The Centre for Economic Development and Administration (CEDA), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, participated in the Eighth Meeting of the BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT) held in Sri Lanka on 14–15 October 2026. CEDA participated in its capacity as a Co-Chair of BNPTT, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, policy research and knowledge exchange among BIMSTEC member states.

Prof. Dr. Arjun Kumar Baral, Executive Director, CEDA and Prof. Dr. Meena Rajbhandari,  Executive Director of the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), represented Nepal at the meeting.

The meeting focused on three major thematic areas of regional cooperation. The first was harnessing science, technology and innovation for inclusive development, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in the BIMSTEC region. The second addressed regional health challenges and policy interventions for coordinated regional action, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing shared health concerns. The third focused on human resource development strategies for a changing regional economy, including emerging skills requirements and stronger linkages among education, skills development, employment and industry.

The meeting also discussed expanding the participation of think tanks in BNPTT meetings. The deliberations highlighted the importance of broader institutional engagement, collaborative policy research and knowledge sharing to address common regional challenges and support evidence-based policymaking across BIMSTEC member states.

CEDA's participation as Co-Chair reflected its continued commitment to promoting dialogue and collaboration among policy research institutions in the region. Through its engagement in BNPTT, CEDA aims to strengthen institutional partnerships, contribute to regional policy discussions and advance inclusive and sustainable development across the BIMSTEC region.