Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley talks to Business Bhutan Editor, Tashi Dorji, on the practicality of GNH in the light of the global economic meltdown
By Tashi Dorji
The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has declared that France will include happiness and wellbeing in measuring economic progress which is in line with Bhutan’s pursuance of GNH. What does it mean for Bhutan?
It means a lot. First, it means that even though Bhutan is materially a least developed country, the world is acknowledging Bhutan’s intellectual leadership. The world is appreciating GNH as an alternative development paradigm and this is a paradigm that was conceived by His Majesty the Fourth King. So in many ways, the world’s acknowledgement of the relevance of GNH to human society is a tribute to His Majesty the Fourth King.
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In light of the global recession, do you think GNH is the answer to the future of the world?
Now, GNH in its present form may not necessarily be the ideal solution and GNH itself is being refined and developed. But I am confident that either GNH will be accepted in a more elaborate, more refined form or other ideas inspired by GNH will emerge to replace the GDP led economic model.
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Last year, the government cited the global recession to be one of the reasons while lowering the initially hyped civil service pay revision down to 35%. How did recession actually affect Bhutan.
Bhutan, fortunately, has not been very seriously affected by the global recession. Although areas like tourism and the export of some of our manufacturing products have been affected. But since our economy is largely driven by the inflow of development assistance, we have not been affected seriously mainly because the donor countries have not reduced their commitment or withdrawn their contribution or pledges despite the crisis.
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What lessons did Bhutan learn from the global recession.
We have learnt that it is a reaffirmation. It gives us cause to be convinced that our pursuit of GNH, of holistic development, is the right thing to do. Not only are we more convinced of this but the whole world is beginning to appreciate that Bhutan perhaps has the solution in the form of GNH.
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What is happening after the last meeting with the private sector and the BCCI.
As a result of the meeting with the BCCI, many of the issues raised by the BCCI have been incorporated in the revised draft economic policy which will be considered by the cabinet shortly. After returning from Japan, I have now obtained all the views and responses of the government with respect to each of the issues raised by the BCCI and I will be sending in writing, the government response, to the BCCI to be circulated among its members. And if necessary we will have a meeting again.
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