| English | Dzongkha | Tuesday, September 28, 2021 |
Bhutan Hydropower Services Limited or BHSL in Jigmeling under Sarpang has started manufacturing hydropower turbines. The company was first established in 2014 to cater to hydropower in the country. It has helped save millions spend in repairing turbines and their components.
Cordyceps collectors in Bumthang were finally able to sell most of their harvests after the agriculture ministry conducted an urgent auction recently. The ministry cancelled the regular auctions across the country since last year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most low quality and smaller Cordyceps remained unsold without an auction.
Like all trades, the apple business in the country has also been affected by the COVID pandemic. The price of apples has reduced compared to the past years. This has left apple growers and fruit vendors in the country upset.
Civil Society Organisations in the country want the procedures involved in registration of a CSO to be relaxed. The Civil Society actors raised the issue during a panel discussion on “Harnessing Civil Society Potentials” yesterday. They said CSOs are fundamental for a community to thrive.
The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) elected its new president today. Tandin Wangchuk, the former vice president and a businessman will serve as the new president for the next five years. The president hopes to assist businesses affected by the pandemic and rebuild the trust between businesses and the BCCI.
Of late, many consumers have been asking questions as the egg price shot through the roof once again.
“What do our poultry farmers feed their layer chickens?” “Are we really self-sufficient in eggs?”
The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) will soon be piloting an ecotourism project in some parts of the eastern and central regions. In what is a win-win proposition, the communities will ensure the conservation of the rich biodiversity and reap its benefit through tourism.
Although the Loan deferment and interest waiver since April last year has reduced the non performing loan ratio to about 14 percent, experts say, the ratio is still too high. If it continues to remain so, it will weaken the economy. In March last year, the ratio was 19 percent. The NPL ratio measures the effectiveness of a bank in receiving repayments on its loans.
Spices are a very important part of Bhutanese dishes. However, the country imports almost all the spices it requires. Raw materials are in plenty, but not much is being produced. However, we might have our own manufacturer now. Against the increasing demand for spices, Narath Koirala, a class XII graduate in Dagana started a turmeric powder processing unit.
The abandoned vegetable market shed in Zhemgang town came to life after nearly two decades of its construction. A major renovation was all it took to attract vegetable vendors to occupy the shed. Today, five vendors are doing business from the shed, and this is expected to benefit the farmers and residents in the district.