Growing a Mindful Economy
Buddha statue in Bhutan

Growing a
Mindful Economy

11–18 December 2026Kingdom of Bhutan

A country that asks what progress is for.

In Bhutan, progress is measured by more than what an economy produces. Gross National Happiness, the country's development philosophy, brings wellbeing, culture, care for the land and good governance into how development is understood.

Mindfulness here is a living heritage, carried through communities, relationships and daily life.

Bhutan is still working out what this means for its economy. GaME is part of that work.

Everyday life in Bhutan

Whatwouldeconomiclifelooklikeifitrenewedpeople,communitiesandnature?

Around the world, many people are working towards economies that measure success by the wellbeing of people, communities and nature. Some are building for-benefit enterprises: mindful businesses whose core purpose is to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes while generating benefits for all their stakeholders. Together they form a fourth sector of the economy, alongside the private, public and social sectors. Others work through research, policy, community practice and the stewardship of resources.

Gelephu Mindfulness City site in southern Bhutan

Gelephu Mindfulness City

In southern Bhutan, Gelephu Mindfulness City is a Special Administrative Region being developed around mindful living, innovation and care for the environment. It gives these ideas a place to be put into practice.

Already in place
A Special Administrative Region, and the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) to guide it.
Taking shape
A city where mindful living, innovation and care for nature can grow together.
Still open
What a for-benefit economy can become here.

That last question is one GaME's participants will explore together.

The site taking shape

Clearing land, laying infrastructure and planting roadsides — the early, unglamorous work of a city under construction.

  • Volunteers and schoolchildren clearing land together at the Gelephu Mindfulness City site
    Clearing the land
  • Officials in traditional dress greeting workers on cleared ground at the site
    Officials on site
  • A consecration ceremony held on the cleared ground before construction
    A consecration ceremony
  • An aerial view of earthmoving equipment at work across the cleared site
    Earthworks underway
  • Road rollers compacting the site at sunrise
    Compacting the ground
  • Officials in traditional dress standing along the lined edge of a new reservoir
    Reservoir works
  • A line of people in traditional dress pulling cleared brush together
    Clearing brush together
  • A worker clearing tall grass with a brush cutter
    Clearing the grass
  • A worker carrying a cut log on his shoulder, smiling at the camera
    Carrying timber
  • An older man carrying a bundle of cleared brushwood on his shoulder
    Carrying brushwood
  • Volunteers distributing water and supplies to seated schoolchildren at a community event
    Supplies for volunteers
  • An aerial view of volunteers planting trees along a newly built road
    Planting the roadside

Growing a Mindful Economy

11–18 December 2026 · Beginning in Thimphu, Bhutan

A gathering of people from Bhutan and around the world who are already working towards an economy guided by purpose and mindfulness, one that renews people, communities and nature.

It takes place as Gelephu Mindfulness City is taking shape, in the week of Bhutan's National Day. It is the first in a series.

Plan your journey →

Why we gather

Many people are already doing part of this work. GaME brings them together.

GaME is a shared undertaking in the spirit of zhabtog: service towards a common purpose. How we gather is part of the economy we hope to grow.

Some understanding only comes from being there.

Among the people, communities, enterprises, culture and land of Bhutan, the conversation deepens on a walk, over a shared meal, or alongside someone whose work sits close to yours.

  • Participants walking together on a path in Bhutan
    A walk
  • People sharing a meal together
    A shared meal
  • Two people in conversation
    A conversation
  • A moment of Bhutanese culture and spiritual life
    Culture and spirit
  • A natural landscape in Bhutan
    Nature and wellbeing
  • People at work in a Bhutanese enterprise
    Enterprise
People gathered together in Bhutan

Anchored by Bhutanese institutions.

The gathering is anchored by GMCA, the Royal Government and Bhutanese institutions, together with entrepreneurs in Bhutan and Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Joining them are mission-driven founders from elsewhere; universities, researchers and knowledge institutions; civil society and ecosystem builders; for-benefit practitioners and alternative economic thinkers; governance, legal and technical specialists; and stewards of resources whose work is guided by purpose.

It brings together like-minded people willing to give their time and experience, and to learn from one another and from Bhutan.

Convened in Bhutan

Nyingnor Event partner

WINGS Role pending confirmation

What intention do you bring to a mindful economy, and where might it meet the intentions of others?

If you share this aspiration, we invite you to help shape the gathering, contribute what you can and stay involved in the work that follows.

Register
A closing image of Bhutan

May an economy take form that exists for the benefit of all beings.

May the way we build it, provision it, serve it and participate in it already embody the economy we seek to create.

And may what grows from this undertaking benefit Bhutan, and through Bhutan, the world.