With some 1500 trucks ferrying boulders, mines, and minerals, the boulder export business in Phuntsholing is being carried-out hassle-free, even amidst the lockdown. The containment zone at Amochhu which started last week is facilitating the export.
With services like clearing agents, forest, and customs offices, export is being carried out in a single-window system. With the system in place, the number of vehicles exporting the minerals has also increased, over time.
‘’Before, we used to export only 120 to 150 truckloads of mineral in a day, but today the number has increased to 180 to 200,’’ said Dorji Tshering, the President of the Bhutan Exporters Association. Hereon, the association plans to export at least 200 truckloads, every day.
Generating between US dollar 150,000 to 200,000 daily, boulder exports could be the answer to the revenue which has been lost due to the pandemic. ”The boulder business here can recover losses the government incurred in the tourism sector,’’ the president added.
Meanwhile, all 184 individuals, officials, and security personnel tested negative for the virus, yesterday. Likewise, over 2000 front-line responders such as deSuups, police, customs officials, and loaders among others were tested for the virus in the past 10 days. All of them tested negative.
Sonam Penjor
