By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-11 03:01:33 | Updated at 2024-11-18 04:30:33
1 week ago
Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom that brought the world the concept of gross national happiness, is set to build a “mindfulness city” and will launch a US$100 million bond issue on Monday to help start the project.
The ‘Gelephu Mindfulness City’ (GMC) will lie in a special administrative region with separate rules and laws that will aim to be an economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia, officials said.
The city will promote walking and cycling to reduce emissions, green spaces for meditation and relaxation, mindfulness-based education, public community activities, healthcare and wellness centres, and ecotourism, they said.
GMC will be spread over an area of more than 2,500 sq km (965 square miles) on the border with giant neighbour India and offer space to businesses in finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare, agriculture, aviation, logistics, education and spirituality.
The 10-year GMC ‘Nation Building Bond’ that opens on Monday will be available for subscription by non-resident Bhutanese until December 17, according to the GMC website. The funds raised will be used to build initial infrastructure, for green energy and connectivity, among others, it says.
