To promote and support local industries, the finance ministry has notified all budgetary agencies to use locally-made concrete bricks for public construction works. The notification requires the use of Bhutan Standards Bureau-certified concrete bricks. Public construction works include the construction of partitions, infill, and boundary walls, among others.
The recent notification from the finance ministry comes as a reinforcement of a similar government directive issued in December 2015.
According to the Department of Industry, the government aims to support and improve the quality of local bricks by increasing competition among manufacturers, boost economy, and increase employment opportunities.
Additionally, the initiative aims to make the best use of local resources.
Meanwhile, contractors and manufacturers BBS talked with said choosing locally manufactured bricks will help the country’s economy.
Karma Dorji, a contractor said “I would not say that bricks manufactured here are not good. I think it is just that people have different perspectives regarding the quality of locally manufactured bricks. For me, I use both imported and local bricks depending on what the owners tell me to use. Moreover, after such an initiative by the government, if we depend on imported products then it will be difficult to improve our economy.”
Dilli Ram, a manufacturer said “When we can manufacture within the country, it is beneficial for the country. In this way we do not have to spend our money on imports from other countries. The money can be circulated within our country only. Not only that, manufacturing companies like ours need many workers other than skilled workers such as operators and other labourers.”
To ensure compliance with the notification, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment have put accountability measures in place.
According to the Bhutan Standards Bureau, to certify bricks, they inspect the production process and raw materials used.
Moreover, manufacturers should have in-house testing facility to test standard and strength of the final product.
As of August this year, there are nearly 120 licensed brick manufacturers in the country, 22 of which are certified.
The Department of Industry said 70 manufacturers are fully operational with capacities to produce 100,000 to one million bricks annually, which has the potential to meet local demand.
As for imports, in the past three months, the country imported more than 500,000 bricks worth almost Nu 27 M.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Sherub Dorji
