Overview

Aman Group, Patience Capital Group (PCG) and GDL‑Raven, a subsidiary of Green Digital Limited (GDL), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership that will support the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in the Kingdom of Bhutan. The MoU was signed on a historic day for Gelephu, coinciding with Project 108 – a royal initiative in which 108 Jangchub Chortens, each 15 metres tall, were raised in a single day along the Mao Chhu river by tens of thousands of volunteers.

Parties and Roles

  • Aman Group brings over three decades of luxury hospitality experience, having operated 36 hotels, resorts and branded residences across 21 destinations. The brand’s portfolio includes recent extensions such as Aman Skincare (2018), the Sva supplement range (2020), Aman Fine Fragrance (2020), Aman Essentials ready‑to‑wear collection (2021), Aman Essential Skin (2023) and Aman Interiors (2023). In 2020 Aman launched a new hotel brand, Janu, and opened its inaugural Janu hotel in Tokyo in March 2024, with several additional Janu properties under development.
  • Patience Capital Group, founded in 2019, is an international real‑estate and investment management firm headquartered in Singapore with an office in Tokyo. PCG manages capital for institutional and private investors worldwide, focusing on hospitality, lifestyle and residential assets, and provides real‑estate development advisory services.
  • GDL‑Raven operates as the strategic fund and asset‑management arm of Green Digital Limited, tasked with supporting GMC’s economic development.

Strategic Objectives

The collaboration seeks to attract long‑term real‑estate investment that aligns with His Majesty the King’s vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City, an economic hub built on the principles of Gross National Happiness. The city is envisioned as a Special Administrative Region covering sectors such as finance, green energy, health and wellness, education, agriculture, and spiritual and cultural heritage. By combining Aman’s hospitality expertise, PCG’s investment‑management capabilities, and GDL‑Raven’s asset‑management role, the partners aim to create lasting value for Bhutan and generate new opportunities for Bhutanese people.

Statements from Leadership

  • Vladislav Doronin, Chairman & CEO of Aman Group, said the partnership honors Aman’s two‑decade legacy in Bhutan and offers an “extraordinary vision for the future of Bhutan and its hospitality,” emphasizing the brand’s focus on serenity, cultural respect and harmony with nature.
  • Ken Chan, Founder and CEO of Patience Capital Group, highlighted the promise of blending PCG’s tourism‑related investment expertise with Aman’s hospitality approach and the King’s vision, hoping to draw long‑term investment and support meaningful development.
  • Gelay Jamtsho, Chairman of Green Digital Limited, noted Aman’s pioneering role as the first international hotel brand in Bhutan and expressed confidence that the partnership will build lasting value for Gelephu and the nation.

Next Steps

The MoU marks the commencement of joint work; details of the proposed fund and specific partnership arrangements remain subject to further discussion and regulatory approvals. Additional announcements will be issued as plans progress.

About Gelephu Mindfulness City

Gelephu Mindfulness City is a Special Administrative Region in southern Bhutan, envisioned as a South‑Asian economic hub guided by Gross National Happiness. Its planned sectors include finance, green energy, health and wellness, education, agriculture, and cultural heritage.

Sources

  • Aman Group website (aman.com)
  • Patience Capital Group website (patiencecapital.group)
  • Gelephu Mindfulness City website (gmc.bt)