Bhutan’s National Council Initiates Legal Reforms for Gelephu Mindfulness City

The National Council of Bhutan is preparing significant legal reforms to align national legislation with the Gelephu Mindfulness City. Emphasizing key thematic areas from His Majesty’s 117th National Day address, the NC aims to consolidate, amend, and enact laws to support the national vision and promote social harmony. Key Singaporean and ADGM laws have been adopted to guide GMC’s governance, necessitating compatibility studies.

On February 20, 2025, the National Council (NC) of Bhutan commenced preparatory discussions aimed at significant legal reforms to align national laws with the vision for the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). This initiative follows the Royal Address delivered during the 117th National Day, which emphasized four key thematic areas: meritocracy and democracy, enlightened entrepreneurial bureaucracy, economic enhancement laws, and population empowerment. His Majesty noted that laws serve as the cornerstone of order, security, prosperity, and social harmony, cautioning against the pitfalls of excessive regulations and their impact on innovation.

In a meeting held on February 13, NC members reviewed His Majesty’s address, focusing on necessary actions to achieve the national vision. The Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson, Dago Tsheringla, outlined the NC’s commitment to consolidating, amending, and enacting laws tailored to Bhutan’s needs. The long-term objective is to ensure the GMC’s legal frameworks harmonize with national laws within a decade. He explained that NC committees are tasked with identifying laws in need of modification or new legislation, with findings to be presented in April.

The Council plans to engage in thorough discussions with relevant institutions to synchronize national laws with those guiding GMC. Dago Tsheringla emphasized that each of the NC’s five committees would leverage the expertise of its members for this undertaking. During the recent meeting, members were informed about laws effective since December 26, 2024, guiding GMC operations.

The GMC has incorporated 18 laws from Singapore and 10 regulations from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) that govern various aspects such as company incorporation, employment, and taxation. Key Singaporean laws include the Companies Act, Employment Act, and the Income Tax Act, which will support the operational framework of GMC. Furthermore, the ADGM regulations encompass the Financial Services and Markets Regulations, which will further enhance governance standards in GMC.

Furthermore, the NC aims to assess the compatibility of Bhutanese laws with those of GMC. For example, both jurisdictions have analogous legislation such as the Companies Act and Employment Act, which requires comparative analysis and discussions to address any discrepancies and ensure coherent integration of legal frameworks.

The National Council of Bhutan is proactively pursuing legal reforms to align its laws with the Gelephu Mindfulness City. This effort is motivated by the vision outlined in His Majesty’s 117th National Day address, focusing on critical aspects such as meritocracy and economic development. With careful planning and engaged collaboration, the NC aspires to create a cohesive legal environment that supports innovation and social harmony in Bhutan.

Original Source: asianews.network