HEADLINE STORIES

The Eastern Development Initiative (EDI) identified and prioritized Kanglung, Nganglam and Gyalpoizhing as the regional growth centers based on multi-criteria analysis which include poverty rate, rural-urban migration, land, spatial location, water, existing strategic infrastructure, economic base and potential for growth, environment, social impacts and impact on agriculture land. The EDI …

A common and often repeated narrative in the national discourse is on the relative backwardness of Bhutan’s Eastern region compared to other regions of the country. The government, in an ambitious effort, has come up with and given in principal approval to a 30 page plan called ‘East Development Initiative’ …

His Majesty addressed the graduates on issues of nation building, education, employment, 11th plan, sovereignty, culture, unity, democracy and equitable development His Majesty began the Address by sharing two stories: a senior red-scarf official labored for many years with the objective to achieve success, and refused to be deterred even when …

There is more to the recent and heated Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT) meeting in Trashiyangtse, in which local government leaders expressed apprehensions against the Kholongchu project hiring outsiders instead of the locals who would be affected by the project. The DT has raised objections saying that they heard that a labor …

Though sale of vehicle quotas have been banned for both MPs and civil servants since 2000 with the ‘Sales Tax, Customs and Excise 2000’, there has been little or no effect on the sale of vehicle quotas. The same Act which was amended as recently as 2012 even made it …

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is in the final stages of handing over the Lhakhang Karpo report to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for prosecution. This case could turn out to be the first major embarrassment to the PDP government as sources indicate that the then Haa Dzongda …

In an era of high and super high vehicle taxes, especially on third country imports, like Toyota Prado, Toyota Land Cruiser and other luxury vehicles, the lack of any ceiling on MPs’ vehicle quotas could potentially turn some of them into overnight millionaires. This is because the two vehicles, Toyota …

Bhutan will be setting up its first ever wind power plant in Rubessa, Wangduephodrang that is expected to generate power for around 600 ruralhouseholds. “The calculation is that an average rural household’s power consumption of power will be about 1kW, so a 500kW wind power can power around 600 households,” …

A key component of the Economic Stimulus Plan (ESP) which is the Business Opportunity and Information Center (BOIC) will start its activities from the 27th of August, 2014 according to the Minister for Economic Affairs, Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk. The BOIC will start accepting applications for Nu 1.9 bn worth of …

The new Indian Ambassador Gautam Bambawale is regarded as a competent diplomat in New Delhi with extensive experience in dealing with key countries like China, Japan, USA and Germany. He sat down for an in-depth interview with the Editor-in-Chief of The Bhutanese, Tenzing Lamsang Q. What are your main priorities …