𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆'𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

This National Day is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, at a time when, in the nearly twenty years of my own reign, we are engaged in a national endeavour of profound significance which will shape the future of Bhutan.

I am honoured to mark this occasion here in Bumthang, a sacred land blessed by Guru Rinpoche and Longchenpa, the birthplace of Pema Lingpa, and the ancestral home of the Wangchuck dynasty. I speak to you today from the grounds of Wangduechhoeling Palace, built by Jigme Namgyel, where Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was born. There couldn’t have been a more fitting place to honour our forefathers and to reaffirm our pledge to serve Bhutan with courage, determination, and unwavering dedication.

To all Bhutanese watching the celebrations, you are in our hearts wherever you are.

As we all know, the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is of extraordinary importance for Bhutan’s prosperous future. I would like to share updates on the progress we have made. 

The love, loyalty, and dedication of the Bhutanese people, and their understanding of what our country needs, is truly unmatched. This was clear when over 17,000 volunteers from all walks of life, spanning four generations — from children to the elderly, came forward to support the three volunteer programs organized at Gelephu this year. Jetsun and I, along with our children, also joined in the work, and it was deeply moving to see familiar faces, such as Lopen Basokarp, a revered spiritual figure in his 90s, taking part. While outsourcing such work might be convenient, just as nothing compares to the warmth and specialness of a home-cooked meal, nothing compares to the joy and meaning of our own people coming together to physically build our future. Thank you for your spirit, warmth, and unity.

Similarly, when the GMC Nation Building Bond was announced earlier this year, an overwhelming number of people came forward to participate, especially Bhutanese living abroad, contributing their hard-earned money out of a genuine desire to support the GMC. I truly appreciate your participation, which reflects your commitment and the confidence you have in this project.

Gelephu is a beautiful, green, and fertile land, surrounded by forests. We are in Bumthang a sacred land blessed with ancient spiritual heritage, and for Gelephu, we want to create a similar sense of sacredness. I asked the Je Khenpo, the Dratshang, Lams, Trulkus, and spiritual leaders to help build that sacredness by establishing lhakhangs, dzongs, temples, and spiritual centres. They answered with great enthusiasm, and in just one year, we received 30 applications, of which 14 have been approved so far: Jarong Khasho Chorten, Dordhen Tashi Gomang Chorten, Shambhala Dzong, Guru Nangsi Zilnon Lhakhang, Ugyen Norlha Lhakhang, Kangyur Labyrinth, Kurkulee Centre, Druk Ugyen Samye Ling, Kesang Do-ngag Shedrupling, Maitreya Temple, Vajrakilaya Research Center, Barched Kuensel Chorten, Tara Retreat Center, and Gyenyen Neykhang.

We expect the Gelephu International Airport to be completed in 2029. When the first visitors arrive in Gelephu Mindfulness City, it will be a place of spirituality, representing the best of what our blessed Kingdom has to offer. I thank the spiritual leaders and their supporters who have contributed generously to help us realize this vision.

The GMC Project is a completely new endeavour for us, and to give it the best chance of success, we have engaged global experts in specialized fields. However, we cannot forever rely on foreign experts. We must actively engage and learn as much as possible, so that we can eventually manage GMC independently. Pelsung was introduced this year to mobilize and empower the youth for this purpose. The very best of our young Bhutanese were selected for Pelsung to shadow experts and learn from them. Their task is to become the people we rely on to run GMC in the future. Our youth came forward in large numbers eager to take on this responsibility, and I am immensely heartened to see such commitment and dedication.

There is a great deal of activity at the GMC International Airport, with people working tirelessly to meet the target of completion by 2029. However, this is much more than a building project. Just as our parents’ generation built the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway through sweat and toil, bringing remarkable transformation to Bhutan, our equivalent today is this airport. The work being done now carries the karmic merit of building ten thousand Zangdopelri, because it will pave the way for a stronger, more prosperous nation and enable the flourishing of the Dharma and the legacy of Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.

Meanwhile, even as we continue work on the airport, the first international flight from Gelephu to Kolkata has already been inaugurated, making GMC more accessible to the outside world. This is in preparation for the offices international companies are set to establish in Gelephu. We have received over 50 applications from international companies, of which 28 have been approved for next year and 33 are under review. For this, 70 buildings in the existing Gelephu town are being renovated to combine the beauty of Bhutanese architecture with international standards of comfort. When these offices are set up, they will bring in many new people to Gelephu, as well as well-paying jobs for our youth. Most importantly, they will provide our youth with the chance to gain high-level experience and knowledge, equipping them to compete with the best anywhere in the world and to grow in skill, confidence, and capability.

