NRB Governor Dr. Poudel Highlights Nepal’s Economic Resilience at 48th SAARCFINANCE Meeting

NRB Governor SAARCFINANCE

15th October 2025, Kathmandu

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel recently participated in the significant 48th SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Group Meeting.

NRB Governor SAARCFINANCE

The high-level gathering took place on October 14, 2025, in Washington D.C., USA, coinciding with the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This forum provided a vital platform for the NRB Governor SAARCFINANCE to share Nepal’s current economic outlook and policy direction with regional counterparts.

The meeting, chaired by Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Asan H. Mansur, saw the participation of Central Bank Governors, Deputy Governors, Finance Ministry officials, and other representatives from the South Asian region.

SAARCFINANCE serves as a collaborative network for central banks and finance ministries of SAARC member nations, established in 1998 and formalized in 2002 to facilitate dialogue on macroeconomic policies and best practices.

Addressing Nepal’s Economic Status

Governor Poudel delivered a compelling address, providing an in-depth analysis of Nepal’s contemporary economic situation.

He informed the regional leaders that inflation and external sector indicators generally exhibit a stable and comfortable position.

This stability demonstrates the effectiveness of the monetary policies implemented by the central bank in the recent past.

However, the Governor cautioned the audience about potential challenges. He noted that the recent dynamic political situation poses difficulties for maintaining fiscal balance and advancing efforts toward sustainable economic growth. The challenge requires a strategic and coordinated policy response to prevent economic instability.

Policy Facilitation for Economic Revival

Addressing the identified challenges head-on, Governor Poudel emphasized the active steps Nepal is taking. He stated that the central bank is making conscious efforts to facilitate policy support geared toward the revival and dynamism of the national economy.

This move underscores a proactive approach to economic management, focusing on creating a favorable policy environment for faster recovery and enhanced growth momentum.

The Governor’s remarks positioned Nepal’s central bank as an active facilitator of economic stability, determined to navigate domestic political complexities while upholding monetary discipline. Effective policy implementation remains the key priority for the NRB leadership.

Regional Cooperation and Key Discussions

The meeting also involved a series of presentations from participating central banks, each detailing their country’s current economic and financial standing. This session fostered valuable peer-to-peer learning and insight sharing across the South Asian region.

Governor Mansur, in his inaugural statement, emphasized the role of SAARCFINANCE as a shared forum. He highlighted its importance for regional cooperation and the exchange of best practices among central banks in South Asia. Such collaboration is increasingly vital given the interconnected global economy.

Key discussion topics among the participants included:

• Enhancing the effectiveness of the SAARC Payment Council.
• Advancing financial inclusion initiatives across the SAARC region.
• Exploring the feasibility of a ‘Currency Swap’ arrangement among SAARC member states.
• Establishing a common research and data system for greater regional insight.
• Future direction and the SAARC scholarship scheme.

The Governors collectively stressed the imperative to make coordination and cooperation more effective among SAARC member nations on contemporary economic and financial issues in the coming days. A stronger, unified approach is essential for regional macroeconomic stability.

Leadership Transition

A major procedural outcome of the meeting was the change in SAARCFINANCE’s leadership. The Chairmanship officially transferred from Bangladesh Bank to the Royal Monetary Authority, the central bank of Bhutan.

Governor Poudel was accompanied by Dr. Ramsharan Kharel, Executive Director of the Economic Research Department, and Sharan Kumar Adhikari, Director of the Governor’s Office.

Their participation ensures that the high-level discussions translate into concrete internal planning and policy formulation within the Nepal Rastra Bank. The continued engagement of the NRB Governor SAARCFINANCE forum is critical for promoting financial integration and resilience in South Asia.

For more: NRB Governor SAARCFINANCE