BBSCL

The development of Gelephu International Airport is progressing, with a geotechnical investigation currently underway in Samtenling Gewog. Four teams are conducting surveys at various locations to gather data about the soil and rock conditions at the proposed site. During the 117th National Day celebrations on Tuesday, His Majesty The King announced that the airport construction will begin next year and...

Producing furniture using locally sourced wood has not only helped the Wood Craft Centre stop rubberwood import but also made furniture more affordable to consumers. The centre, which earlier used rubberwood, has been utilizing domestic timber for furniture production since 2020.  At the centre’s recent furniture exhibition, locally made pieces were found to be 20 per cent cheaper than the...

Delays in fully commissioning the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project are expected to affect economic growth in 2024. The country’s economy is now projected to grow by five per cent this year, over one percentage point lower than earlier estimates. The finance ministry, in its latest macroeconomic situation report, said that the downward revision was mainly due to the PHPA-II commissioning delay...

The National Health Survey 2023 reveals that areca nut consumption among Bhutanese aged 15 to 69 rose to nearly 60 per cent last year, marking a three per cent increase since 2019. The health ministry attributes the rise to the product being cheap, easily available and culturally accepted in the country. To address this, the ministry plans to introduce measures...