Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
By Chablop Passu
The world has made remarkable strides in the last few decades, advancing more in the last fifty years than it did in the previous fifty thousand. But this progress has come at a significant cost. We have traded much for it: wars, environmental destruction, cultural erosion, and the loss of core human values. While we recognize these consequences and strive for redemption, we’ve come so far that turning back seems impossible. No one seems willing to take the lead to reverse the damage and make it all worthwhile. Even those with the heart to do so often lack the freedom or resources. As a result, the world’s best efforts to heal the planet—through climate funds, green economies, carbon credits, and similar initiatives—fall short of making a meaningful impact.
In times like these, when a monarch from a sovereign nation proposes to build an entire city spanning over two thousand square kilometers centered around mindful living, it’s no wonder the world is taking notice. The sheer audacity of such a dream, impossible elsewhere, makes it all the more captivating. Here, it’s possible because His Majesty the King is a visionary and entrepreneurially driven, selfless and compassionate, revered by his people, respected by his government, and admired by world leaders. He possesses all the qualities needed to dare such a dream, which is why the world is pausing to listen to our King.
While I don’t claim to fully grasp how Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) will influence the world, it’s clear that the world needs a model for mindful living, and GMC offers that potential. Over time, a wealth of knowledge will emerge about its global significance. For now, I want to focus on how GMC will transform Bhutan and touch the lives of every Bhutanese. Let me break down the grand royal vision into smaller, more relatable opportunities that are being prepared for us by our King.
Employment Opportunities
A carpenter friend from my village recently asked me how he could find a job in the construction of GMC. From the construction phase onward, GMC could create employment opportunities on an unprecedented scale. Tens of thousands of skilled and unskilled workers will be needed to build the city. Bhutanese workers can have a clear advantage because the city will largely be wood-based, with Bhutanese architecture at its core, making our carpenters highly sought after. The international nature of the project, offering wages higher than what we’re used to, will make it an attractive alternative. With its proximity and other benefits, GMC will become a competitive option, one that can transform lives here.
Once the city is operational, I imagine the airport alone can employ thousands. With hundreds of flights landing and taking off, it will be one of the busiest airports we’ve ever known, creating limitless economic opportunities. Reflecting on my observations of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, many Bhutanese could find employment there.
It’s said that thousands of Bhutanese are currently working in Australia. If ordinary cities with ordinary populations can create such appealing jobs for our people, imagine what GMC—which aims to be the home to the world’s wealthiest, seeking peace and happiness—could offer.
GMC at its peak could attract Bhutanese working in Australia. With a projected population of a million high-end residents, the opportunities will be abundant. Numerous businesses within GMC will need thousands of employees. However, bear in mind that GMC will require skilled, certified, and professional workers. We have time to prepare ourselves—either become professionals or watch professionals from elsewhere fill those positions.
Education
Back in the early 2000s, thousands of Bhutanese students pursued degrees in Bangalore, India. More recently, affluent Bhutanese families have sent their children to premium schools in Sikkim, Thailand, or even the US and Europe. Government scholarships have also facilitated foreign education. The floodgates truly opened when studying in Australia became popular, with the added advantage of earning while learning.
If GMC can establish world-class colleges and schools in Gelephu, we can expect the world to desire education here. Gelephu can aim to become the “Oxford of Asia,” attracting top students from across the globe. That’s when the tide can turn for us. Bhutanese will benefit—whether through scholarships or by earning in the city and studying there. Australia might even wonder why Bhutanese are no longer applying for visas.
Agriculture
Bhutan has long been recognized as an agricultural country. But when we entered the global market, we realized the limitations of our traditional practices. We were constrained by many factors, accustomed to subsistence farming. Growing only for our own families, the food market caught us off guard. Gradually, we learned to grow more for income, but Indian imports outcompeted us on our own soil. Despite improvements in seeds and methods, we struggled with scale—unable to produce enough to meet significant demand. Even the entire country couldn’t supply a single hotel chain. When farmers grew the same crops in large quantities, the market price would drop, leaving us confused and discouraged.
With GMC, Bhutan can finally embrace agriculture as a viable way of life. The city’s demand for high-value, organic, and ethically grown food will make price less of an issue. With such demand, the risks of growing crops will be worth taking. Furthermore, we can scale our farming, knowing that demand will only increase as long as we maintain high standards.
The fallow lands we see in many villages today may soon become valuable assets as GMC seeks its food supply from Bhutan’s fields. Our pristine environment and proximity could give us a distinct advantage, leading to a major transformation in agriculture.
Tourism
When Gelephu becomes home to investors from around the world, they will occasionally want to explore Bhutan. This will inject millions into our local economy. Many investors will also invest in Bhutan through the new FDI policy, creating even more opportunities. Tour companies, hotels, guides, drivers, handicraft shops—everyone in the tourism sector will see a surge in business.
Those coming to GMC for education, medical treatment, business, or wellness won’t just head home once they’re done. They’ll be encouraged to explore Bhutan for a few days.
We also have to start preparing. Learn Chinese, Japanese, French, or another major language. Sharpen your hospitality skills. Consider what unique products or services you can offer.
Healthcare Services
The healthcare sector could also experience a sea change. Like education, Bhutanese have historically sought better medical care abroad. Even with free healthcare in Bhutan, those who could afford it often sought treatment in India, Thailand, or the US. The government, too, has spent millions referring patients for treatments unavailable locally.
GMC can become a hub for world-class medical services. Renowned hospitals from across the globe could establish branches there, drawn by the ease of doing business, access to the market, pristine environment, and mindfulness culture, which is the foundation of healing. Just as Silicon Valley became the epicenter of the tech world, GMC has the potential to attract the healthcare industry like a queen bee.
This can position GMC as a destination for medical tourism, boosting the overall tourism industry but, more importantly, it can revolutionize healthcare in Bhutan. We could have access to world-class medical care within our own country, and if we need specialized treatments, GMC will be just a few hours away. Those who can afford private care will pay for it, while the rest will benefit from the referral system we’ve always relied on.
A country that has long lost hard currency to medical referrals abroad may finally see those wounds healed, transforming scars into stories of resilience for future generations to share.
The writer is a social worker and passionate blogger, known for his personal reflections and social commentary on his blog Passu Diary. He is the Executive Director of Bhutan Toilet Org, working to improve sanitation standards across the country.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.