Bhutan is truly a blessed land. As we pursue the most important national objectives for Bhutan’s future and prosperity, we are supported by commitment from every quarter. Our religious community and elders continue to offer prayers to remove obstacles and guide us spiritually. The people of Bhutan have participated enthusiastically in every aspect of this project to ensure its success. There is strong and united backing from the government led by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, from our Members of Parliament, ministries and agencies, local governments, civil servants, and armed forces. We are also deeply encouraged by the steadfast partnership of the international community, most notably our closest and most important neighbour, India. The government of India and Prime Minister Modi have pledged wholehearted support for GMC. Together, this gives us good reason to feel confident and reassured about the path we are taking as a nation.

As we move forward, Bhutanese will have increasing interactions with people from outside the country, many of whom will want to know about the Gelephu Mindfulness City. When they do, it is our responsibility to be ambassadors for Bhutan and explain clearly why we are undertaking this work and what we hope to achieve.

When people ask me why we have begun this new journey with GMC, my answer is simple. It is for Bhutan, to protect and preserve all that is special about this blessed land. Bhutan is known for its compassionate people, its rich and living culture, its deep spiritual heritage, and its philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which continues to inspire the world. We are also a young democracy, still learning, growing, and strengthening our institutions. All of this is precious, and all of it deserves to be safeguarded.

GMC is also for the Bhutanese people. It is to look after their well-being, create opportunities for prosperity, and secure a confident and hopeful future for our children. It is to ensure that our young people are educated, capable, resilient, and able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best anywhere in the world. Finally, it is about the survival and strength of Bhutan as a nation. The world around us is changing rapidly, and uncertainty and instability are becoming more common. It is in good times that we must strengthen our country, so that when challenges arise, Bhutan remains secure, self-reliant, and able to endure. By preparing today, we protect our future and ensure that Bhutan can continue on its own path with confidence.

What we are building with Gelephu Mindfulness City is beyond a megacity or a Special Economic Zone. We are building something that does not yet exist anywhere in the world: the first Buddhist city – not only for Bhutan, but also for the world. There is no one better suited to build it than the Bhutanese people. We have all the preconditions and the ingredients – we have legacy, identity, institutions, experience, talent, and an abundance of knowledge. Above all, we will build the first Buddhist city with love and devotion.

During the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, we came together for the Global Peace Prayers, and held Jabzhi Dechog, and the Kalachakra. It was deeply moving and profoundly blessed. That experience offered us a glimpse of what is possible. It was only the beginning. When GMC takes shape, that spirit will find a permanent home and expression.

At the same time, GMC is being built with a clear understanding of the world we live in. Asia is rising. India and China together account for more than a third of the world’s population and are among the fastest-growing economies. Our region is gaining momentum, and the world’s leading companies are looking to Asia for opportunity. GMC will be a place where business can be conducted with confidence, supported by strong institutions, clear laws, and reliability. Asia holds the future, and we will build the gateway to Asia.

In a very modest and humble manner, we would like to make a small contribution in unlocking the vast potential in our region. That requires an infrastructure to be built around it. We will build this center in GMC, and we will make sure that this financial ecosystem is built on integrity, trust, loyalty, and above all, security. As we do this, we will remain mindful. We will not replicate what has been done elsewhere or lose sight of who we are. Bhutan has a reputation that has been earned over generations. Our people are known for their integrity, honesty, and compassion. This identity is our greatest strength, and it must guide every step we take. GMC will stand as a city grounded in these values, where purpose matters as much as profit or productivity.

Many wonder how a small country like Bhutan can undertake such an ambitious project. Other nations have greater populations and more wealth. Yet we have a unique advantage. Where larger populations would struggle with disunity and disagreements, we have the strength of harmony and shared purpose. Our unity will allow us to move mountains. On top of this, we enjoy peace and security which we are continuing to strengthen. We are sharpening our tools, and GMC will be the edge that helps Bhutan become stronger.

