Asia Visionary Summit Concludes in Bhutan With Focus on AI, Investment and Sustainability
Bhutan’s first Asia Visionary Summit explored AI, investment, sustainability and human well-being before concluding with the Raven Concert in Thimphu.
The inaugural Asia Visionary Summit brought entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, cultural figures and policymakers to Bhutan from 6 to 8 November 2026 for discussions on how technological and economic development can support human and environmental well-being.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay opened the summit at Dungkar Dzong in Paro. Held under the theme “Enlightened Prosperity”, the programme included more than 30 speakers and several hundred participants from Bhutan and abroad.
The formal discussions took place over two days in Paro. The programme concluded with the public Raven Concert at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on 8 November.
Three Themes Connect People, Technology and Nature
The summit’s discussions were organised around three broad chapters: The Inner Frontier, The Age of Intelligence and The Living Earth.
The Inner Frontier examined human flourishing, mindfulness, health, longevity and purpose. The Age of Intelligence focused on artificial intelligence, education, creativity and the relationship between people and machines.
The Living Earth explored environmental conservation, sustainable cities, clean energy, regenerative agriculture and economic models that restore rather than exhaust natural systems.
These discussions were connected to five wider areas identified by the summit: ecology and conservation, artificial intelligence, clean energy and climate, medicine and human longevity, and conscious leadership.
Participants Discuss Bhutan’s Economic Direction
The opening programme included actor and philanthropist Jet Li, Jada Li, former On executive Martin Hoffmann, investment leader Hiro Mizuno and BEENEXT founder Teruhide Sato.
Sessions considered long-term investment, institutional development, education in the age of artificial intelligence and how technology could be used without weakening human creativity or cultural identity.
For Bhutan, the discussions were closely connected to efforts to diversify the economy and create opportunities for young people. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay invited international participants to work with Bhutanese entrepreneurs and help build conditions in which young people can pursue their ambitions within the country.
The summit also provided Bhutanese founders with opportunities to meet international investors, business leaders and technology specialists. The value of those connections will depend on whether they lead to sustained partnerships, investment or practical support after the event.
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AI Sovereignty Emerges as a Key Discussion
One of the summit’s central technology discussions concerned AI sovereignty. The term refers to a country’s ability to influence how artificial intelligence systems are developed, governed and used rather than depending entirely on technology created elsewhere.
Participants discussed how AI systems used in Bhutan could better reflect the country’s languages, culture and social priorities. They also stressed that AI should support human thinking rather than replace creativity, independent judgement and original ideas.
A proposal raised during the summit suggested using part of Bhutan’s energy capacity to provide citizens with access to AI services through what speakers called “intelligence tokens”.
The proposal remains an idea rather than an approved government programme. Developing it would require investment, technical expertise, appropriate infrastructure and policies addressing data protection, energy use and public access.
Summit Looks Towards Gelephu Mindfulness City
Although the formal sessions were held in Paro, the summit was closely associated with the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, the special administrative region taking shape in southern Bhutan.
The city is intended to attract international businesses and investment while testing new approaches to urban development, finance, technology, health and environmental planning.
The summit gave potential investors and entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn about Bhutan and explore possible links with Gelephu. However, a comprehensive list of investment commitments or business agreements resulting from the gathering had not been publicly released by 10 November.
Five-Year Partnership Announced for Drone Technology
A concrete announcement from the summit was a five-year partnership between the Asia Visionary Summit and Nova Sky Stories, a company specialising in coordinated drone light displays.
The collaboration is expected to bring further drone performances and creative technology projects to Bhutan.
The partnership was introduced alongside the Raven Concert, which combined international and Bhutanese performers with a large-scale drone light show above Changlimithang Stadium.
Raven Concert Concludes the Summit
The Raven Concert provided a public conclusion to a summit whose main discussions were limited to invited delegates.
The announced programme brought together international performers Tony Yike Yang and Leven Kali with Bhutanese artists including Baeyul, Pelden Wangchuk, Karma Drupchu and the Sangay Lhaden Band.
Fran Bak and Karma Yonten also presented a musical collaboration involving the gong and dramnyen. The dramnyen is a long-necked lute used in Bhutanese and Himalayan musical traditions.
Drone Show Marks the King’s 18th Coronation Anniversary
A concrete announcement from the summit was a five-year partnership between the Asia Visionary Summit and Nova Sky Stories, a company specialising in coordinated drone light displays.
The collaboration is expected to bring further drone performances and creative technology projects to Bhutan.
At the Raven Concert, illuminated drones formed images above Changlimithang Stadium, including Lord Buddha and Bhutanese cultural symbols. The display also commemorated the 18th anniversary of the coronation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who was formally crowned as Bhutan’s fifth king on 1 November 2008.
The show connected modern aerial technology with religious, cultural and national imagery, reflecting the summit’s wider discussion about how innovation can be introduced while remaining connected to Bhutanese values and identity.
The Summit’s Longer-Term Value Remains to Be Seen
The inaugural Asia Visionary Summit created a platform for Bhutanese entrepreneurs and policymakers to engage directly with international figures from business, investment, science and technology.
Its longer-term importance will depend on what follows. The key questions are whether relationships formed in Paro lead to investment, whether Bhutanese founders receive sustained support and whether ideas raised during the discussions become practical projects suited to Bhutan’s needs.
Check out Bhutan’s introduction to the Asia Visionary Summit for more information about the summit’s original objectives and programme.
For more information about its public finale, check out the Raven Concert and its large-scale drone light show.
