This maybe the umpteenth reminder, but the 2013 elections was largely won and lost on the state of the economy. Therefore, it goes without saying that the focus of the new government should be mainly on the economy. In reports emanating from the government there seems to be a lot …
Read More »Harnessing Social Media for good
The Ministry of Information and Communication’s (MoIC) draft Social Media Policy is not only an interesting document but it is also an interesting idea of sorts. Firstly, an immediate response to any world of ‘policy or regulations’ around media or social media invites instant and understandable suspicion. However, the draft …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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. …
Read More »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, …
Read More »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, …
Read More »
The Bhutanese Leading the way.