The Indigenous Arts and Crafts Promotion Division (ICPD) focuses on strengthening Bhutan’s traditional craft sector through market creation, innovation, and skills development. Its core mandates include establishing authentic Bhutanese craft markets and villages, developing community-based craft clusters, expanding market linkages and platforms, preserving and promoting Bhutanese arts and crafts, and supporting product innovation. Through these efforts, ICPD plays a key role in creating employment opportunities, enhancing rural incomes, and ensuring that artisans have access to affordable and sustainable market outlets.

A major component of ICPD’s work is the development of 28 operational craft clusters across the country, supporting organized production in areas such as textile weaving, natural fibers (cotton, nettle, wool), cane and bamboo, woodwork, metalwork, painting, lacquering, and stone
carving. Complementing this is a strong focus on capacity building, where artisans receive basic training, skills upgradation, and product development support. These programs not only improve craftsmanship and innovation but also prepare artisans to access broader markets, including export opportunities, thereby strengthening the overall sustainability of Bhutan’s craft industry