PODS by PEI Policy Entrepreneurs Inc.

#Ep.098

Riya Sinha is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) in New Delhi, where she coordinates the Sambandh Regional Connectivity Initiative and co-manages the Sambandh Policy Dialogue. Her research focuses on regional economic connectivity in South Asia, covering trade, logistics, infrastructure, and border management. In 2022, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington DC and a Fellow at the Asian Forum on Global Governance. Previously, Riya worked at the Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals (BRIEF), conducting research on regional trade, supply chains, and trade facilitation.  



Shuvangi and Riya reflect on a decade of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy since its inception in 2014. They discuss India's initial focus, strategic adjustments in response to China's Belt and Road Initiative, and regional expectations for enhanced connectivity and cooperation, including the potential revival of SAARC. Riya highlights new connectivity projects with the Middle East and Europe, economic cooperation with Nepal, especially in the energy sector, and collaborative initiatives with the U.S. She advocates for prioritizing funds and manpower for India's neighbors to achieve its 'Vishwa Guru' ambitions and emphasizes incorporating a feminist dimension into the policy.


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#Ep.097

Shabda is the Investment Director and a partner at Dolma Impact Fund, the largest private equity fund focused on Nepal. He leads the investment team at Dolma, overseeing deal origination, transaction execution, regulatory approvals, and post-investment management. He is actively involved in sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, and technology​ . He holds a B.A. in Economics from Colorado State University (CSU) and an MBA in Sustainable Entrepreneurship from the same institution.

Pragati and Shabda discuss Nepal’s investment sector with a special focus on the market for bonds. They observe the dominance of equity-based investments and explore alternative FDI mechanisms, and the potential of green bonds for financing renewable energy projects. Drawing from his observations, Shabda shares insights on the restrictiveness of Nepal's bond market and Nepal’s weak credibility in this scene.


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With: Host Anup Upreti and guests Samikshya Rai and Shabda Gyawali 

The difficulties are endless for doing business in Nepal  but every entrepreneur present in the session  spoke of the untapped potential in Nepal. There are opportunities for growth and to take Nepali products to a global market. However, there are impediments for growth.

In this session moderated by Anup Upreti,  corporate lawyer and managing partner at Pioneer Law Associates, the conversation highlights the joys and difficulties of doing business in Nepal. He is in discussion with Samiksha Rai, CEO of Pack My Lunch and Shabda Gyawali, the investment director of Dolma Impact Fund.  In the audience, were several entrepreneurs who added to the conversation on the challenges of navigating Nepali society and bureaucracy while doing business in Nepal. 



You can find the full conversation with audience interaction on YouTube at Policy Entrepreneurs. 

To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad.

#Ep.095

Nirjan is a researcher with over 20 years of experience of designing, managing, and leading analytical studies in Nepal and the United States. He specializes in political economy analysis and has examined critical reforms in the electricity sector, water governance, and geopolitics. Nirjan is the primary author of the recent PEI report “Pen, Power, Politics: How China and India wield soft power through education diplomacy in South Asia.
Nirjan and Shuvangi discuss the strategic use of education diplomacy by China and India in the South Asia region, drawing insights from his research. They explore how both countries leverage educational initiatives as a tool of soft power to extend their influence, defining soft power and emphasizing the significance of "education diplomacy." We review India's evolving educational diplomacy, highlighting its "neighbor first" approach, and China's initiatives to internationalize its higher education system and the growing appeal of Chinese universities in the region. They also consider competing perceptions about Chinese and Indian education diplomacy, contrasting these with Western strategies, explore the future dynamics of geopolitical influence through education.

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Despite the inflow of remittance that keeps the country afloat, migration is considered a net loss for Nepal. To move beyond this persistent rhetoric of loss, Project Sambaad brought together migration scholars Amina Maharjan, a Senior Specialist at ICIMOD, and Slesh Shrestha,  a former economics Professor at the National University of Singapore, for an evidence-based conversation on the state of Nepal’s labor migration. The conversation was moderated by Sadikshya Bhattarai, research coordinator at Social Science Baha/CESLAM. 

Amina and Slesh highlighted the economic benefits of migration, emphasizing the return of skilled workers with valuable experience. The conversation noted that Nepal's competitive advantage lies in supplying cheap labor, which can be optimized through stronger government-to-government relationships to improve work contracts. They evaluated recent local government efforts to halt migration and addressed the debate on remittance usage. 

argued against local governments' efforts to halt migration, suggesting instead programs for skill development and support for returned migrants to start businesses. They also addressed the debate on remittance usage, highlighting investments in education as productive. 

Both speakers criticized media narratives for perpetuating negative views of migration, emphasizing its transformative potential for individuals and the economy. They also discussed challenges in mapping migration patterns due to social relations crossing borders. The discussion concluded with engaging interactions between the speakers and the audience.




If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ for the complete live broadcast.

To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad.



⁠⁠https://projectsambaad.info/

Last month, in our efforts to revitalize deep discussions in Nepal, PEI and other like-minded organizations in Kathmandu began a new venture we call Project Sambaad.  

Project Sambaad is a collaborative platform that promotes in-depth conversations that critically examine Nepali society and its policy-making space. Through Project Sambaad, we seek to explore broad, impactful questions that will contribute to a wider dialogue on the politics and development of Nepal and the South Asia region.

In just two days, we had six immersive and interactive panel discussions on relevant contemporary topics from development migration to business in Nepal.  

Sambaad comes to life when it reaches a wider audience, and that's why we're excited to share live recordings of the conversations.

In today’s release, we have guest speakers Dil Bhushan Pathak and Ameet Dhakal with host Durga Karki in a Sambaad on The Present and Future of Journalism in Nepal: Adapting to a Changing Media Ecosystem.  




If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on ⁠YouTube⁠ for the complete live broadcast.

To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad.



⁠https://projectsambaad.info/⁠