Chairperson of Fund Raising Committee
Rinzin Ongdra, 43, studied Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calcutta in 1992. He is currently the Co-founder of Yu-Druk Bicycle and Co-Partner of Yu-Druk Tours & Treks, Thimphu. Rinzin availed a wide range of training opportunities both in Bhutan and outside, which includes Training on Bicycle Repair and Overhaul, and on Fundamentals of Rider Position from Barnett Bicycle Institute in the United States, Training on Handmade Paper Production from Japan, and Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Course in Thimphu. He also underwent a militia volunteers’ training at the Military Training Centre in Wangdiphodrang, Bhutan. Besides his usual responsibilities, he is a member of the Board of Directors in various companies such as the 5 Star Machineries, Samtse Bhutan, Druk Mining Ltd, Phuentsholing, Bhutan, and the Druk Ferro Alloys Ltd. Similarly, Rinzin is the Promoter as well as the Member of the Board of Directors of Jigme Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Jigme Mining Corporation Ltd.
Furthermore, he has also held executive posts in various organizations such as President, Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO), Thimphu, Executive Member, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Executive Member, Committee on Tourism, BCCI, Vice President, Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO), Thimphu, General Assembly Member, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Executive Member, SAARC Tourism Council, and Executive Member, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), Thimphu. He is currently the Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Thimphu and a member of the Board of Directors of Youth Development Fund, Thimphu. Rinzin is the recipient of the ACCU Prize for the photograph entitled “Children at Play” in the 19th Photo Contest in Asia and Pacific awarded by the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) in 1996.
He also received the Intern 1 Certification by Bicycle Standard of Excellence, USA. In 2004, he organized the 1st International Bicycle race in Bhutan. Rinzin participated as the key speaker at various national and international conferences, seminars and workshops such as the 2nd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave held in Mumbai, India, Review of Anti-Corruption Strategies of RGoB held in Thimphu, Enhancing Business Sustainability of the Tourism Accommodation in Bhutan held in Paro, SAARC Tourism Ministers Meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2nd meeting of SAARC Chamber of Tourism Council (SCTC) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, UNCTAD e-Business Awareness-Raising Seminar for Senior Decision Makers organized by UNCTAD, Thimphu, 13th Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Course 2003 organized by Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Thimphu, Sustainable Tourism: Markets, Linkages and learning in Kathmandu, National Tourism Workshop (NTW) on “Synergy for Quality Growth” organized by Department of Tourism, Thimphu, Workshop on “Framing Guidelines for the promotion of Eco-Tourism within Bhutan’s protected Areas System” organized by the Nature Conservation Division (NCD), Thimphu, and the 11th Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Course 2001 organized by Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Thimphu. Furthermore, he has been the Advisory and Committee member of the National Steering Committee for Centenary Celebration – 2008, Tourism Impact Analysis Report, 2005 – 2006, National Expert for mountain Bike and Bicycling Tourism for the Tourism Resource Inventory of Bhutan, Development of National Bio-safety Framework for Bhutan, 2005, and Country Interview on Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, 2005. He also represented Bhutan as delegate to SDA Conference on Sustainable Tourism on 2nd – 5th November 2004 in Texel, Netherlands. He was also actively involved as the representative of ABTO and Tour Operators in the Drafting Committee 2005 – 2006 for Tourism Act.
