Ever since the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India, Bhutan’s main trading hub of Phuentsholing and neighboring Jaigaon has been in turmoil, especially with an understaffed and inadequately prepared Jaigaon Land Custom Station. This in fact led to more than 300 trucks being held up at …
Read More »Bhutan’s nuanced position at the Bali declaration
The Bali declaration of 7th September 2017 in the World Parliamentary Forum meeting had 17 points on its stated agenda of Sustainable Development. However, what gathered the attention of the international and regional press was on the sole 10th point naming Myanmar and expressing concern over violence in Rakhine state. …
Read More »12th plan revenue projections hit after hydro delays and GST
The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) along with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is currently in the midst of reworking the revenue figures for the 12th plan which had earlier been projected at Nu 251 bn out of a plan size of Nu 300 bn. The GNHC Secretary Thinley Namgyel, …
Read More »CEA clears Sunkosh DPR but project implementation still up in the air
India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) earlier this year cleared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 2,560 MW Sunkosh reservoir project. This is significant as Indian officials until recently have parried questions on the status of the mega reservoir project saying that the DPR is still with the CEA. Now …
Read More »Bhutan’s diplomatic triumph in Doklam
When the Doklam crisis first hit the international headlines Bhutan’s worst fears had come true with the troops of two effective superpowers, India and China, facing off each other on Doklam, a disputed territory claimed by Bhutan. Bhutan, it seemed, had nothing to gain and everything to lose in this …
Read More »Giving Bhutan its due
In Doklam stand-off, Bhutan once again came to the rescue of India’s interests, with costs to itself The Doklam stand-off, from the beginning, has been dominated by an India-and-China narrative, but a largely silent but firm Bhutan held some of the most important keys to the eventual resolution. It is …
Read More »Bhutan’s statement on Doklam disengagement
Statement on Doklam Disengagement Staff Reporter/ Thimphu The Foreign Ministry in a statement said Bhutan welcomes the disengagement by the two sides at the face-off site in the Doklam area. It said, “We hope this contributes to the maintenance of peace and tranquility and status quo along borders of Bhutan, …
Read More »Doklam standoff ends
The Doklam standoff is coming to an end as both India and China agree to disengage at the border. An MEA statement from India confirmed this.
Read More »Magazine misrepresents and demeans Bhutan
The latest issue of ‘The Week’ magazine, a national magazine in India, led to a stir among many Bhutanese not only due to its front cover portraying Bhutan as a Takin being licked by a Chinese Panda, but also for its stories on Bhutan claiming it to be in the …
Read More »Final verdict on Dr Shacha Vs Ap SP case gives BNB priority
The final Supreme Court review verdict on the Aum Tandin Bidha and her daughter Dr Shacha Vs Ap Sonam Phuntsho case was delivered by a three judges bench of Chief Justice Tshering Wangchuk, Justice Kuenlay Tshering and Justice Norbu Tshering. The Chief Justice had abstained from earlier cases to avoid …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.