Online Module for Filing & Tracking of Trade Complaints

Online Module for Filing & Tracking of
Trade Complaints

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Government of India has created an online module for filing and
tracking of quality complaints/trade disputes. From the now onwards the
Bhutanese entities have to file their complaints or trade disputes related to
international trade at http://dgftebrc.nic.in:8090/TradeDispute/home. The
procedure for filing complaints is as follows:

 1. Go to the DGFT website www.dgft.gov.in>Services>File Quality
    Complaints/Trade Dispute>fill Online Application Form.
 2. Upload documents related to the quality complaint/trade dispute,
    wherever required [maximum 5MB size documents in pdf format].
 3. Select the jurisdictional Regional Authority of DGFT/SEZ.
 4. Select jurisdictional Indian Mission (Thimphu for Bhutanese
    complainant).
 5. On submission, a Unique Reference Number (URN) starting with ‘Q’ will be
    generated and sent to the email id of the complainant. Please make sure
    that the email id is functional as all future correspondence in this
    regard will be made on this id only.
 6. A link ‘View Status’ is also available for the complainant to check
    current position of the complaint at
    http://dgftebrc.nic.in.8090/TradeDispute

First International Cooperatives Trade
Fair (IICTF)

We are pleased to inform about the First International Cooperatives Trade
Fair (IICTF) organized by National Cooperative Development Corporation from
11-13 October, 2019 at Pragati, Maidan, New Delhi, India.

It is aimed at promoting cooperative to cooperative trade with India and
abroad leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity. The fair will be packed
with conferences, exhibitions, B2B meetings, sales promotion, marketing and
products display business, networking, policy advocacy etc., providing an

immense opportunity to the participants to collaborate and explore business
opportunities with the Cooperative Organizations from India and abroad.

Any interested Cooperative Institutions may visit http://www.iictf.in or
www.ictf.co.in. Or contact Events & Resource Division, BCCI, Thimphu at
02-322742 during office hour.

Tribute to Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji
(1925-2019)

The Bhutan’s business community would like to offer our heartfelt condolences
and deepest respect to Their Majesties, Yum Thuji Zam, The Royal Family and
Members of Yab & Yum’s family, upon the peaceful passing away of Yab Dasho
Ugyen Dorji at the age of 94, in the early hours of the 8th day of the 3rd
month of the Female Pig Year (12th May 2019) in Punakha.
Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (Yab Dasho) is a descendant of both the mind and speech
incarnations of Bhutan’s founder, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. He was born to
Dangla Trulku Sangay Tenzin and Ashi Dorji Om in the year 1925 at
Kungacholing in Paro.

As we join the Family in mourning, of children losing their
parent/grandparent, spouse losing one’s beloved, nation losing a benefactor
to the needy, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha losing a patron to spiritual and
social activities, loss of a sibling, uncle, friend, we mourn too, for an
irreparable loss of a historic era.

A business stalwart was Yab Dasho and with his passing it sadly brings the
end of an era, an era that must be noted in the pages of history, being the
first businessman during the time that our country started to modernize.

Flashback

Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji started his business in 1959 by being the first person
to open a retail shop near Punakha Dzong where he sold textiles bought from
Kalimpong and groceries.

At the advent of the country’s 1st Five Year plan in 1961, Yab Dasho set for
Thimphu and opened a shop in Changlimithang, where he sold groceries,
stitched clothes and traditional boots. Yab Dasho, being the ever
enterprising person that he was, moved even to Paro and started a shop and
later again moved back to the capital, built a hut near the Dzong premises
and continued running a shop.

Around this time, Thimphu Dzong was undergoing renovation and taking the cue
from Yab Dasho, a pioneer from then, people from Nobgang, Punakha, Gaselo,
Chapcha and Sheymakha came to the capital. Inspired by Yab Dasho, they too
opened shops side by side, near the Dzong in what was then known as Thara
Lushi Tsawa (a pear tree which is still there gave the name to this place).

Throughout his life, Yab Dasho has always been very instrumental in inspiring
and motivating his fellow citizens to contribute in the process of nation
building by playing a crucial role in the development of Bhutan’s private
sector.

There was a sawmill located in the present day Lingkana (Palace) which must
have been set up to cater to the Dzong renovation, and I can still remember
how as children, we used to carry a small “tshew” bamboo baskets to gather
the “zhokho” (wood shavings) as fuel for the kitchen hearth.

In 1968, all the shopkeepers had to change the location of their shops to
where the main Thimphu town stands today as the Royal Government allotted
them new plots.

House No 1, Line No 1 was the first plot assigned to Yab, (beginning of clock
tower) followed by House No 2, 3, 4 etc. My Apa’s plot was House No 11, Line
No 1, all in all, there were 16 plots allotted then, ending at present day
Zimchu building belonging to Yab Dasho’s late brother Goob Lhenkey Gyelsten.

