The Department of Trade, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), organized a half-day workshop on the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and the development of a roadmap for its effective performance on March 13, 2025. The event brought together key stakeholders from the government and private sector.

The workshop covered the global experience of NTFCs, best practices relevant to Bhutan, and strategies to strengthen NTFC operations. Stakeholder inputs were sought to determine the most effective setup for an NTFC that would benefit Bhutan. Additionally, the expert presented case studies from other countries as well as the key organizational setup of NTFC, including legal and administrative frameworks, structure, strategy, and operations.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment is working towards revitalizing the NTFC to enhance trade facilitation and improve coordination among the agencies involved in cross-border trade, with the key objective of supporting businesses involved in cross-border trade.