Introduction
Bhutan, is called the land of the peaceful thunder dragon and also apart from
this it is known to the world by several names such as the ‘the Last Shangri-La’
or ‘the Last Place on the Roof of the World.’But if one looks into
the real name and the original one it comes from the time of Marco Polo was
‘Bootan,’ the natives prefer to call their country ‘Druk Yul,’
or the Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon. It is a natural beauty that scintillates
ones senses and it is nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Bhutan offers spectacular
mountain views, immense scenic beauty and a unique culture and lifestyle. One
can also have a over view of the beautifully structured monastries.
Business and Economy
Bhutan is a country that is considered to be the worls’d least developed
country and a country which has very slow growth prospects .The economy, one
of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry,
which provide the main liveslihood for more than 90% of the population. They
mainly depend on agriculture that is the major source of income for tema and
also consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains
dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive.
Major Cities
The major cities that one can visit during their travel to Bhutan is Timphu,Phuntsholing,Punakha
,Samdrup Jongkhar ,Geylegphug Paro,Tashigang,Wangdiphodrang ,Taga Dzong.
Fact Sheet
GDP-purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2002 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and
commerce 2%
Unemployment rate: NA% (2003 est.)
Budget: revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures
of NA
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy
products, eggs
Exports: $154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber,
handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners: India 88.5%, US 2.7%, UK 2.7% (2002)
Imports: $196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports - partners: India 62.8%, Japan 16.3%, Germany 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external: $245 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency: ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code: BTN; INR
Exchange rates: ngultrum per US dollar - 46.58 (2003), 48.61 (2002),
47.19 (2001), 44.94 (2000), 43.06 (1999)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
