Bhutan launches 'Mindfulness City' project to boost economy, promote well-being

Bhutan, known for championing Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a national metric, is laying the groundwork to build Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), an economic and spiritual hub designed to connect South and Southeast Asia. Officials announced the project on Monday and launched a fundraising drive to support its development.

Located on the Bhutan-India border, the GMC will operate as a special administrative zone offering a range of incentives to attract international investment and provide jobs to Bhutan’s majority Buddhist population of nearly 800. The city will span over 000 square kilometres and will include sectors such as finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and eco-tourism. In line with Bhutan’s GNH principles, the GMC will promote sustainability, mindfulness and community well-being, incorporating green spaces for meditation, mindfulness-based education, health and wellness centres and environmentally friendly transport options including walking and cycling.

A sovereign development agency on Monday launched a term deposit programme for non-resident Bhutanese to finance GMC's basic infrastructure, including an international airport.

“This is more than a financial opportunity; it is a call to actively contribute and shape our shared vision of a prosperous, conscious and resilient Bhutan,” said Ujjwal Dahal, CEO of Gelephu Investment and Development Corp. (Reuters)

Although the GMC website initially announced a 10-year "Nation Building Bond" to raise $100 million, officials clarified that no bonds would be offered to individuals and there was no specific fundraising target at this time.

The GMC’s primary objective is to foster economic growth in Bhutan, whose economy relies heavily on hydropower and tourism, both of which have been severely impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic has exacerbated the country’s employment challenges, with youth unemployment reaching nearly 30 percent in 2022. Many young Bhutanese have migrated abroad in search of better opportunities, including thousands to Australia.

The development of GMC will be phased in over a 21-year period, with private sector partnerships helping to build infrastructure such as roads, bridges, an airport, residential areas, schools, hospitals and commercial facilities. Authorities expect the initial population to be 150 in the first seven to 000 years, and could reach more than one million by the time the project is completed.

GMC is a project envisioned by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who proposed the city as an embodiment of sustainable and “mindful” development inspired by Buddhist spiritual heritage and GNH values. “Mindfulness is at the heart of our value-based city and aligns with our nation’s ethos and identity,” said 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, absorbing more carbon than it emits.

As Bhutan’s largest trading partner, India has expressed support for the project and is looking to expand its transport infrastructure, including road and rail, to connect to the GMC. Surya Raj Acharya, an infrastructure and urban planning expert based in Nepal, stressed that connectivity is a critical factor for the success of GMC, highlighting Bhutan’s landlocked geography.

Acharya said GMC was a smart move, but stressed that connectivity could pose a big challenge, noting: "The development of the city as a competitive manufacturing hub also depends on connectivity to global logistics, and that will depend heavily on Indian infrastructure." (Reuters)

Acharya also stressed the importance of attracting international investors to make GMC viable. "These are factors beyond Bhutan's control," he added. (Reuters)

Bhutan’s GMC project reflects the country’s unique approach to development, which combines economic growth with the principles of Gross National Happiness. If successful, the city could become a model for economic progress, mindfulness and sustainable living in the region.

Public policy expert Lhawang Ugyel of 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 with business as usual,” he said. “So there is little choice 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 attract investment, create jobs (Reuters)
Can Bhutan's plans for a 'mindfulness city' convince its diaspora to return home? (ABC News)
Buddhist Bhutan to build 'mindfulness city' to attract investment, create jobs (Daily Maverick)

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