Gelephu Mindfulness City

Gelephu Mindfulness City
Gelephu Special Administrative Region
Special Administrative Region
Country Bhutan
DistrictSarpang District
RegionGelephu
Announced17 December 2023
Founded byKing Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Government
 • TypeSpecial Administrative Region with its own Basic Law
Area
 • Total
2,500 km2 (970 sq mi)
Websitegmc.bt

Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) (Dzongkha: དགེ་ལེགས་ཕུག་དྲན་ཤེས་ཁྲོམ་ཚོགས), also known as the Gelephu Special Administrative Region (stylized as GeSAR), is an economic hub and special administrative region in Gelephu, Bhutan, intended to be separate from the country's existing laws. It is part of the Sarpang District Special Economic Zone. Strategically located on the border with India, the finished city will leverage regional connectivity between South and Southeast Asia. It will cover an area of 2,500 square kilometres (970 sq mi), three times the size of Singapore.

The city has its own business-friendly regulations and systems, integrating sustainability, Bhutanese culture, and spirituality, with plastic-free, modern, urban, low-rise, eco-friendly buildings. The longer-term aim is to create a clean-technology innovation hub by attracting global investment to boost economic activity. All food is to be organic, electricity from renewable sources, and the hub will be built to promote cycling and to foster AI innovation.

The GMC has received attention for its Gross National Happiness concept, which prioritises spiritual well-being, cultural preservation, good governance, and environmental conservation, over economic growth.