Last Tuesday, during question hour, I asked the Prime Minister to explain the rupee crisis: what has caused it, what the government is doing about it, and when we can expect it to be over. I directed the question to the PM as I had assumed that our head of government would be the most [...]
In 2007, the year before the elections, when the interim government started work on the 10th Five Year Plan, they decided to “consolidate” the nation’s schools. Their rationale was that children in rural Bhutan were not receiving proper schooling as education resources were being spread too thin across the country. The interim government figured that [...]
The government recently approved airfares for our two airlines. This is how the fares were reported in Kuensel: Druk Air is charging USD 170 (single) and USD 340 (return) for Paro-Bumthang, while Bhutan Air will charge USD 250 (single) and USD 400 (return). For Paro-Trashigang, Druk Air is charging USD 215 (single) and USD 430 [...]
The Government has used our foreign currency reserves to address a severe rupee crunch in the kingdom. Last week they sold US$ 200 million from our reserves to pay off the Rs 8 billion outstanding debt on an overdraft account with the State Bank of India. The Royal Monetary Authority borrows rupees from a special [...]
How is it that one week the government calls McKinsey’s Accelerating Bhutan’s Socioeconomic Development project “A success story”, and the next week the government has used our foreign currency reserves to “rescue Bhutan from rupee crisis”? Why would our economy need to be bailed out by using our hard earned foreign exchange reserves if the [...]
Jai Prakash and Gammon have been selected to construct the 1000MW Punatsangchhu – II hydropower project. Gammon, Hindustan Construction, and Larsen and Turbo are building the 1200MW Punatsangchhu – I hydropower project. Hindustan Construction, Larsen and Turbo, and Jai Prakash built the 1020 MW Tala Hydropower Project. A select group of contractors, characterized by the [...]
I like business startups. These places have an air of excitement about them. They show confidence, enthusiasm and courage. And they give off infectious optimism. But I like new businesses for another reason: they are critical for our economy. They create employment. They help reduce poverty and distribute income. And they contribute to improving and [...]
Today’s steel prices: A ton of 10 mm TMT bar manufactured in Bhutan (by Karma Steel, for example) costs Nu 39,000 in Phuentsholing. A ton of similar grade (Fe415) 10 mm TMT bar manufactured in India (by SRMB, for example) costs Nu 42,900 in Jaigon, outside Phuentsholing. If you were a contractor, which steel would [...]
The effects of inflation on the prices of essentials … Items Rates May June July Stone Free Rice (ST Rice) 980 1050 1100 Nestle Every Day Milk Powder 190 215 245 Red Label Tea Leave (500 gms) 145 145 145 Natural Gold Refined Oil (1Kg) 55 60 65 Maida (1Kg) 20 22 22 Salt (1Kg) [...]
National Geographic has rated rafting on the Drangme Chhu – from the Trashigang Bridge to the Royal Manas Park – as one of the 25 Best New Trips for 2010. But it’s not just the Drangme Chhu. Every one of our major river systems provides some of the world’s best rafting experiences. Dave Allardice of [...]
Tshering Tobgay is a Member of Parliament representing Sombaykha Constitutency in Haa. He is the Leader of the Opposition Party in the National Assembly of Bhutan.
Is ACC taking too long to start investigating the Gyelpozhing land case?
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