Bhutan’s King Highlights Vision for the World’s First “Buddhist City” on 118th National Day Address
During the Kingdom’s 118th National Day celebrations on December 17, 2025, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck highlighted the strategic importance of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) – a national initiative described as the world’s first “Buddhist city.”
Delivering his Royal Address at the historic Wangduechhoeling Palace in Bumthang — the ancestral home of Bhutan’s monarchy — the King framed the initiative as essential to strengthening long-term economic resilience while safeguarding the country’s cultural and spiritual identity. The ceremony also marked the 70th Birth Anniversary of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
A City Built on Values, Not Just Capital
Gelephu Mindfulness City is envisioned as far more than a special economic zone or conventional megacity. According to the King, it will be a purpose-built urban ecosystem grounded in:
- Buddhist principles
- institutional integrity
- environmental sustainability
- high-value economic sectors
The project aims to attract international investment without compromising Bhutan’s unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
Rather than pursuing rapid urban expansion, GMC seeks to become a model city — balancing economic opportunity with cultural continuity.
Strategic Infrastructure: Gelephu International Airport
A central pillar of the initiative is the construction of Gelephu International Airport, scheduled for completion in 2029. The airport is expected to significantly expand Bhutan’s global connectivity and position Gelephu as a gateway between South Asia and East Asia.
The first international flight from Gelephu to Kolkata has already been inaugurated, marking an early step toward enhanced regional integration.
More than 50 international companies have submitted applications to establish operations in the new city, with dozens currently under review. Additionally, 70 buildings in Gelephu town are being renovated to meet international standards while preserving traditional Bhutanese architectural identity.
Credits
10,000 Bitcoin as a Long-Term Strategic Reserve
In a notable financial announcement, the King revealed that 10,000 Bitcoin — valued at approximately $1 billion — from Bhutan’s earlier state-led cryptocurrency mining initiative will be allocated as a long-term strategic reserve to support GMC’s development.
The move signals Bhutan’s willingness to integrate innovative financial instruments into national planning while maintaining fiscal prudence.
The King emphasised that the project is designed not merely to expand population and attract investment, but to create carefully structured ecosystem focused on opportunity, entrepreneurship, and high-value markets.
GMC aims to serve as a gateway between South Asia and East Asia as the region’s economic influence continues to grow.
Land Ownership and National Participation
Addressing concerns over land equity and foreign influence, the King announced that GMC will be structured as a corporate entity with shares tied directly to land holdings. This model ensures that Bhutanese citizens retain ownership rights and benefit proportionally from future growth.
The approach is designed to prevent speculative concentration of land while promoting inclusive economic participation.
A Generational Transformation
Framing the initiative as a generational undertaking, the King expressed confidence that Bhutan’s unity and stability would enable the nation to pursue bold economic transformation without compromising its spiritual foundations.
As Asia’s economic influence continues to expand amid global uncertainty, Bhutan is positioning itself as a bridge between tradition and transformation — determined to grow strategically while preserving the values that define it.
If successful, Gelephu Mindfulness City could become one of the most distinctive development initiatives of the 21st century: a city where Buddhist philosophy and global capital converge in a carefully designed ecosystem of mindful development.
Among those attending the National Day celebrations was Elżbieta Jabłońska, head of the Bhutan Poland Friendship Society.
Elżbieta Jabłońska
Bhutan-Poland Friendship Society
Photo © Royal Office for Media, Bhutan