Read The Diplomat, get to know Asia-Pacific
The city is considered the new economic hub of Bhutan, an opportunity to capitalize on the economic space that connects South Asia to Southeast Asia.
Gelephu International Airport at the opening ceremony, attended by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, on December 23, 2023.
The Kingdom of Bhutan, internationally known for creating the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and being the first carbon-negative country, today launches Gelephu Mindfulness City, an interconnected bridge for sustainable progress between South and Southeast Asia. A small delegation visited the country through King Jigme Khesar himself Namgyel Wangchuck.
King Khesar, 43, announced plans for the new city on Bhutan’s National Day on Dec. 17 in Thimphu. Galvanizing thousands of high-profile Bhutanese and foreign industrialists and entrepreneurs, the king said the city would be Bhutan’s economic hub, an opportunity to tap into the economic space linking South Asia with Southeast Asia. According to the World Bank, industry between the two regions increased ninefold between 2000 and 2018, from $38 billion to $349 billion. Bhutan will use the land connection from Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar through Assam and northeastern India, to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
King Khesar announced the establishment of a Special Administrative Region with executive autonomy and legal independence “to create a vibrant economic hub.” But Gelephu will stand apart from the average special economic zone (SEZ).
“There are economic centers that invite foreign investment by offering a conducive business environment and compelling incentives. Bhutan’s economic hub will offer all this and much more,” the king proclaimed. “It will be one-of-a-kind, anchored in vision and values. It will be a city of mindfulness, combining conscious and sustainable businesses, fostered through Buddhist spiritual heritage and prominent through the uniqueness of Bhutanese identity.
Gelephu, unlike other SEZs, will host businesses screened and invited based on their respect for the Bhutanese way of life, sustainable and equitable development, and sovereignty. The Bhutanese, a Bhutan-based daily, has reported that companies have expressed interest in bioscience, data centers, education, and energy endeavors in the Gelephu Special Administrative Region.
Gelephu’s assignment will see concerted progress in three key areas: energy, connectivity and skills. Hydropower will attract investment through competitive regional pricing. Other energy resources such as wind, thermal and solar energy will be exploited. The progress of the virtual infrastructure and Gelephu International Airport will improve connectivity. The task will improve the skills of Bhutanese and attract professional foreign workers.
Danish sustainability architect Bjarke Ingels has unveiled the stunning masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed in collaboration with Arup and Cistri. As a delegate, I watched Ingels provide the master plan with audible gasps while skeptics had temporarily become believers. It integrates Bhutanese culture into architecture, protection of farmland, reserves and heritage. The ecological city will not have a layout higher than the trees, with minimum layouts, maximum routes commonly residential, close to sanctuaries and farmland, and maximum routes concentrated towards the centers.
My favorite feature is the Temple-Dam on the Sankosh River. Ingels describes the dam as embedding “the city’s fundamental values into a cascading landscape of steps and landings, that like a 21st century Tiger’s Nest will be a manmade monument to the divine possibility of a sustainable human presence on earth, turning engineering into art, and the forces of nature into power.” This will be a run-of-river hydropower project, ensuring minimal disruption and displacement, given Bhutanese settlements are usually atop mountains and not near the river.
“Gelephu Mindfulness City, which connects South and Southeast Asia, spatially embodies the Bhutanese concept of bridges as sacred connectors of other people across geographies, traditions, and remote eras, fostering effort and transformation,” observed Latoya Ferns, a researcher at GNH. through the Dzong (fortress) a foreign airport and rail connections will be promoted; a eudemonic gymnasium offering classical and allopathic medicine; and a greenhouse showcasing ancient farming strategies and trendy agriscience.
Communications Scholar Dr. Dorji Wangchuk described Bhutan as “a living museum where the past, present, and future mingle seamlessly like nowhere else.” In keeping with Bhutan’s identity as the only Vajrayana Buddhist country, the initial focus will be to establish a Vajrayana center of unprecedented scale in Buddhist history, a joint venture involving all important spiritual masters.
The city will organize and consolidate religious and religious tourism. Bhutan has thus presented itself as a cultural and adventure destination; Their unbroken Buddhist lineage has not yet been optimally marketed. Before the tourism policy update, 63,000 of the 76,983 visitors registered in 2019 were cultural tourists. Of those, 1,000 came to attend masquerade dance festivals called Tsechus and 400 visited meditation retreats.
The task aims to counter the unprecedented migration of several thousand Bhutanese to countries such as Australia. The urban centers of Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing have reached their saturation point. As plateaus of expansion, so do hopes and dreams. Gelephu Mindfulness City encourages Bhutanese to aspire again. Bhutan is a middle-income country in December, now free of dependence on external subsidies, hydropower and tourism. The city will bring lasting prosperity.
