To inspire future entrepreneurs and celebrate Bhutanese entrepreneurs and the start-up community, an annual festival called the Druk Tshongrig Gatoen is underway in the capital. The three-day festival began yesterday. Loden Foundation is organising the festival in collaboration with the UNDP, UNICEF, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources and Helvetas Bhutan.
Adding diversity to the festival, many technology-based entrepreneurs showcased their products ranging from 3D printed items to robots.
“Everyone enquires about how 3D printing work and most people are not able to comprehend it when we explain it to them verbally. That is why we are here to show our products physically. There is a huge range of future scope for 3D printing. Abroad, people have even started printing prosthetic parts like organs and are even building houses whereas, we are only printing basic stuff for now,” said Neemesh Pradhan, Co-founder of Leaf Creative Solutions.
“Usually, we have similar kinds of products being launched every year but to grow as a society, I think we need diversity and especially now it’s high time we have entrepreneurship from a technological point of view as well. We have largely been based on agro-industries but now to bring technology on the entrepreneurship front is very important,” said Yeshey Choden, Founder of Thimphu Robotics Club.
The festival aims to bring together entrepreneurs, thinkers, policymakers, and NGOs to spread awareness of entrepreneurship, and empower and educate Bhutan’s upcoming generation of potential entrepreneurs.
Started in 2018, the Druk Tshongrig Gatoen is Bhutan’s first festival to bring together entrepreneurs from all sectors to celebrate their entrepreneurial journey.
Devika Pradhan & Tshering Deki
Edited by Sonam Pem