Some ask whether GMC is being built to bring Bhutanese youth abroad back home. My answer is no, it is not about enticing them to return as in the past, when countries needed professionals to study abroad and come back. Today, knowledge and experience are gained everywhere. The Bhutanese abroad are an asset. They are learning, growing, and acquiring skills. I know that wherever they are, their hearts remain in Bhutan. They are loyal, and they want to serve their country. It is our responsibility to create a place where they can return, when the time is right, to contribute to Bhutan’s future.

Others ask whether we are building a city simply to create a larger population base and more jobs. Again, the answer is no. Our ambitions are far greater. A large population alone does not guarantee success. We need the right people, the right market, and a city built by design, with carefully defined objectives. Every parameter must be clear, every target set, every strategy, deliberate. Nothing should be left to chance.

To illustrate, consider the price of a simple item like a plate of momo. In Thimphu it may cost 90 Ngultrum, in Australia 500. A city alone does not make a difference. Success depends on creating the right market, a city where even higher-priced offerings can find buyers. We are not trying to copy larger nations. Australia has size and wealth beyond ours, but Bhutan can be richer in opportunity, richer in possibility. We are building a city of opportunities. A place where people can thrive and prosper. Take the airport, for example. One million people may pass through initially, then three, then five, perhaps eventually ten million. Each visitor represents opportunity – spending time, consuming, and engaging. Ten million cups of tea or coffee, ten million experiences, ten million opportunities. This is how GMC will create wealth and opportunity – by design, with vision, and with intention.

I am confident that we will succeed, and my confidence comes from the people of Bhutan. I trust their judgement, determination, loyalty, and hard work. As long as we stand together behind a common goal, we will succeed. Bhutanese can shoulder responsibility, serve diligently, and rise to every occasion. Ultimately, through a Buddhist lens, our aspiration is threefold: a strong economy in the outer realm, prosperity for our people in the inner realm, and a strong spiritual foundation in the secret realm.

As work on GMC progresses, one matter weighs heavily on my mind: the management of land. Even if all other aspects of GMC proceed smoothly, mishandling land could undermine the entire project. Much of the private land within GMC belongs to rural families, including many who received Kidu from His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. This land is precious, and if it were to leave the hands of its rightful owners due to rumours, impatience, or lack of information, it could create serious challenges. In Thimphu and Paro, we have already seen how opportunities can benefit the well-prepared while others are left behind. Loss of land leads to regret, social divides, and disharmony.

As GMC grows and attracts wealthy international investors, pressure to sell or change laws may increase, and we must ensure that this land remains in the hands of the Bhutanese people. Moreover, GMC is a project for all Bhutan. It must benefit every Bhutanese equitably, including those who do not currently own land within Gelephu. Ownership fosters commitment, and commitment must be intergenerational and safeguarded. Success should benefit not only the present generation but many to come. Every Bhutanese must contribute, shape, and protect the future of GMC, and in doing so, the future of Bhutan. With dedication, shared responsibility, and determination, GMC will rise to its full potential.

However, I am confident that all our endeavours are blessed by our protective deities. That is why, for this challenge too, we have found a solution: GMC will be structured as a company, with shares tied to land holdings. Landowners will retain their stake. Of the one million acres within GMC, 94 percent is state land, reserved for Bhutan and shared among the people of all 205 gewogs. This ensures that landowners maintain their holdings and benefit from GMC’s growth, while all Bhutanese share in the prosperity it creates. This framework will bridge gaps between the “haves” and “have-nots,” provide opportunities for youth, and support experienced entrepreneurs while cultivating a new generation of capable, productive entrepreneurs. In this way, GMC becomes a platform for the future of the nation, benefiting everyone.

If this project were to fail, we could always return to simpler livelihoods, but with careful planning and collective effort, its success will surpass all expectations. And I am determined that GMC will succeed, and its benefits accrue to all Bhutanese.

To provide a strong financial backing, from the Bitcoin mining project which we so carefully undertook a few years ago, 10,000 BTC, valued at around one billion US Dollars, will be allocated to GMC as a long-term strategic reserve. This ensures that the project is secure and its benefits are preserved for our people, our youth, and our nation.

Let us move forward without delay. Together, we will build the future of Bhutan, protect the country we have, secure our collective future, and hand Bhutan to the next generations stronger, better, and more prosperous.

I feel blessed to share this announcement with you on this special occasion, at this special place, the home of Jigme Namgyel and Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck.

Above all, I am privileged to serve this blessed land and my people as King.

Tashi Delek.

Source: His Majesty's FaceBook page🙏