KATHMANDU: In a milestone for Nepal’s academic and policy engagement in Asia, Sunil KC, founder of the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs and president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, became the first Nepali invited to present at the prestigious Institute of Developing Economies-Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) seminar in Japan.

The event, organized by the Institute of Developing Economies under the Japan External Trade Organization, formally included Nepal in its research and dialogue programs for the first time, opening avenues for sustained academic and policy collaboration between Japanese and Nepali institutions.

KC delivered a presentation titled Bay of Bengal Updates: Regional Economic Cooperation, highlighting Nepal’s evolving strategic and economic role amid shifting global power dynamics. He emphasized deeper regional integration, multimodal connectivity for landlocked countries, energy and digital cooperation, maritime security, and geopolitical stability as pillars of shared prosperity.

Scholars and policy experts from Japan, India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan participated in the seminar. IDE-JETRO and the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDA) also expressed commitment to continued collaboration on regional dialogue and research initiatives.