King Khesar declared, “It is an inflection point, a mandate and opportunity for us all– the King, the government, and the people– to join hands and work tirelessly to pave the road to the future. Gelephu will become a gateway connecting Bhutan to the world and the future. The road we have chosen is a gateway to the world– to markets, capital, new ideas, knowledge, and technology towards our future, and– to chart our destiny.”
Bhutan is in transition to democracy because former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck introduced it to the people, despite a lack of public demand. Even after 16 years, Bhutanese say they would vote for the monarchy if they could and that they would help achieve their goals. Bhutanese monarchs, called phama (parents), are members of an extended family.
Thus, all the projects carried out by the King were successful. Of particular note is De-suung, a national volunteering programme, introduced in 2011, which has so far registered a total of 42,000 registrations within minutes of the places opening. according to the official website. The King provides education in a culture of excellence, from construction infrastructure to frontline workers, achieving one of the most COVID-19 vaccination policies in the world. This adds to the uniqueness of Mindfulness City, which through design is destined to achieve this, with sovereign prerogatives, popular support and Bhutan’s credible track record of sustainable practices as force multipliers.
The Fourth King was unafraid to depart from the mainstream and introduce GNH as an alternative development paradigm. Though many at the time thought him crazy, the United Nations created the Sustainable Development Goals in its image and instituted the International Day of Happiness.
The Fifth King is also challenging the narrative that Bhutan is tiny and without economic heft. Bhutan will prove skeptics wrong again. On National Day, King Khesar rallied the packed stadium, “Let us build a legacy that will continue to benefit Bhutanese 500 years into the future. Are you ready to shoulder this responsibility with me?”
There was a resounding “Yes” from the 30,000 Bhutanese gathered there.
Understand Asia-Pacific’s biggest issues with a subscription to The Diplomat.
The Kingdom of Bhutan, internationally known for creating the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and being the first carbon-negative country, today launches Gelephu Mindfulness City, an interconnected bridge for sustainable progress between South and Southeast Asia. A small delegation visited the country through King Jigme Khesar himself Namgyel Wangchuck.
King Khesar, 43, announced plans for the new city on Bhutan’s National Day on Dec. 17 in Thimphu. Galvanizing thousands of high-profile Bhutanese and foreign industrialists and entrepreneurs, the king said the city would be Bhutan’s economic hub, an opportunity to tap into the economic space linking South Asia with Southeast Asia. According to the World Bank, industry between the two regions increased ninefold between 2000 and 2018, from $38 billion to $349 billion. Bhutan will use the land connection from Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar through Assam and northeastern India, to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
King Khesar announced the creation of a special administrative region with autonomy and legal independence “to create a dynamic economic center. “But Gelephu will stand out from the average of Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
“There are economic hubs that invite foreign investment by offering a business-friendly environment and compelling incentives. Bhutan’s economic hub will offer all this and much more,” the king proclaimed. “It will be one of a kind, anchored in vision and values. It will be a city of mindfulness, combining conscious and sustainable businesses, fostered through Buddhist spiritual heritage and prominent through the uniqueness of Bhutanese identity.
Gelephu, unlike other SEZs, will host determined and invited corporations based on their respect for the lifestyle, sustainable and equitable development and sovereignty of Bhutan. The Bhutanese founded in Bhutan reported that corporations had expressed interest in biosciences, knowledge centers and education. and energy projects in the Gelephu Special Administrative Region.
Gelephu’s assignment will see concerted progress in three key areas: energy, connectivity and skills. Hydropower will attract investment through competitive regional pricing. Other energy resources such as wind, thermal and solar energy will be exploited. The progress of the virtual infrastructure and Gelephu International Airport will improve connectivity. The task will improve the skills of Bhutanese and attract professional foreign workers.
Danish sustainability architect Bjarke Ingels has unveiled the stunning masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed in collaboration with Arup and Cistri. As a delegate, I watched Ingels provide the master plan with audible gasps as skeptics had temporarily become believers. He integrates Bhutanese culture into architecture. , protection of farmland, reserves and heritage. The ecological city will not have a layout higher than the trees, with minimum layouts, maximum layouts that are commonly residential, close to sanctuaries and farmlands, and maximum layouts concentrated towards the centers.
