On 6 August, the launch ceremony of the SAWTEE Centre for
Sustainable Development (SAWTEE-CSD), which aims to promote sustainable and
inclusive development in Nepal, was held in Kathmandu. A distinguished panel
that included Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali (Minister for Foreign Affairs) and
Mr. Prakash Sharan Mahat (former Foreign Minister) launched the Centre amid
participants that included policymakers, researchers, diplomats, and development
partners.
SAWTEE-CSD, an independent, non-partisan research and
advocacy institution, aspires to support accelerated, inclusive and sustainable
development and structural transformation in Nepal, taking into account the
convergence between the national development goals and the global development
framework – SDGs. The Centre will be led by Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya, former
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; and former Foreign Secretary of
Nepal.
The session was opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Posh Raj
Pandey, Chairman of South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment
(SAWTEE). He highlighted that the Centre would bring together politics,
policies, and expertise – devoid of ideological content and material interest –
through strictly adhering to scientific approach and non-partisan research.
The chair of the Centre, Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya,
elucidated the objectives and activities of the Centre. He pointed out that the
Centre will initially focus on economic transformation in line with the SDG
principles of inclusiveness, equity, sustainability, gender mainstreaming,
multi-stakeholder approach, good governance and global partnership, while also
looking at all the SDGs in an integrated manner.
Former Foreign Minister, Prakash Saran Mahat, in his speech,
emphasized that Nepal’s Constitution envisages sustainable and inclusive
development, but these noble goals could be attained only through rule-based
implementation of the laws and rights provisioned by the Constitution.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony, Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar
Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs, congratulated SAWTEE for establishing
the Centre and wished for its success. He underscored that Nepal has fully
internalized the SDGs into the national policies and plans and remains
committed to achieve SDGs by 2030. The next step is to mainstream and integrate
them in the provincial and local level plans and programmes, said Hon. Pradeep
Kumar Gyawali.
The attendees shared opinions, thoughts, and suggestions,
and expressed optimism that the Centre would play a critical complementary role
in Nepal’s pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development.
Statement by Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali
