To rebuild the economy from the COVID-19 losses, the government is exploring measures to export wood-based products, which would save more than 3 billion (B) revenue losses from import of these products.

The forest department has readied a “way forward” report on how to extract timber and produce wood products either as import substitution or export to countries like India and Bangladesh. The report will be submitted to the Cabinet next week.

Agriculture Minister Yeshey Penjor, said that Bhutan boasts about abundant forest resources while the import value of such products is mounting by the year. “We have imported 3.2B worth of wood and wood products.” According to trade statistics, import of wood charcoal last year has increased by Nu 1B and is among the top five commodities imported. The import value amounted to Nu 2,226.24 million (M).

https://kuenselonline.com/export-of-wood-based-products-to-save-govt-nu-3b/