EDITORIAL

Developing the East

There can be no denying that apart from a few pockets Bhutan’s eastern region is economically more backward than other regions in Bhutan. There was no historical or political conspiracy behind this, but it was dictated by more practical matters like the tough and unfriendly geography of the place and …

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Hopes and fears of young graduates

As more than 2,300 graduates complete their National Graduate Orientation Program (NGOP) this year at the Royal Institute of Management Hall, there will be many important lessons. The RIM is located below Bhutan’s historic Semtokha Dzong which was also the first major Dzong built in Bhutan by Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyel …

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The Lhakhang Karpo case

The Lhakhang Karpo case involving the Foreign Minister in his former capacity as the then Haa Dzongda will not be the first time that a serving minister has some past issues haunting him. This was also observed in the Gyelpozhing land case where several former ministers of the previous government …

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Time for small business

The biggest weakness in Bhutan’s private sector is not so much the absence of big players as the weakness of its small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A lot of the economic woes of Bhutan can be traced back to the weakness of this sector. In any country across the world …

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The need for a critical culture

The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) floated some draft guidelines on opening up of home, car and consumer loans for public feedback on its website recently. This paper not only covered a story highlighting those guidelines, but also praised RMA for seeking public consultation on an important issue. However, when the …

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Lessons from the Great Fourth

As His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wang-chuck is one birthday away from a diamond jubilee next year and as the nation is deal¬ing with a host of issues, it would be a good time for the nation’s politicians to learn some vital lessons from Bhu¬tan’s greatest modern leader. …

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Learning through mistakes

Though economic decisions are never popular in any country, but what can make it palatable is good communication that point out the benefits of such decisions, both in the short term and the long term. The government came up with a controversial Tax Bill in response to the depressed economy, …

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Learning through mistakes

Tough economic decisions are never popular in any country, but what can make it palatable is good communication that point out the benefits of such decisions, both in the short term and the long term. The government came up with a controversial Tax Bill in response to the depressed economy, …

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Opening loans is a good idea

The Royal Monetary Authority’s (RMA) initiative towards a possible opening of home, car and consumer loans is welcome initiative. Their first step of consulting mem¬bers of the public on the draft guide-lines and measures is also a welcome step as it allows the public to share their thoughts, and it …

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Keeping an eye on the ball

The emergence of the rupee crisis and the consequent credit crunch from 2012 onwards highlighted the biggest and most immediate challenge facing Bhutan – its economy. The main agenda of the 2013 elections was the state of the economy and the party that came into power, PDP, promised to take …

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