NRB Governor Dr. Poudel At BIS Annual Meeting 2025: Cross-Border Payments, AI & Financial Stability
30th June 2025, Kathmandu
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Dr.Biswo Nath Poudel attended the 95th Annual General Meeting of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) held in Basel, Switzerland from June 27 to 29. The high-level gathering brought together governors and senior officials from 63 central banks around the globe.
NRB Governor BIS Meeting 2025
Focus On Cross-Border Payments, AI, and Central Bank Collaboration
Governor Dr. Poudel participated in key sessions focused on the evolution of cross-border payment systems, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in central banking, financial stability, and international cooperation among central banks. He also joined interactive programs on “New Technologies in Payment Systems and Central Bank Challenges” and “Utilization of AI in Central Banking.”
During the summit, Governor Poudel held bilateral meetings with BIS General Manager Agustín Carstens, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra, and senior officials from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other central banks. These meetings covered potential cooperation in cross-border payment reforms, human resource development, and foreign exchange reserve management.
Investment Diversification And Reserve Optimization Discussed
Discussions were also held regarding optimizing Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves through diversified investments, including gold purchases and new financial instruments available in international markets. These dialogues are aimed at improving the return on foreign currency reserves held by Nepal Rastra Bank.
The Governor was accompanied by Govinda Prasad Nagila, Director of the Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation Department, and Sharan Kumar Adhikari, Director at the Governor’s Office.
BIS – A Pillar Of Monetary And Financial Stability
Established in 1930, the Bank for International Settlements acts as an international financial institution fostering cooperation among central banks. With 63 member central banks, the BIS plays a crucial role in maintaining global monetary and financial stability.
During the event, Governor Poudel actively engaged in BIS sessions, including:
CPMI Emerging Markets & Developing Economies Dialogue: Focused on bridging gaps in financial inclusion, regional integration, and cross-border payments.
BIS Innovation Hub Seminar – “AI and Safety”: Explored AI’s impact on banking safety and policy implications.
Regulation and Competitiveness Discussion: Addressed regulatory frameworks for sustainable financial ecosystems.
Global Thought Leadership On Monetary Systems
BIS General Manager Agustín Carstens presented the BIS Annual Report, while Prof. Maurice Obstfeld delivered a keynote on “The International Monetary System: A Fork in the Road.”
Governor Poudel also held detailed discussions with Luis Bengoechea, Head of the Banking Department at BIS, and other officials, focusing on investment diversification to maximize returns from Nepal’s reserves.
Regional Cooperation With India And China
Governor Poudel met with Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra, discussing enhanced bilateral cooperation, payment system reforms, and capacity building initiatives between the two central banks.
Additionally, he engaged in a bilateral dialogue with Governor Pan Gongsheng of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC). The leaders discussed collaborative measures to make banking and payment systems more efficient and secure, and agreed to continue mutual coordination and knowledge exchange.
Conclusion
Governor Poudel’s participation in the BIS Annual Meeting underscores Nepal Rastra Bank’s commitment to modernizing monetary operations, adopting global best practices, and enhancing its role in international central banking cooperation.
For more:- NRB Governor BIS Meeting 2025
