Kathmandu: A book signing program of the newly published book SAARC to BIMSTEC: Breakdown or Breakthrough in Regional Cooperation?, authored by Ambassador Dr. Shambhu Ram Simkhada, was held at Mandala Book Point, Kathmandu, on January 4.
The book, which analyzes regional cooperation in South Asia, offers timely insights into the evolving dynamics of regional organizations, particularly the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Although the book was released last year and has already been available in the market, the signing program provided an opportunity for readers and scholars to engage directly with the author. Spanning approximately 220 pages, the work is positioned at the intersection of international relations, regional politics, and development cooperation.
Dr. Simkhada, a former Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva and Ambassador to Switzerland, draws on decades of experience in diplomacy and policy analysis. The book critically examines why regional cooperation in South Asia has often fallen short of expectations despite shared geography, history, and development aspirations. It identifies key structural challenges, including the lack of a clear political mandate among member states, institutional limitations within SAARC, and the under-representation of civil society in regional processes, which have hindered meaningful collaboration.
During the book signing ceremony, Dr. Simkhada also interacted with readers and distinguished guests, sharing insights into his research and perspectives on the future of regional cooperation in South Asia.