My favorite feature is the Temple Dam on the Sankosh River. Ingels describes the dam as an integration of “the city’s core values into a cascading landscape of steps and landings that, like a 21st-century tiger’s nest, will be a synthetic monument. “to the divine choice of an enduring human presence on Earth, turning engineering into art and the forces of nature into power. It will be a run-of-the-river hydropower project, which will ensure a minimum of disruption and displacement, given that Bhutanese settlements are underway. more sensitive from the mountains and not near the river.
“Linking South and Southeast Asia, Gelephu Mindfulness City spatially embodies the Bhutanese concept of bridges as sacred connectors of people across isolated geographies, traditions and times, encouraging endeavors and transformation,” observed GNH researcher Latoya Ferns. The Dzong (fortress)-inspired inhabitable bridges will contain an international airport and railway connections; a eudaimonic healthcare center offering traditional and allopathic medicine; and a greenhouse showcasing ancient farming methods and modern agroscience.
Communications Scholar Dr. Dorji Wangchuk described Bhutan as “a living museum where the past, present, and future mingle seamlessly like nowhere else.” In keeping with Bhutan’s identity as the only Vajrayana Buddhist country, the initial focus will be to establish a Vajrayana center of unprecedented scale in Buddhist history, a joint venture involving all important spiritual masters.
The city will organize and consolidate religious and religious tourism. Bhutan has thus presented itself as a cultural and adventure destination; Its unbroken Buddhist lineage has not yet been optimally marketed. Before the tourism policy update, 63,000 of the 76,983 visitors registered in 2019 were cultural tourists. Of them, 1,000 came to attend mask dance festivals called Tsechus and 400 visited meditation retreats.
The project aims to reverse the unprecedented migration of several thousand Bhutanese to countries like Australia. The urban centers of Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing have reached their saturation point. As growth plateaus, so do hopes and dreams. Gelephu Mindfulness City emboldens Bhutanese to aspire again. Bhutan graduated to being a middle income country in December – newly untethered from dependency on external grants, hydropower, and tourism. The city will deliver sustained prosperity.
King Khesar said: “This is a turning point, a mandate and an opportunity for all of us – the king, the government and the rest of the people – to tirelessly sign up for hands and work to pave the way for the long term. Gelephu is a gateway that connects Bhutan to the global and the long-term. The path we have chosen is a gateway to the global: to markets, capital, new ideas, wisdom, and generation for our long-term and to chart our destiny.
Bhutan is in transition to democracy because former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck introduced it to the people, despite a lack of public demand. Even after 16 years, Bhutanese say they would vote for the monarchy if they could and that they would help achieve their goals. Bhutanese monarchs, called phama (parents), are members of an extended family.
Thus, all the projects carried out through the King are successful. Of particular note is De-suung, a national volunteering program, introduced in 2011, which has so far recorded a total of 42,000 registrations within minutes of opening places, according to the official website. The King provides education in a culture of excellence, from infrastructure structure to frontline workers, achieving one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverages in the world. This adds to the exceptional character of Mindfulness City, which through design is destined to succeed, with sovereignty. prerogatives, Bhutan’s popular and credible record of sustainable practices as force multipliers.
The Fourth King is not afraid to deviate from the mainstream and introduce GNH as a paradigm of election progression. Although many thought he was crazy at the time, the United Nations created the Sustainable Development Goals in his symbol and established the International Day of Happiness.
The Fifth King also demanded that the concept of Bhutan as a small country with no economic influence be put into practice. Once Bhutan returns, the skeptics will be wrong. On National Day, King Khesar gathered in the packed stadium: “Let’s build a legacy that will continue to gain advantages for the Bhutanese in 500 years. Are you in a position to assume this duty to me?
There was a resounding “yes” from the 30,000 Bhutanese gathered there.
The Kingdom of Bhutan, world-renowned for creating the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and for being the first carbon negative country, is now launching the Gelephu Mindfulness City, an interconnected bridge of sustainable development between South and Southeast Asia. I was part of a select delegation given a tour by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck himself.
King Khesar, 43, announced plans for the new city on Dec. 17, Bhutan’s National Day, in Thimphu. Galvanizing thousands of high-profile Bhutanese and foreign industrialists and entrepreneurs, the king declared that the city would be the economic center of Bhutan, an opportunity to capitalize on the economic space linking South Asia with South Asia. According to the World Bank, industry between the two regions increased ninefold between 2000 and 2018, from $38 billion to $349 billion. Bhutan will use the land connection from Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar via Assam and northeastern India, to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
Namgay Zam is the former executive director of the Bhutan Journalists Association and host of Bhutan’s first podcast, “Hello from Bhutan. “This article was produced through PoliTweak, which is reinventing democratic peace and sustainable well-being in South Asia.