Many business owners in Phuentshogling have expressed dissatisfaction with the relocation of the Regional Office of Industry, Commerce, and Employment to Amochhu. The new location is about seven kilometres from Phuentshogling town. Business owners said it is inconvenient when they have to visit the office for business licenses and renewal-related services.
The Regional Office of Industry, Commerce, and Employment was moved to Amochhu below the Samtse-Phuentshogling highway, which was earlier the Permanent Quarantine Facility Centre. It was relocated in July.
Since then, people availing themselves of licenses and renewal-related services from this office have been facing difficulties due to its location.
People said aside from high taxi fares, the road towards the office poses risks during the monsoon.
“It will be convenient if trade office and customs office are nearby. We have to visit the two offices simultaneously. Now, that the office is in Toorsa, we have to spend Nu 600 to travel to and fro. It is fine if the work can be completed at once but it cannot be done. Sometimes they say documents are missing and other times they have issues with their system,” said a businesswoman in Phuentshogling.
“We would be grateful if the office could be kept in the previous place or else open a branch office here in the small houses constructed near their old office building. That way government resources will also not be wasted and we can also get our services,” said a businessman in Phuentshogling.
“We have to spend around Nu 600 as taxi fare to go to the new trade office. And after going there, the work cannot be completed at a go. Sometimes the officials would be out of station. So, if the office can be kept near the town area, it will benefit us a lot,” said a shopkeeper in Phuentshogling.
Officials said the office had to be relocated as the previous office building which is near town area, is old for which they could not obtain occupancy certificate from Phuentshogling Thromde.
Officials said opening a branch office may not be possible as they are providing youth employment services from small houses near the old office.
Moreover, officials said they are encouraging people to avail themselves of the services online as far as possible.
Officials said they do not have budget to either renovate or construct a new office.
Kinley Dem
Edited by Tshering Zam
