Sangay Ngedup

Who is Sangay Ngedup?

Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup was Prime Minister of Bhutan from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2006.

In Dzongkha, the title Lyonpo means "Minister".

Sangay Ngedup was born in Nobgang village in Punakha. He is the second eldest son in a family of two brothers and five sisters. Four of his sisters are married to the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He graduated from Dr Graham's Homes in Kalimpong, India, and completed his tertiary education at the St Stephen’s College in New Delhi, India. In 1976 he joined the Bhutanese foreign service, and attended diplomatic courses in Australia and New Delhi.

In 1977, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup served at the permanent mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York and later as second secretary in the Royal Bhutan Embassy in New Delhi. In 1989, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup was appointed as Ambassador to Kuwait.

He was transferred as the Director of Trade and Industry in 1989 and then as the joint secretary of the Planning Commission in April 1991. He became the Director General of Health in 1992. In 1998 he became Minister of Health and Education, and he served as Prime Minister from July 9, 1999 until July 20, 2000.