Gelephu Mindfulness City is being built as a new economic hub, attracting businesses and creating new opportunities. But authorities say growth must come with another priority: integrity. The Audit and Corruption Investigation Bureau of GMC is now taking that message to businesses, urging them to help build a corruption-free business environment from the beginning.
A new city is taking shape. And with it comes a growing business community, from hotels and grocery stores to hardware shops and traders. But as economic activity grows, authorities say there is another foundation that needs to be laid early, clean and transparent business practices.
The Audit and Corruption Investigation Bureau recently brought that message directly to the business community at the Gelephu Thromde Hall.
The awareness programme focused on how corruption can enter even routine business transactions, from gifts and bribes to manipulated bills, inflated quantities, poor-quality supplies, collusion and excess payments.
“Corruption does not always happen through big transactions. Sometimes, it can start with something as simple as a fake bill, an inflated payment or an agreement between a businessperson and a government official. These are the kinds of practices we want to prevent in GMC,” said Tashi, Head, Audit and Corruption Investigation Bureau, GMC.
The businesses were also briefed on safeguards, including rules governing gifts and hospitality, asset disclosure, audit clearance and integrity vetting. But the Bureau says enforcement alone cannot keep corruption out.
“We are not saying that everyone attending this programme is involved in corruption. Our message is that if you come across a situation where someone is asking for or offering something corrupt, speak up. Reporting it early gives us a chance to address the problem before it grows into something much bigger,” said Tashi, Head, Audit and Corruption Investigation Bureau, GMC.
For businesses, the message is also about responsibility. As the city attracts more investment and commercial activity, businesspeople say maintaining transparency must be a shared commitment, not just a government responsibility.
“I will try my best to keep myself away from any corruption-related matters, and I will also tell my family and kids doing business to avoid taking part in corruption matters within the GMC areas. Let’s make GMC a corruption-free hub,” said NB Adikhari, Businessman, Gelephu.
GMC is being built to become more than a new economic centre. And authorities say its success will also be measured by how business is done, with transparency, accountability and integrity becoming part of the city’s culture from the very beginning.
Passang Dorji, Gelephu
