Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, attended the 27th Sustainable Development Conference in Islamabad, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan, 4-7 December 2024. He spoke on regional cooperation potential and on public debt. He pointed out that recent developments in the region -- the emphatic public statements in support of SAARC coming from the new government in Bangladesh, the Indian foreign minister’s visit to Islamabad to attend the Shangai Cooperation Organization meet, and the Sino-Indian border deal -- could augur well for the prospect of reviving SAARC. He said SAARC Agriculture Centre is a natural body to find a regional approach to tackling the crossborder spillovers of crop residue burning.

Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, spoke as a panellist in a webinar on the Political Economy of Debt, organized by Arutha, a Sri Lankan think tank, on 28 October 2024. Dr. Kharel drew on SAWTEE’s study on Nepal’s public debt, and synthesis paper on the public debt experiences of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

SAWTEE’s researchers Ms. Dikshya Singh and Mr. Kshitiz Dahal participated in panel discussions organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in partnership with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretariat and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) during their event titled ‘Shaping a Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food System in the BIMSTEC Region’ in Bangkok, Thailand on 3-4 October 2024. The platform aimed to bridge the gap between research and policy, ensuring that data-driven insights contribute to more effective agricultural transformation and policies in BIMSTEC countries.

Ms. Dikshya Singh, Programme Coordinator, SAWTEE, spoke in a panel on the virtual launch of the OECD’s Multilateral Development Finance 2024 Report (MDFR) organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Read More

Many countries witnessed a surge in their public debt levels after the COVID-19 pandemic and hence public debt issues were once again at the forefront. South Asian nations also saw a rise in their public debt levels. Unsustainable public debt led Sri Lanka to default on its sovereign debt in April 2022 and Pakistan witnessed severe difficulties in servicing its debt. Nepal, while not witnessing any imminent debt crisis, has, nonetheless, seen a meteoric rise in its public debt stock. Against this background, the report “The Political Economy of Debt” presents national studies on public debt in three South Asian countries—Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Read More

At the request of the private sector, Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, presented on "Nepal-US merchandise trade: An anatomy" at a "Dialogue on Nepal-US trade and investment: Prospects and challenges", organized by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN), Garment Association of Nepal (GAN), and Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with support from USAID, on 9 September 2024 in Kathmandu. Those present on the occasion included a member of parliament, representatives of the private sector, including exporters, policymakers, USAID representatives and the media.

Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, spoke in a panel on Nepal’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status in a workshop organized by NGO Federation of Nepal on 22 August 2024 in Kathmandu. Representatives of a variety of non-governmental organizations and the media participated in the programme, which also featured a keynote speech by the secretary of the National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal.

At the request of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal, on 21 August 2024, Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, made a presentation on Nepal-US trade, with a focus on the agenda of extension and expansion of Nepal Trade Preference Programme (a duty-free market access facility), which is due to expire in December 2025. Present on the occasion at the ministry were the commerce secretary, other MoICS officials, private sector representatives and USAID representatives. A meeting of the council of Nepal-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) is slated for September 2024.

SAWTEE is delighted to announce an exciting fellowship opportunity for journalists in Nepal. The fellowship program will select two journalists who will have the opportunity to delve into trade and climate change nexus. This fellowship presents a unique opportunity for journalists to deepen their knowledge, expand their network, and contribute to the public’s understanding of critical issues at the intersection of trade and climate change.

FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE: 1 September–31 December 2024

Selection is ongoing