PRESS RELEASE
Disbursement of Nu. 5 Million ESP Funding to Drive Digital Transformation Across Five Private Media Houses
Thimphu, Bhutan: The Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DoMCIIP), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE), today released Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) funding to five private print media houses. This initiative reinforces the Department’s commitment to building a resilient, sustainable, and digitally enabled media sector in Bhutan.
The disbursement executes the Cabinet Secretariat’s approval (Letter No. ESP/MoICE/2026/221, dated February 12, 2026) following authorization from the ESP Steering Committee. Under this grant, DoMCIIP is allocating Nu. 1 million to each beneficiary media house to support newsroom modernization, operational upgrades, and digital adoption, and overall media enterprise development and to drive digital transformation across five private newspapers namely, Bhutan Times, Business Bhutan, Gyalchi Sarshog, The Bhutanese, and The Journalist.
Addressing the recipients, the Director, emphasized prudent and purposeful fund utilization to build long-term institutional capacity and accelerate technological integration. This ESP allocation forms part of DoMCIIP’s ongoing framework to support the private media landscape, which includes:
- Media Enterprise Development Budget (MEDB): Annual subsidies administered by the Department to strengthen media enterprises.
- National Journalism Awards: Annual financial and administrative support to recognize professional excellence.
- Bhutan Media Forum: Sustained backing for national dialogue on industry policy and development.
The Department acknowledges the crucial role of private media houses in nation-building through responsible, independent reporting, and remains committed to fostering a professional, future-ready media ecosystem.
Issued by:
Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DoMCIIP)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment
Thimphu, Bhutan
