Gelephu witnessed a significant milestone in youth empowerment today as the first cohort of Pelsung formally graduated in a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister. A total of 324 young Bhutanese, known as Pelsups, completed the pioneering programme, which is designed to cultivate a skilled, innovative and entrepreneurial workforce aligned with Bhutan’s future economic needs.
Pelsung is the flagship youth initiative of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), established to nurture a disciplined, capable and future-ready generation. The programme places strong emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship and adaptability, preparing participants to contribute meaningfully to the country’s evolving economic landscape.
Addressing the graduates, the Prime Minister highlighted the growing international attention on Bhutan, driven by the visionary initiatives of His Majesty the King. He noted that several multi-billion-dollar global companies have expressed interest in investing and setting up operations in the country.
“These opportunities will demand a highly skilled workforce,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Pelsups are expected to play a vital role in safeguarding and strengthening Bhutan’s future economy. He urged the graduates to continue pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship with determination, while upholding the trust placed in them as future economic stewards.
The graduation ceremony was accompanied by an exhibition where Pelsups presented more than 80 innovative business ideas to guests and officials, reflecting the practical outcomes of the training they received.
For many participants, the programme proved to be transformative. “I joined Pelsung thinking I would learn new things, and I was not wrong,” said Sonam Choki, one of the graduates. “I learnt many new things, met different kinds of people, and gained different perspectives. It helped me open up and accept those perspectives.”
Pelsung officials said that the most promising ideas from the cohort will receive further support through an Innovation Lab to be established at the Gelephu Mindfulness City. According to Phub Dorji, Interim Executive Director of Pelsung, the lab will help refine and strengthen selected ideas, preparing them for real-world application.
In addition, Pelsung plans to introduce a Build and Sustain Pathway aimed at helping graduates translate their ideas into viable work opportunities, tailored to future economic needs and individual interests.
Meanwhile, training for the second cohort is already underway, while the third batch is expected to be announced by the end of this month. Training for the new intake is scheduled to begin next month, signalling the continued expansion of the initiative.
