The first Druk Tshongrig Gatoen (DTG) was initiated to provide young and interested individuals with a platform to connect and discuss issues that impede businesses.
In 2018, Dr. Karma Phuntsho (PhD) stated that the Global Entrepreneurship Week, usually organized in November, was not effective in the country, and he opted for a local version to achieve better results and help aspiring entrepreneurs who needed more skills and support. And also successfully engage entrepreneurs in creating a new business culture in Bhutan—one that is socially responsible, ethical, environmentally friendly, and culturally sensitive” (Kuensel, 2018).
We constantly seek, in the words of the fifth King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, ‘development with values’. DTG 2024 couldn’t be more than a perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs —both young and aspiring individuals, as well as seasoned and experienced professionals to help create awareness and inspire a socially responsible, spiritually, culturally and environmentally friendly business in alignment with Bhutan’s ambition to become a High Income Gross National Happiness (GNH) Economy.
Over the years, DTG has been an enormous success as a platform towards helping struggling entrepreneurs in achieving better results in the economy by providing guidance in skills, financial capital, and moral and social support. Jeewan Baral, Founder of Mugwort Solution said, “DTG has provided us the platform to create an awareness of our products to a larger extent. The DTG has a positive impact on our business as we get more customers to interact personally.”
The festival encourages an environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can grow, connect, and contribute to Bhutan’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem—both locally and globally. Ugyen Dhendup, CEO of NoMindBhutan said, “DTG 2023 played a very important role in the growth of NoMindBhutan. It was our first event as NoMind, and we gained valuable experience while networking with many people who have extensive experience in entrepreneurship. We were able to showcase our product, and although we were not well known before, after participating, many recognized us as a leading chatbot builder in the country. It was a great platform for us, and we were able to connect with a few potential clients at the event, whom we later successfully converted into paying customers.”
For DTG 2024, the theme “Innovate to Elevate: Knowledge-Driven Entrepreneurship for Social Impact” will present a series of exciting programmes that will underscore this vision.
