Gelephu Mindfulness City is more than just a project; it is a vision for Bhutan’s future. In the wake of His Majesty The King’s National Day address, this story explores insights from the Co-CEOs of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority on how the city aims to transform both lives and landscapes.
Gelephu Mindfulness City seeks to grow into a dynamic economic hub by fostering a supportive business environment and meaningful incentives. It will be developed as a Mindfulness City, promoting sustainable and ethical businesses rooted in Buddhist values and reflecting Bhutan’s unique identity.
The Co-CEOs shared their enthusiasm for working for Gelephu Mindfulness City.
“Love, dedication, discipline. I think these three words summarise first the foundation of strength for our confidence that we can build this city. It reflects the purpose of why we wanted to build this city. I think it is his majesty’s love for the people and this city is for Bhutanese, not just for this generation but for generations to come,” said Lee Seow Hiang, Co-CEO, GMCA.
“When we look at GMC as a city, it is one step above the sustainability that I am so used to dealing with. It is about mindfulness. It is such a blessed environment that Bhutan is already a negative carbon nation to start with. There is an excellent track record to begin with that sets it apart from all the other projects that I have done,” said Pang Yee Ean, Co-CEO, GMCA.
During the 118th National Day, His Majesty shared that more than 50 international companies had expressed interest, with 28 applications approved and 33 currently under review.
“From data centres to logistics, and even education, there is a growing interest. I just came from a discussion on education, where two major international investors are looking to set up schools and campuses in Gelephu. There are also multi-faceted investments coming in, including golf courses, tourist hotels, and more,” said Pang Yee Ean, Co-CEO, GMCA.
He further said that priority is being given to positioning Bhutanese businesses in Gelephu, while ensuring a balanced and complementary role for international investors as well.
Additionally, more than eight thousand people have signed up for the upcoming 4th round volunteer engagement in GMC.
“Everybody was picking up wood, clearing vegetation, removing stones, carrying huge logs, sawing away, and so on. All this work could have been done by contractors, but doing it ourselves took it to another level. It showed commitment and became a personal signature on the project,” said Pang Yee Ean, Co-CEO, GMCA.
He added that members of the Bhutanese diaspora, as well as foreigners, have shown interest in coming forward to participate in the volunteer programme.
His Majesty, in his National Day address, expressed that despite 94 per cent of land within GMC being state land, land is his biggest worry.
“I think the model that His Majesty has put together, in consultation with experts in this field, is well thought out. It ensures that ultimate ownership of the land remains with Bhutan and its people, which is essential. This approach helps prevent prices from outpacing development and keeps them under control,” said Pang Yee Ean, Co-CEO, GMCA.
Gelephu Mindfulness City embodies mindful growth and sustainable development, balancing Bhutanese values with international investment, and engaging the community to create a lasting legacy for generations.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
