The Bhutan government is pushing hard to open doors for investors and new industries. It wants more than just a well-known national happiness score. I plan to use clean energy and a special economic zone to bring work home. However, many challenges lie ahead.
Bhutan is facing brain drainage
Recent figures show that around 13,500 Bhutan (less than 1.6% of the country’s under 800,000 people) moved to Australia in 2023. Such a spill indicates that younger talent is chasing the bigger market. Bhutan is short of skilled workers when fresh ideas and startup energy are needed. Geography is useless. Being confined inland between India and China means it will take time to transport goods, increase the cost of building infrastructure.
Hydroelectric power drives new plans
Bhutan’s main export is electricity from the river. There is currently a 2.5 gigawatt hydroelectric power plant and another 3 GW under construction. This cheap and clean power can fuel your factory, server farm, or Green Technology Trials. Based on reports from the national sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holdings and Investments (DHI), these sites can have pump storage systems or hydrogen production tested in real terms. The Bhutan Quick Pilot could then be deployed in the region.
The growth of bitcoin mining
Based on Fortune’s report, Bitcoin mining is one of the more unusual bets. Bhutan began mining in 2019 that cost less than $10,000. As of May 7, 2025, each coin is worth approximately $97,400. According to DHI, relying on hydropower, this mining is low-carbon, with profits increasing the fund’s $3 billion portfolio. However, the cryptocurrency price is shattered violently. One big drop can wipe out the gain. Still, DHI calls Bitcoin “digital gold” and says it is part of a mixed approach.
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Jerev Mindfulness City
Based on the planning documents, Gelephu Mindfulness City covers approximately 2,500 square kilometers near the Indian border. This special zone aims to link Bhutan with South and Southeast Asia, providing space for medical clinics, high-tech startups and green energy companies. It is billed as a place where work meets happiness. Roads, digital lines and houses all need to be built from scratch. It takes cash and years for a hotel or office to fill up.
Bhutan’s GNH index rose from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022. Over the same span, GDP per capita rose from $2,435 to $3,711, but in 2020 it was steeped during the pandemic. Tourism is still recovering. Last year, 145,000 visitors fell from 315,599 in 2019 under the “low-value” model arriving to protect mountain paths and forests.
DHI is turning to Temasek, Singapore as an example of governance. Temasek manages around $300 billion and owns big-name stakes like Singapore Airlines. In contrast, DHI holds stakes in 24 Bhutan companies, including Bhutan Telecom and Bhutan Bank. Executives say size is not the key. The key is to move fast, stay lean and turn green energy into growth.
Bhutan’s plans are bold. It combines traditional value with a shot of high-tech and finance. Some may stay if young people see real work at home. If the pilot project is successful, it could be small and large. However, hydroelectric power, crypto or missteps in urban buildings run the risk of growing Bhutan’s limited resources. For now, investors and citizens are watching it a lot.
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