GIS and development: Bhutan, an example Michael Phoenix Government of Bhutan Abstract: Bhutan is one of the least developed countries of the world, but GIS is well established and growing, and is playing an important role in the development planning of the Royal Government of Bhutan, at least within a few ministries. Recently the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) created a new agency, the National Agency for GIS Coordination (NAGISC). The NAGISC is located within the National Planning Commission Secretariat. The role of this new agency is to integrate GIS into the national planning process of Bhutan and to coordinate all the existing GIS operations within the RGoB. There are 5 well-developed GIS Labs in the RGoB and there is another half dozen or so starting up. Additional sectors of the RGoB are interested in gaining access to the power of GIS. These developments require that the GIS efforts be coordinated so as to not waste precious resources. This paper will discuss the results of these efforts, the problems faced and the potential for the future of GIS in Bhutan.