KATHMANDU:
Bhutan will ban the import of all automobiles besides utility automobiles, heavy earthmoving machines and agriculture equipment to save lots of dwindling international change reserves, the federal government stated in a discover seen by Reuters on Friday.
Nestled between China and India, the nation of fewer than 800,000 folks is grappling with the results of hovering oil and grain costs brought on by the warfare in Ukraine in addition to with the continued impression of the pandemic, together with a strict zero-COVID coverage that has barred international vacationers for the previous two years.
Overseas change reserves had declined to $970 million on the finish of December, 2021, from $1.46 billion in April 2021, based on knowledge launched final month by the Royal Financial Authority of Bhutan.
The ministry of finance stated in a notification that the import of utility automobiles costing lower than 1.5 million ngultrums ($20,000) can be allowed and people for the use and promotion of tourism can be exempted.
“The moratorium is applied to make sure satisfactory international forex reserves for sustaining macroeconomic stability,” it stated.
The day by day Kuensel newspaper stated Bhutan imported greater than 8,000 automobiles within the 12 months to June and that this was one of many predominant contributing elements to the depletion of reserves.
Bhutan is remitted by its structure to keep up reserves to cowl not less than 12 months of imports.
The federal government will evaluation and amend the moratorium which went into impact on Friday in six months relying on the international forex reserve place, it stated.