Bhutan Lifts Ban on
Furniture, Alcohol Import from India
Bhutan has decided to lift a ban on import of
furniture and alcohol from India, saying the restrictions did not serve their
intended purpose.
The decision to reverse the ban, which was imposed
in 2012 in the wake of global financial crisis, was taken during a cabinet
meeting here this week.
“Upon the recommendations of the multi-sectoral Task Force, the Lhengye Zhungtshog (the cabinet) agreed to lift the ban on
furniture and alcohol in the spirit of renewing the bilateral trade agreement
with India,” an official statement said on 29 January.
“The multi-sectoral task
force found the restrictions did not serve their intended purpose in the
economy and were not in line with bilateral and regional trading arrangements,”
it said.
While the ban on alcohol and furniture would be
lifted, the ban on import of vehicles will be decided later, it said.
In March 2012, the Central Bank of Bhutan adopted
some measures to prevent the fall in rupee. As part of these measures, a ban
was imposed on certain items, including alcohol and furniture