Kathmandu: The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI), International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD) and Ambassadors Club Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 9 to strengthen regional cooperation, trade, investment and policy dialogue across South Asia.
Held at Ambassadors Club Nepal, the signing ceremony brought together delegations led by Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, President of SAARC CCI, and Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, President of IRGDD and Ambassadors Club Nepal.
The agreement establishes a framework for joint initiatives that combine SAARC CCI’s extensive business network with IRGDD’s research and strategic advisory capabilities and the Club’s diplomatic engagement. Cooperation will encompass international relations, policy dialogue, research, strategy formulation and project development to support sustainable economic growth and shared regional prosperity.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal underscored South Asia’s demographic potential, citing youth as constituting almost 47 percent of the region’s population. He emphasised the importance of translating this potential into opportunities through entrepreneurship, skills development and women’s economic empowerment, drawing connections with wider international priorities, including those of the Commonwealth.
Amb. Dr. Dhakal highlighted the role of IRGDD and Ambassadors Club Nepal as platforms for Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy, connecting resident and non-resident diplomats, parliamentarians, business leaders and research institutions. Referring to IRGDD’s collaboration with institutions across 160 countries, she reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nepal’s soft power, diplomatic engagement and economic capacity through non-partisan research, strategic partnerships and value chain development.
The signatories reaffirmed their commitment to translating the agreement into practical initiatives that deepen regional connections, expand economic opportunities and deliver tangible benefits for communities across South Asia.
