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Bhutan Politics |
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Female Rooster Year: Outlook 2005/06
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| POLITICS |
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The
draft Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan will be distributed to the
public for consultations this year. In November last year His Majesty handed
over the draft Constitution to the members of the Lhengye Zhungtsho for
their views and comments.
The
agriculture minister, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, will take over as prime minister.
The
National Assembly will meet twice a year in keeping with the decision of
the 82nd session in 2004. According to the National Assembly Secretariat,
the Code of Conduct Act for the Lhengye Zhungtsho and the National Assembly
will be submitted to the Assembly for endorsement. The amendment of the
Marriage Act of 1980 and 1996 will also be submitted for endorsement and
several other acts are also expected to be passed by the Assembly.
| DEVELOPMENT |
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The
mid -term review of the geog based Ninth Five Year Plan, beginning Monday,
will take stock of the progress of planned development in the past two
and half years. Development activities were delayed in the first year of
the plan period because funds had not been finalised with donor partners,
planning officials said.
The
40MW Basochhu lowerstage in Wangduephodrang will be inaugurated in March
this year along with the Rurichhu substation.
The
construction of the 74 kilometre Samtse-Phuentsholing highway will begin
this year and development of the urban centers of Gelephu, Samtse, Damphu
and Gyelpozhing will receive renewed focus according to the ministry of
works and human resources.
A
national quality control laboratory will be established at Yusipang and
the food commodity standards developed. The construction of 20 secondary
schools and 50 community schools will begin this year, according to the
education division. Social Studies and Bhutan History will be taught in
Dzongkha in Class IV and Class VII on a trial basis in 25 schools.
The
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs will conduct the first comprehensive
housing and population census in May.
| ECONOMY |
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Bhutan
will, for the first time, achieve or exceed the projected Ninth Plan economic
growth rate of 8.3 percent in 2005 because of the 45 percent salary increase,
say officials of the National Statistical Bureau.
Consumption
patterns are expected to change with increased consumer demand given the
greater disposable income among the 16,000 civil servants. The wage raise
injects more than Nu. 500 million into the domestic economy.
While
the construction sector is expected to grow rapidly, wholesale and retail
trade will also see significant growth, according to NSB.
Meanwhile,
inflation rate in the first quarter of 2005 will exceed about 6 percent
for the first time in the Ninth Plan because of increase in prices of goods
and services spurred by the wage increase bureau officials predict.
The
Bhutanese economy will continue to be driven by hydropower projects.
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article was contributed by Kuensel, Bhutan's National Newspaper, 2005 |
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