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About Us


The BCCI-SEDF Knowledge Center has been jointly established by the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), and the South-Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group.

The Knowledge Center located at the BCCI head-office in Thimphu, Bhutan, aims to provide a "One-Stop knowledge & information source" to the SMEs and other stakeholders in Bhutan.

The BCCI-SEDF Knowledge Center offers the following services:

  • Learning Events - Seminars, Symposiums, Focus Group Discussions, Workshops;
  • Skill-based training;
  • 24 hours of high-speed internet connectivity (256 kbps);
  • Professional training & assistance in using "Tshong-Rig" and other audio-visual self-learning tools;
  • Facilitate networking and sharing of best practices amongst SMEs;
  • Onsite guidance and support personnel;
  • Library services;
  • Office support services - photocopy, spiral binding, fax, phone, etc.

The core product of the Knowledge Center is the "Tshong-Rig" (the localized version of the SME Tool-kit), a product developed by IFC. This is a web-based platform containing a wide range of business tools, contents and software applications, intended to enable owners and managers of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to improve their management practices and grow their businesses.

Tshong-Rig is a project of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Department of the World Bank Group, South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Tshong-Rig focuses on seven core business areas:

  • Accounting & Finance;
  • Business Planning;
  • Human Resources;
  • Legal & Insurance;
  • Marketing & Sales;
  • Operations;
  • Technology.

International Finance Coorporation (IFC):

The mission of IFC (www.ifc.org), a member of the World Bank Group, is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. The SME Department (www.ifc.org/sme) combines the market perspective of the IFC with the policy expertise of the World Bank to promote local small business growth in developing nations.

South-Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF):

SEDF is a multi-donor funded facility managed by International Finance Corporation (IFC), to support the growth of Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) mainly in Bangladesh, North-East India, Nepal and Bhutan. SEDF was established in October 2002. It is funded by seven donors, including the IFC, the Royal Netherlands Government, Department of International Development (DFID) UK, European Commission (EC), CIDA Canada, NORAD Norway and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI):

Established in 1980, BCCI (http://www.bcci.org.bt) is the apex-body of the Private Sector of Bhutan. BCCI is a non-profit organisation comprising of business community members from all over the country.

The main functions of BCCI are:

  • Supplement and augment the Royal Government’s efforts in enhancing the promotion of the private sector in the field of trade & industries in compliance with the government’s aspirations, policies and directives
  • Provide a forum for exchanging views and discussing problems relating to the development of trade and industries in the kingdom
  • Function as a center for receiving and disseminating all kinds of business information related to economic development
  • Function as a liaison body between the Royal Government & the Private Sector, and interpret the government’s policies and regulations for members
  • Receive and submit the views, suggestions and recommendations of the private sector to the government on all policy matters related to business for corrective measures
  • Provide guidance in preparing project reports and related activities.

For further details on the BCCI-SEDF Knowledge Center & Tshong-Rig, please contact:

Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Doybum Lam, Post Box 147 Thimphu, Bhutan
Tel : 00975-2-322742/324254
Fax : 00975-2-323936
E-mail : io.bcci@druknet.net.bt

E-mail: To learn more about partnership opportunities with the SME Toolkit (www.smetoolkit.org), or if you have any suggestions or encounter problems with the SME Toolkit, please send an email to info@sedfknowledgecenter.info

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