The opposite plots on the left side of Thimphu Main Town were addressed as
House No 1, 2, 3 … Line No 2 and they were allowed to build one floor apropos
to two floors on Line No 1.

Hence, led by Yab Dasho, the Bhutan’s first generation of business community
started contributing to His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s aspiration of
economic self reliance.

In 1973, fire gutted five houses starting from our House No 11 till House No
7.

In 1976, Yab Dasho’s house No 1 along with four other houses was burnt to the
ground.
However, that did not stop Yab Dasho from literally rising from the ashes to
foray and venture into unexplored arenas of business. Yab Dasho worked even

more tenaciously day and night and always kept himself ahead of his
camaraderie. As part of a programme by the Royal Government to promote
agriculture in the mid 60’s, people were encouraged to plant apple trees and
seedlings were distributed free of cost. Taking advantage of the offer, Yab
Dasho acquired land in Hongso and planted a thousand apple seedlings.

Yab Dasho then ventured into being a merchant of timber, starting a sawmill
in Thimphu and later the Evergreen Sawmill in Phuentsholing. With the success
of Evergreen Sawmill in Phuentsholing Yab Dasho expanded the establishment to
Daifam too. Yab Dasho’s idea not only benefited the consumers in the locality
but also the nation in getting quality timber on time. This was important as
Bhutan was getting into the process of infrastructure development with the
Five Year Plans.

Despite the vagaries of travelling extensively   for the sawmill business, even
at a risk to life at times, Yab Dasho is to be   admired for the visionary
entrepreneur that he was from the beginning of   development of Bhutan’s 1st
Five year plan in the ‘60s, spanning over Five   decades.

Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji laid the core foundation of the company and it is
because of his hard work, relentless effort, that the Singye Group of
Companies was built and has progressed steadily over the many decades.

Starting then, with a singular business outlet, today the business has grown
into a multi- business organization with various main sectors like
Trading/Manufacturing, Construction, Hospitality and Education etc. Its
contribution in terms of taxes to the nation is immense, besides the
employment opportunities it provides to the Bhutanese people.

Yab Dasho has also served as the representative of the business community in
the National Assembly and played pivotal roles in liberalizing trade and
engaging more Bhutanese in different businesses.

Across the business society, our admiration for Yab Dasho is manifold, for HE
was a man of destiny, a self made man, spurred on by a strong determination
to forge ahead in the face of adversity. We have all learned so much from his
fortitude, dedication and compassion.

Yab Dasho’s departure represents a very sad moment of grief for His Family
and the Nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Family. While we mourn
this great loss, we must in the same vein find solace that Yab Dasho lived a
long life, a purposeful and meaningful life, as Yab continues to touch many
lives through his good deeds.
Yab Dasho’s profound and precious gift of Lhakhangs, Chortens, Statues and
Religious Texts will always continue to connect all the sentient beings to
the great soul, the Yab Rinpoche as fondly revered by the Nation. Besides
others, Yab Rinpoche’s noble deeds of transforming the human minds into
Buddha nature is manifested by the serene Wolokha Nunnery constructed and
supported by him.

Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji was a man of great vision, bountiful in nature and his
life was dedicated to the greater good. He was a loving husband, a doting

father and His personality and charisma will be remembered for a long time.
Yab Dasho will be remembered too, as a man who was ahead of his time and a
pioneer among entrepreneurs and his role in the historic contribution to the
birth and development of business in Bhutan.

Phub Zam
PRESIDENT
Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry

This body is not me; I am not limited by this body,
I am life without boundaries.
I have never been born and I have never died.
Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars, manifestations from my
wondrous true mind.
Since before time, I have been free.
Birth and death are only doors through which we pass, sacred thresholds on
our journey.
Birth and death are a game of hide- and seek.
So laugh with me; hold my hand,
let us say good-bye; say good-bye, to meet again soon.
We meet today.
We will meet again tomorrow.
We will meet at the source every moment.
We meet each other in all forms of life.
Thich Nhat Hanh ( from the book – No death, No fear)

ITEC Training Offer for 2019 – 2020

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry hereby invites application for
various ITEC Training Program for 2019 – 2020, funded by Ministry of External
Affairs, Government of India.

Procedure to Apply

 1. Visit the link www.itecgoi.in and apply online by filling up your
    personal details.
 2. After submission of the form, you will receive an email with a link to
    activate the registration.
 3. Log in ITEC Portal at www.itecgoi.in/meaportal/homepage using your given
    email address and password. You will need to print out the duly filled
    application form.
 4. You will need to get approval from your parent organization and submit
    the application form along with educational & training certificates
    availed in or outside of the country to the Private Sector HR Capacity

Building Division, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

NOTE: Failing to register online prior to submission of application to BCCI
shall result in rejection of application.

Who can apply?

 1. Officials of Corporate/Public, NGO, Associations, Private Sectors,
    Universities etc.
 2. Candidates should possess adequate work experience.

