Transitional Status
In January 1975, the Ministry of Trade and Industry decided that Handicrafts Development Corporation be run independently on commercial basis and become self-supporting organization. Subsequently, the annual budgetary grant was withdrawn and it operated as a semi-autonomous body under the direct administrative control of Ministry of Trade and Industry. The status of Handicraft Emporium was given a formal touch in February 1984 when it was renamed as Handicrafts Development Corporation and incorporated under the Royal Charter. A board of Director was formed to control, guide and supervise the management of the corporation.
In October 1984, the Handicrafts Development Corporation was placed under the erstwhile National Council for Social and cultural Affairs as per the decision of the Royal Government. But in April 1985, it was handed back to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Thereafter, it continued to be controlled by the Board of Directors until 1986. It was then placed under the administrative control of the Ministry; However the Handicrafts Development Corporation was reverted to its original status of Semi-autonomous Corporation subject to the government financial and service rules till 1990.
In December 1990 the Corporation was de-linked from the civil service and was registered under the Company’s Act of 1989 and a Board of Director was reconstituted.
In August 1991, as per the Royal Command, the Emporium was brought under the umbrella of National Woman’s Association of Bhutan as Non Government Organizational (NGO). However, the organization continued to function independently under the Supervision and Chairmanship of Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Choden Wangchuck who is also the President of the National Women’s Association of Bhutan.
In terms of satisfying the growing need for employment, there are over forty five employees including branches at various levels of its hierarchy on the payroll of the organization.