After Lengthy Political Negotiations, Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel Appointed as 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank

• NepseTalk
• May 20, 2025
• 62 views

Kathmandu – After a prolonged period of political negotiations and complex equations, Nepal Rastra Bank finally has its 18th governor. The Council of Ministers has officially decided to appoint economist Dr. Biswo Nath (Biswo) Poudel as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.

According to a government minister, there was unanimous agreement on Dr. Poudel’s appointment. Although the recommendation committee had shortlisted Dr. Poudel, Dr. Neelam Dhungana, and former Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai, Dr. Poudel, who was ranked first, was ultimately selected as governor.

Why is Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel in the Spotlight?
Recently, a high-level political consensus was reached between CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to appoint him as governor. Although the decision had been prearranged, the formal announcement was made through today’s cabinet meeting.

Profile of Dr. Poudel:

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, USA

Professional Experience:

• Visiting Associate Professor at Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM)
• Economist at Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-Nepal)
• Economic Advisor at the International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Former Director at Sanima Bank Limited
• Consultant for the World Bank (2012–2015)

Government Responsibilities:

• Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (from August 2021)
• Member of the Governor Recommendation Committee (appointed February 2022)

Following his recommendation as governor, Dr. Poudel resigned from the committee and has now officially assumed his role as Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.

Conclusion:
Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel is a seasoned economist and policymaker. Under his leadership, the Nepal Rastra Bank is expected to pursue economic stability, innovative monetary policies, and progressive financial reforms, charting a new direction for the country’s central banking system.