Eligibility criteria for admission to Courses

 1. Academic qualifications as laid down by the Institute for the Course
    concerned.
 2. English Language Proficiency Certificate (Apply Online)
 3. Age between 25 to 45 years.
 4. Medically fit to undertake the training
 5. Nomination Letter from concern organization

For further details contact:

Mr. Tenzin Wangchuk
Head, Private Sector HRD & Capacity Development
BCCI Head Office, Thimphu

Contact # +975 2 322742 /324254, Mobile # 17561005 (Office Hour only)

Embassy of India

Education Section,

Embassy of India, Thimphu

Contact # +975 2 322162/339656 (Only call from 3 PM to 4 PM during weekdays)

E-mail: itec.thimphu@mea.gov.in

BCCI Membership

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) encourages all the business
entities of Bhutan holding Trade License to register for BCCI Membership. The

BCCI membership comes in two categories as follows with their individual
benefits/advantages:

1. Regular Membership

    Receiving information on various training/workshop etc.
    Obtaining authentication of business establishment when required by
    Government agencies for various purposes, that is being issued only to
    the members of BCCI
    Concessions on stall fees during the fairs organized by BCCI and in
    other international fairs.
    Opportunity to participate for in-country and ex-country programs.

2. Registered Membership

    All the benefits that of General Members
    Issued with valid BCCI Membership Card
    Priority in all activities including (In-country Training, Ex-country),
    workshop etc.,
    Obtaining concessions and offers during fairs or events organized by the
    BCCI and in other international fairs where BCCI is affiliated
     Preference for Business to Business (B2B) programs,
    Preference for skill development programs held/coordinated by the BCCI
    Obtaining first-hand information on any programs/activities
    Getting updates/publications of the Chamber.
    Improve business contacts
    Promote business locally/globally
    Opportunity to influence in local policy framing
    And many more

Please refer to Membership Page to know more about membership benefits and
for online registration for interested Bhutanese business entities.

Draft CSI policy 2020

The Department of cottage & Small Industry (DCSI), MoEA is in process of
reviewing the current CSMI policy 2012 in order to formulate a dedicated new
CSI policy post 2020.

Therefore, the BCCI would like to request our members to kindly submit your
views/ comments on the draft CSI policy 2020 (Download here) latest by 10th
April 2019 noon to Research & Planning Department (RPD) at
yeshi.dorji@bcci.org.bt /tshering.lhaden@bcci.org.bt

Kindly contact Mr. Yeshi Dorji at 17126062/Mrs. Tshering Lhaden at 17481599
for further information

Medical Product Alert – Falsified
meningitis vaccines

This Medical Product Alert relates to the circulation of confirmed falsified
Mencevax ACWY in the WHO region of Africa. Genuine Mencevax ACWY is used to
prevent meningitis types A, C, W and Y.
On 15 March 2019, the Ministry of Public Health in Niger issued a call for
vigilance regarding the circulation of falsified Mencevax ACWY vaccines. This
WHO medical product alert provides the details of those products which have
been confirmed as falsified to date. Inquiries indicate that the supply chain
route of these falsified vaccines includes other countries in West Africa: as
such, increased vigilance is requested in all countries of the region, at all
levels of the supply chain.

             Download the Notification from WHO
WHO requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries likely
to be affected by these falsified vaccines. Increased vigilance should
include hospitals, clinics, health centres, wholesalers, distributors,
pharmacies and any other suppliers of vaccines and medical products.
If you are in possession of the above batches of this vaccine, please do not
use. If you have used the above batches of this vaccine, or if you suffer an
adverse event or an unexpected lack of efficacy, please seek immediate advice
from a qualified healthcare professional, and ensure they report the incident
to your local Ministry of Health/National Medicines Regulatory
Authorities/National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
All vaccines and medical products must be obtained from authentic and
reliable sources. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully
checked. Seek advice from a healthcare professional in case of doubt.
National health authorities are asked to immediately notify WHO if these
falsified vaccines are discovered in their country. If you have any
information concerning the manufacture, distribution, or supply of these
products, please contact rapidalert@who.int

Clarification on Notification on the
Reinforcement of Plastic Ban from NECS

Concerns and confusions have been raised to NECS seeking clarifications on
reinforcement of plastic ban on carry bags, doma wrappers and home made ice
cream pouches. We would like to request every one to kindly go through the

notification 1999 and reinforcement notification sent out by NECS which is
available on our website for your kind clarification.
The reinforcement of the plastic ban is only limited to 3 plastic items:
carry bags, doma wrappers and home made ice-cream pouches as indicated in the
notification.The reinforcement of plastic ban notification does not include
plastics used for any other packaging, for instance, plastic used for
packaging of vegetables in the market, zaw (roasted rice) , juma (Bhutanese
sausages)/ezay and including industrial packaging.

We highly solicit your unwavering support like always on this matter.

    Reinforcement of Limited Plastic Ban Notification 1999