Mongolia and Bhutan, diplomatically linked since 2012, are expanding collaboration across culture, education, agriculture, traditional medicine, and media following King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s 2024 state visit to Mongolia.

🤝 Expanding Partnerships: Last Thursday, delegates of Bhutan and Mongolia met to explore joint projects aimed at boosting economic growth and social progress.

🔍 What Mongolia Can Learn from Bhutan

Bhutan is a global leader in happiness-centered governance, ranking 1st in the 2023 World Happiness Report’s governance sub-index, a reflection of its strong public trust and government effectiveness. Recognizing Bhutan’s success, Mongolia is eager to explore and adopt its holistic approach that balances economic growth with social wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation to enhance citizen satisfaction and social cohesion.

🔎 What Bhutan Can Learn from Mongolia

Mongolia stands out as a leader in digital governance, having jumped 28 places in the UN E-Government Development Index between 2021 and 2023 to reach the “Very High” category. Its “E-Mongolia” platform has significantly improved public service delivery and transparency. Bhutan, facing challenges related to its dispersed population and rugged terrain, has expressed keen interest in learning from Mongolia’s experience in building scalable, citizen-focused e-government solutions.

• 🌏 A Model for Bhutan: Globally known for its Gross National Happiness approach, Bhutan views Mongolia’s digital progress as a valuable blueprint. Both nations seek to combine Mongolia’s tech advances with Bhutan’s governance philosophy through joint initiatives.

Looking Forward… Parliamentary groups from both countries will continue discussions to deepen ties and implement programs that benefit their peoples, setting a new benchmark for cooperation between these culturally rich nations.