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Gelephu Special Administrative Region
Planned economic hub in Bhutan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gelephu Special Administrative Region (stylized as GeSAR), also known as Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC SAR) (Dzongkha: དགེ་ལེགས་ཕུག་དྲན་ཤེས་ཁྲོམ་ཚོགས) and Sarpang District Special Economic Zone (SD SAR),[1] is a planned economic hub and special administrative region in Gelephu in Bhutan, separate from Bhutan's existing laws. Strategically located on the border with India to leverage regional connectivity between South Asia and South East Asia, it will cover an area of 2,500 square kilometers three times the size of Singapore.[1]
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King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan announced the plan for the GMC SAR in a public Royal Address during the 116th National Day celebration on December 17, 2023.[2]
The city will have its own business-friendly regulations and systems, integrating sustainability, Bhutanese culture, and spirituality with plastic-free, modern, urban, low-rise, eco-friendly buildings. The aim is to create a clean technology innovation hub by attracting global investment to boost economic activity. All food will be from organic sources, electricity from renewable sources, built to promote cycling, and foster AI innovation.[3]
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History
Gelephu was formerly a Lhotshampa town. The Lhotshampa were ethnically cleansed by the King of Bhutan in the 1990s and currently reside in refugee camps in Nepal.[4] Their political leaders were tortured.[5]
For several years, the King of Bhutan has planned the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own distinct laws and systems, with initial development to be driven by Foreign Direct Investment.[1] Unveiled as part of Bhutan’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and create opportunities for its youth, GMC emphasizes Bhutan’s cultural identity while integrating modern technologies and sustainable practices. Its development gained prominence at the Bhutan Innovation Forum in 2024,[6] where it received endorsement from Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Michael Spence, architect Bjarke Ingels, and Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel.
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See also
- Great Nicobar Island Development Project, SAR in India
- Dawei Port Project, SAR in Myanmar
References
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