Education and Knowledge is the pillar that supplies every other pillar in the Gelephu Mindfulness City: universities, executive education, research institutes and vocational training for the workforce a city targeting 100,000 jobs by 2030 will require. The talent pipeline programmes already running, including the youth and innovation initiatives launched from 2025, indicate demand, but no GMC statute yet resolves degree recognition or accreditation. Basnet Law Pte. Ltd., the first law firm incorporated in the Gelephu Mindfulness City, advises education providers, research organisations and their funders under the Companies Act 2025, the Income Tax Act 2025 and the Employment of Foreign Workforce Act 2025. This page explains what the framework provides and how we take an institution through it.
How we help
- Framing the expression of interest to the Education and Knowledge pillar, the first gate at which the Authority assesses business case and sector alignment.
- Choosing between a private company limited by shares and the public company form used for non-distributing and membership institutions.
- Incorporating through the Gelephu Corporate Registration Office with an empanelled corporate service provider and a resident director.
- Securing campus and research sites through the Economic Development Group's long-term lease arrangements.
- Work passes and employment contracts for foreign faculty, researchers and trainers.
- Founders company applications where the activity is not yet carried on in GMC at adequate scale, before the 31 December 2030 cut-off.
- Research deductions and intellectual property allowances under the Income Tax Act 2025, with the not-for-profit relief flagged as awaiting commencement.
What the GMC framework provides for education and knowledge
GMC lists Education and Knowledge among its eight priority industries, and the registry applies that list as a screen on every expression of interest. There is no education statute, and the regulatory gap on the published record is degree recognition and accreditation, which no instrument currently resolves. An institution planning to award qualifications should raise that with the Authority at the outset. Assessment of alignment is case by case, and the pillar's boundaries are not defined anywhere published.
Establishment runs on the Companies Act 2025. A company may be limited by shares, limited by a members' undertaking to contribute on winding up, or unlimited. The private company limited by shares suits a commercial provider; the public company of the members'-undertaking type suits a non-distributing institution, and a not-for-profit company with public-interest objects may omit "Limited" from its name with the Registrar's approval. An empanelled corporate service provider has been mandatory since 1 November 2025, and every company needs a registered office in GMC and a director ordinarily resident there, a test a valid work visa or work pass satisfies.
No GMC land statute has been published; sites come through the Economic Development Group, which offers land identification, lease guidance and flexible long-term leases, so the lease sets the terms. Under the Employment of Foreign Workforce Act 2025 no foreign employee may work without a valid work pass, and "employ" covers work or training with or without salary, so interns and volunteers are within it. A foreigner teaching on their own account needs a pass as a self-employed foreigner. Entry and stay for people who do not work, including dependants, are governed by the Immigration Act 1959 as applied in GMC and the arrangements under it, confirmed at the time of travel. Pass categories and any levy sit in regulations and Gazette orders.
The Income Tax Act 2025 charges companies at 15% on chargeable income. An approved founders company in an approved founders industry, one not carried on in GMC at a scale adequate to its economic needs and with favourable prospects, is exempt on that qualifying business for up to 15 years including extensions; the designated officer decides and no approval may be given after 31 December 2030. Research expenditure related to the trade is deductible, research done in GMC and unrelated to the existing trade is deductible for expenditure up to the basis period for the year of assessment 2028, and capital expenditure on acquiring intellectual property rights is written down over 5, 10 or 15 years by election. The not-for-profit exemption and the exemption for a philanthropic purpose trust, whose purposes include the advancement of education, are enacted but commence only on a date appointed by Gazette notification. Teaching and research are not regulated activities under the Financial Services Act 2025.
Who this is for
- Universities and colleges establishing a Gelephu campus or partnership.
- Executive education and professional training providers.
- Research institutes and innovation programmes with a GMC base.
- Vocational and skills providers serving the city's workforce.
- Foreign faculty and researchers relocating to GMC.
How an engagement runs
- Positioning. We define the institution, name the pillar and draft the expression of interest around what GMC lacks and the workforce contribution.
- Vehicle. We choose between a private company and a non-distributing public company, prepare the constitution and settle the resident director.
- Registration and site. We incorporate through the GCRO portal with an empanelled corporate service provider, then negotiate the campus lease through the Economic Development Group.
- People. We prepare work pass applications and employment contracts for faculty and staff, and confirm the immigration position for dependants.
- Tax and recognition. We assess the founders industry case, document the research and intellectual property positions and raise accreditation with the Authority in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Does GMC recognise or accredit degrees?
No statute currently does. Degree recognition and accreditation is the published regulatory gap for this pillar, and we raise it with the Authority at the outset.
Can an education provider be tax exempt?
Not as of right. The company rate is 15%. An approved founders company in an approved founders industry is exempt on its qualifying business by discretionary approval, with no new approvals after 31 December 2030. The not-for-profit exemption is enacted but awaits commencement.
Which entity should a non-profit institution use?
The public company form in which members undertake to contribute a set amount on winding up suits a non-distributing institution. A commercial provider usually uses a private company limited by shares.
Do foreign faculty and interns need work passes?
Yes. No foreign employee may work without a valid work pass, and the definition of employment covers training with or without salary, so interns and volunteers are caught. Categories and any levy are set by regulations.
Talk to GMC counsel on the ground
Basnet Law Pte. Ltd. is the first law firm incorporated in the Gelephu Mindfulness City. A short conversation early in a matter usually saves time and cost later. Write to basnet@basnetgmc.com or office@basnetgmc.com with a few lines about your plans, and we will tell you plainly what is needed, how long it takes, and whether we are the right fit.
You may contact Basnet Law at basnet@basnetgmc.com or office@basnetgmc.com for any legal queries related to GMC.
