Bhutan, known for championing Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a national metric, is setting the stage to build Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), an economic and spiritual hub designed to link South Asia and Southeast Asia. Officials announced the project on Monday and initiated fundraising to support its development.
Located on the Bhutan-India border, GMC will function as a special administrative zone offering a range of incentives aimed at attracting international investment and providing jobs to Bhutan’s predominantly Buddhist population of nearly 800,000. The city will cover more than 2,500 square kilometers and include sectors in finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and eco-tourism, among others. In line with Bhutan’s GNH principles, GMC will promote sustainability, mindfulness, and community well-being, integrating green spaces for meditation, mindfulness-based education, healthcare and wellness centers, and eco-friendly transportation options, including walking and cycling.
A sovereign development agency launched a fixed-term deposit program on Monday aimed at non-resident Bhutanese to fund foundational infrastructure for GMC, including an international airport.
“This is more than a financial opportunity; it is a call to contribute to and actively shape our shared vision for a thriving, mindful, and resilient Bhutan,” said Gelephu Investment and Development Corp. CEO Ujjwal Dahal. (Reuters)
Although the GMC website initially advertised a 10-year “Nation Building Bond” to raise $100 million, officials clarified that no bond would be offered to private individuals and that there was no specific fundraising target at present.
The primary objective of GMC is to foster economic growth in Bhutan, whose economy is heavily reliant on hydropower and tourism, both of which were significantly impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic exacerbated the country’s employment challenges, with youth unemployment reaching nearly 30 per cent in 2022. Many young Bhutanese have migrated abroad seeking better opportunities, including thousands to Australia.
The development of GMC will be phased over a 21-year period, with private-sector partnerships contributing to the construction of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, an airport, residential areas, schools, hospitals, and business facilities. Officials expect the initial population of 150,000 residents in the first 7–10 years, potentially growing to more than a million by project completion.
GMC is a project envisioned by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who proposed the city as an embodiment of sustainable and “conscious” development inspired by Buddhist spiritual heritage and GNH values. “Mindfulness is at the core of our values-based city and aligns with the ethos and identity of our nation,” stated Rabsel Dorji, a senior GMC official. (Reuters)
Reflecting Bhutan’s commitment to environmental sustainability, GMC’s design incorporates eco-friendly architecture, following Bhutan’s status as the world’s first carbon-negative country, which absorbs more carbon than it emits.
As Bhutan’s largest trade partner, India has expressed support for the project and plans to extend its transportation infrastructure, including roads and railways, to connect with GMC. Infrastructure and urban planning specialist Surya Raj Acharya, based in Nepal, highlighted connectivity as a critical factor for GMC’s success, noting Bhutan’s landlocked geography.
Acharya said that GMC was a smart move, but stressed that connectivity could pose a serious challenge, noting: “Developing the city as a competitive production hub also depends on connectivity to global logistics, and this will rely heavily on Indian infrastructure.” (Reuters)
Acharya also emphasized the importance of attracting international investors to make GMC viable. “These are factors not under Bhutan’s control,” he added. (Reuters)
Bhutan’s GMC project reflects the country’s unique approach to development, which blends economic growth with the principles of Gross National Happiness. If successful, the city could become a model for combining economic progress with mindfulness and sustainable living in the region.
Public policy expert Lhawang Ugyel, from the University of New South Wales in Australia, suggested that Bhutan was at an economic crossroads, having been hit hard by the pandemic. “Bhutan cannot continue business as usual,” he said. “Thus, there is little option but to consider innovative or ambitious policy actions such as the mindfulness city project.” (ABC News)
See more
Buddhist Bhutan to build ‘mindfulness city’ to woo investment, create jobs (Reuters)
Can Bhutan’s plans for a ‘mindfulness city’ convince its diaspora community to come home? (ABC News)
Buddhist Bhutan to build ‘mindfulness city’ to woo investment, create jobs (Daily Maverick)
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