With profound joy and deep respect, I extend my sincere greetings to Her Majesty the Queen Mother, our distinguished participants, and esteemed friends from Bhutan and abroad.

The GNH Centre views this gathering, the first of many Global GNH Forums, as a powerful testament to the growing global recognition of Bhutan’s homegrown philosophy of Gross National Happiness. We are not here merely to speak of happiness but to affirm its rightful place at the heart of human development.

Bhutan’s journey stands as a reminder that true progress must nurture every dimension of life—spiritual, emotional, cultural, ecological, and social—alongside the economic. Our collective efforts have shown that balance is not only possible but essential, and that from it flows our nation’s most enduring success.

This year holds profound meaning for us. It marks fifty years since Bhutan first embraced Gross National Happiness under the visionary leadership of a young king who ascended the throne at the age of seventeen. On the 11th of November, His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, will celebrate his 70th birth anniversary. His reign was a defining era. An era in which Bhutan safeguarded its cultural heritage, protected its pristine environment and sacred temples, guided a peaceful transition into a vibrant democracy, and established wellbeing as the moral compass of national policy. It is the Bhutan you will experience during your time here.

The Global GNH Forum is a natural continuation of that vision—an international meeting of minds and hearts committed to reimagining development beyond GDP. It offers a shared space for collaboration and co-creation. A place where leaders, thinkers, and changemakers can help shape a new global narrative: one in which happiness is not a by-product of progress but its very purpose—in governance, in education, in business, and in society.

Someone once said, “When you are born, you look like your parents. When you die, you look like your decisions.”

These words remind us that the essence of life is shaped not by circumstance, but by choice. The purpose of the GNH Centre is to help people make the right decisions — in thought, word, and action. To bring the values of Gross National Happiness into everyday life so that its impact ripples outward—from the individual to the community, and from the community to the world.

Many people feel their actions do not matter. But everything we do creates a ripple.

Being kind — makes a difference.

Spending time with loved ones — makes a difference.

Protecting our environment and culture — makes a difference.

Striving for economic progress with compassion — makes a difference.

One person, one mindful step at a time, can truly make a difference.

Look at how one individual—His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo—transformed a nation with a single, profound idea: “GNH is more important than GDP.” These few words reshaped Bhutan’s development path and inspired the world to imagine a more holistic way of living—one that values not just prosperity, but happiness and harmony.

This vision continues to flourish under the extraordinary leadership of His Majesty the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, who has carried forward his father’s profound legacy with wisdom, foresight, and compassion. His Majesty has redefined the spirit of service and nation-building for a new generation—guiding Bhutan through unprecedented challenges while ensuring that the principles of GNH remain our compass for progress in a changing world.

The Global GNH Forum seeks to respond to one of the greatest needs of our time—to redefine progress in a world confronted by deep social, environmental, and spiritual challenges. Here, we aspire to reconnect humanity to what truly matters: happiness, harmony, and the wellbeing of all life. It is a call to reimagine our leadership, our systems, and our shared future through the lens of wisdom, and to do so together.

We are not trying to change the world overnight. We are simply sowing the seeds of GNH.

Today, and in the days ahead, you will hear stories of inspiration—stories that began with one man’s vision and have since radiated into a collective prayer for the wellbeing of all sentient beings. You will hear from those who have served the nation, from voices that champion global climate awareness, from architects of Bhutan’s education system, from civil society groups embodying and promoting the values of GNH and from many others whose work embodies the living spirit of GNH.

I invite you to carry these stories forward—as a call to action—to shape our common future with compassion, wisdom, and purpose.

In closing, I offer my deepest appreciation to all who have travelled from near and far to join us in this vital discourse on the wellbeing of societies. I hope you have time to enjoy Bhutan, meet our people and share our vision. The Global GNH Forum is Bhutan’s living gift to the world—a gift of reflection, renewal, and shared aspiration.

Let us walk together on humanity’s journey toward hope, peace, and lasting wellbeing—united by the timeless dream of happiness for all. Your partnership is essential in making this vision a reality.

Tashi Delek.