a 10% tax on interest earned through fixed deposit. The tax is on interest income only, not on …

A recent inspection by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) has revealed high overall compliance among businesses in Samtse, but the authority has also flagged minor issues that require immediate attention to maintain consumer trust and safety. The nine-day surveillance, carried out from 23rd to 31st May 2025, covered …