Portfolio of new ministers announced

April 9: The governing party, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, announced the portfolios of the new cabinet ministers and the nominees for the National Assembly Speaker and the Deputy Speaker at a press conference this afternoon.

Yeshey Zimba is the Works and Human Settlement Minister. Yeshey Zimba has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in USA. He has two Bachelor of Arts degrees from St. Josephs College in Darjeeling, India and University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He has served as Finance Secretary, Finance Minister, Minister of Trade and Industry, and two terms as Prime Minister. He was conferred the red scarf in 1991, the orange scarf and rank of deputy minister in 1997 and orange scarf and title of lyonpo in 1998. Yeshey Zimba was elected from South-Thimphu-Throm-Chang-Dagala-Genye-Mewang constituency in Thimphu.

Khandu Wangchuk is the Minister of Economic Affairs. Khandu Wangchuk graduated with a BA degree from St. Stephens College in New Delhi. He began his career as a trainee officer in 1974. He has served as Director General, RCSC Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ministry, Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Khandu Wangchuk has also served two terms as Prime Minister in 2001 and in 2006. He was conferred the red scarf in 1987, the orange scarf and the rank of deputy minister in 1994, and the Orange Scarf and the rank of a minister in 1998 by His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo. He was elected from Lamgong-Wangchang constituency in Paro.

The new Finance Minister is Wangdi Norbu. Wangdi Norbu graduated with a Bachelors degree in Economics from University of Western Australia in 1976. He has taken specialized mid-term trainings in finance including programming and policies at Public Accounts & Audit in London, and the IMF in Washington DC among others. He became Finance Minister in 2003. He was conferred the red scarf in 1998 and the orange scarf and title of lyonpo in 2003 Wangdi Norbu was elected as a National Assembly member from Bartsham-Shongphu constituency in Trashigang

Ugyen Tshering has been appointed as the Foreign Affairs Minister. Ugyen Tshering has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of California at Berkeley, USA. He began his career in the Planning Commission in 1978. He has served as the Permanent Representative of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York, Foreign Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Labour and Human Resources. He was conferred the red scarf in 1998 and the orange scarf in 2003. He was elected from North-Thim-Throm constituency in Thimphu.

Zangley Dukpa is the new Health Minister. Zangley Dukpa has a Masters degree in Education from Bristol University in the United Kingdom. He began his career as a teacher. He has served as Principal of Sherubtse College in Kanglung and as Dzongda of Chhukha and Vice Chancellor of the Royal University of Bhutan. He was conferred the red scarf and the title of dasho in 1994 Zangley Dukpa was elected from Khar-Yurung constituency in Pema Gatshel.

The new Home and Cultural Affairs Minister is Minjur Dori. Minjur Dorji graduated from the Shaheed Bhagat Singh College in Delhi, India with a Bachelor degree in commerce. Later he obtained a Post Graduate degree in Auditing from the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation. He started his career in 1986 as a trainee officer with the Royal Audit Authority. He has served as assistant Auditor General and as Dzongda in Monggar and Trashigang. Minjur Dorji was elected from Kanglung-Samkhar-Udzorong constituency in Trashigang.

Thakur Singh Powdyel is the Education Minister. Thakur Singh Powdyel graduated with a Masters degree in English from North Hills University in Shillong, India. He earned his PGCE from the Institute of Education, University of London in the United Kingdom. He started his career as a teacher. He has served as a lecturer and Vice Principal of Sherubtse College in Kanglung and Director of the Centre for Education Research. He was a visiting Professor to the Graduates School of Asian and African Studies at the Kyoto University in Japan. Thakur Singh Powdyel was elected from Dorokha-Tading constituency in Samtse.

Pema Gyamtsho is the Agriculture Minister. Pema Gyamtsho has a PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Switzerland and a master’s degree in science from New Zealand. He has worked in various fields such as rural development, planning, project management, and research. He resigned as the Deputy Resident Coordinator of Helvetas to join politics. He was elected from Chhoekhor-Tang constituency in Bumthang.

The new Information and Communication Minister is Nandalal Rai. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Arts from NDA, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India and obtained a Masters degree in Science from the University of Madras in India. He joined as a cadet officer and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in RBA in 1976. He has worked in various capacities as Platoon and Company Commander and the Chief Administrative Officer. Nandalal Rai was elected from Shompangkha constituency in Sarpang.

Dorji Wangdi has been appointed as the Labour and Human Resource Minister. Dorji Wangdi graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Sherubtse College in Kanglung. Later he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. He worked for four years as assistant Planning Officer in the Ministry of Planning, two years as a Program Officer in the Ministry of Finance and seven years as Deputy Cabinet Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. Dorji Wangdi was elected as national assembly member from Panbang constituency in Zhemgang.

The party also announced the nominees for the post of the National Assembly Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. Jigme Tshultim is the nominee for the post of National Assembly Speaker and Yangkhu Tshering Sherpa is the nominee for the Deputy Speaker. Their appointment will be decided by the National Assembly which will be convened in the next 10 to 12 days.

Jigme Tshultim graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts from St. Joseph College in Darjeeling, India. He underwent post graduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He served the Royal Government for 32 years and held various senior positions such as the Managing Director of Tourism Corporation, Dzongda in Paro, Samtse, and Monger, and the Chief of Protocol in the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh. He was awarded the red scarf in 1997 by His Majesty Fourth Druk Gyalpo. He was elected from the Radhi-Sakteng constituency in Trashigang.

Yangkhu Tshering Sherpa graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Dzongkha from Sherubtse College in Kanglung. He served as a Dzongkha teacher for more than 15 years before he resigned to join politics. Between 1992 and 1996, he taught in Trashigang and admitted himself to Sherubtse College for graduation. Yanku Tshering Sherpa was elected from Kikhorthang-Mendrelgang constituency in Tsirang.


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