Industrial Resources

Bhutan is one of the least developed countries in the world. Before 1960s, manufacturing was a household work and a few items like agricultural implements, weapons, handicrafts, wood product; bamboo products etc were produced on a small scale. However, after 1961, the number of industries expanded steadily. Nevertheless, industrial development experienced relatively in slow pace in Bhutan due to weak entrepreneurial orientation, high transport cost, small domestic markets, underdeveloped infrastructure and lack of resource inventory.
Ferro-Silicon Plant at Pasakha, Chukha

Major Industrial Region of Bhutan

The manufacturing industry in Bhutan is dominated by a small number of major operators such as the Penden Cement Plant, the Bhutan Board Products Limited., the first chemical plant, Bhutan Carbide and Chemicals Limited, the Bhutan Ferro Alloys Limited and Bhutan Agro Industries Limited. Besides these, there are a number of other small manufacturing plants located in various parts of Bhutan.
Bottling Plant
Chhukha Dzongkhag: The industrial area in this Dzongkhag extends from the confluence to the southern borders with many large, medium, and small industries, making the Dzongkhag the most industrialized dzongkhag in the country. The important industrial centres are Pasakha, Dala, Gedu and Phuntsholing. The extensive road network, the massive power generation and the Dzongkhag’s proximity to the Indian market provided ideal conditions for industrial development. The dzongkhag is also a base for a range of other industries like floor mills, beverages, bottling plants etc. Thus, this dzongkhag is widely perceived as the industrial heartland of the country.
Penden Cement Plant at Gomtu, Samtse
Samtse Dzongkhag: This is another important industrial dzongkhag in Bhutan. The outstanding industries in this dzongkhag are Fruit processing, cement and milk processing. The important centres are proper Samtse, Gomtu and Tashijong. Some of the large scale industries such as Penden Cement Authoruty Ltd., Lhakhi Cement and Yangzom Cement Private Ltd are localized here.

Pema Gatshel Dzongkhag: The construction of 28 km road which stretch from the entire Dzongkhag to Tsheling Khor, the national highway between Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang and the mining of Gypsum has been an imputes that boosted Pema Gatshel dzongkhag as one of the industrial regions in the country. Gypsum from this mine is the raw material base for the establishment of three plaster of Paris manufacturing units.

Besides the above mentioned industrial dzongkhags, the other major manufacturing industries are also concentrated in Thimphu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang (Gelephu).

Types of Industries in Bhutan – Its Location and Production

1. Agro-Based Industries

Name of Industry	Location	Activity
Bhutan Fruit Products Ltd.	Samtse	Fruit processing and vegetable product
Bhutan Agro Industries	Wangchuk Taba, Thimphu	Fruit processing and vegetable product and MS water
Penjola	Bathpalathang, Bumthang	Fruit processing
Army Welfare Project	Samtse, Gelephu & S/Jongkhar	Liquor

2. Forest Based Industries

Name of Industry	Location	Activity
Bhutan Board Products Ltd.	Dala, Chhukha	Plain and Laminated board and RTA Furniture
Wood Craft Centre	Langjophakha, Thimpu
Lhaki Wood Industries	Gelephu, Sarpang	Ply Wood Products

3. Mineral Based Industries

Name of Industry	Location	Activity
Bhutan Carbide and Chemicals Ltd.	Pasakha, Chhukha	Calcium Carbide
Bhutan Ferro Alloys Ltd.	Pasakha, Chhukha	Ferro silicon, Micro silicon
Druk Cement Pvt. Ltd.	Pasakha, Chhukha	Cement
Druk Plaster and Chermical Ltd.	Pemagatshel	Plaster of Paris
Bhutan Gypsum Products	Pemagatshel	Plaster of Paris
Penden Cement Authority Ltd.	Gomtu, Samtse	Cement
Lhaki Cement	Gomtu, Samtse	Cement