The Department of Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), Bhutan and Enhance Integrated Framework(EIF) launched the National Export Strategy on 25 August 2022 in Thimphu. The event was graced by Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, Minister for Economic Affairs, Ms. Azusa Kubota, UNDP Bhutan Resident Representative, and Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director of EIF, Geneva.
The EIF National Implementation Unit and Export Promotion Division under the Department of Trade, MoEA in partnership with UNDP, who supported as the main implementing agency, undertook the study in November 2021 with financial assistance from EIF.
The Strategy identifies factors constraining export growth and provides recommendations to address structural issues facing export such as institutional, legal, and regulatory environment, trade and business infrastructure, standards and certification, the building of productive capacities, and export promotion.
The study recommended 7 broad strategies with 41 different recommendations under short, medium and long term. The short-term strategies are currently being implemented by the Department in close coordination with other relevant agencies. Given the cross sectoral spread of export related services, the Department like to solicit support and cooperation of all those agencies identified in the document to implement medium-term and long-term recommendations to enhance the value and volume of exports and contribute towards reviving and building a stable and resilient economy.