Thukten Zangpo
Even as the economic masterplan of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC)—a special administrative region in Bhutan envisioned by His Majesty the King—is currently being prepared, the GMC website that unveiled on Friday identifies seven core economic sectors that will be key drivers of growth and innovation.
This ground-breaking project aims to not only transform Bhutan’s economy but also enhance its engagement in international markets while generating future opportunities for its citizens.
According to GMC’s official website, the city is an innovative urban development project that integrates economic growth with principles of mindfulness, holistic living, and sustainability.
Located strategically at the intersection of South Asia, ASEAN, and China, GMC will capitalise on Bhutan’s commitment to sustainable development, its rich cultural heritage, and its strong governance framework. This positioning is expected to establish GMC as a global leader in mindful and sustainable urban development.
The GMC will be a sanctuary for global businesses and professionals who seek to combine sustainability, spiritual wellbeing, and commercial success. The project will proceed based on the philosophy of “Building with Nature” so that related structures are integrated with their pristine surroundings.
Spanning over 2,500 square kilometres in and around Gelephu in the Sarpang district, the city is poised to attract businesses and professionals looking to thrive in an environment that harmonises economic success with environmental and spiritual values.
The GMC is currently inviting expressions of interest from companies, entrepreneurs, and individual professionals from around the world.
The GMC’s development will focus on seven core economic clusters—spirituality, health and wellness, education and knowledge, green energy or tech industries, finance, agritech and forestry, and airport economy.
The GMC will leverage Bhutan’s rich spiritual traditions to become a prominent centre for Vajrayana Buddhism, supporting major spiritual and religious projects that are expected to boost its tourism development strategy.
In the health and wellness sector, the GMC’s pristine environment and commitment to mindfulness will facilitate the creation of world-class health and wellness centres. This focus is set to position the GMC as a leader in medical tourism, integrative medicine, and research and development.
The city’s education sector will serve as the cornerstone of its knowledge economy. By concentrating on higher education and technical learning institutions, the GMC aims to foster a robust ecosystem of talent development and innovation, driving growth across all sectors.
The GMC’s access to clean and affordable renewable energy, combined with Bhutan’s proximity to India’s large ICT market, provides an opportunity to support the development of green technology and digital industries. This includes emerging sectors such as green IT and cryptomining.
In the financial sector, the GMC offers a gateway to three major economies—China, India, and Bangladesh—through investment opportunities tailored to high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
The city’s focus on agritech and forestry aims to expand Bhutan’s export-oriented agri-food sector and capitalise on the potential of laminated timber as a construction material. This initiative seeks to establish the GMC as a hub for manufacturing, testing, and export.
With the construction of the Gelephu International Airport underway, the GMC is planning to develop an aviation and logistics hub to cater to the growing travel demand in South Asia, which has seen increasingly high numbers of outbound tourists after Covid-19.
Businesses operating in the GMC will enjoy the support of a range of key enablers, including market access with favourable tax and market access regulations, investment in incentives, funding and finance ecosystem, local and global talent support and simple access.
The GMC will receive structural advantages in terms of digitised and streamlined government services, political stability and transparency, comprehensive talent mobility support (for example like legal, medical, education service).
According to the GMC’s website, one of the enablers of GMC will be its autonomous executive, legislative, and judiciary systems that blend robust policies that build trust and accountability with mindful incentives designed to empower each resident and businesses to reach their fullest potential.
Built on a foundation of world-class infrastructure, the GMC will seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art technology with sustainable practices. With an international airport, advanced rail networks, and cutting-edge digital connectivity, all powered by 100 percent renewable energy, the GMC will ensure that every facet of life and business thrives in harmony with nature.