Ep#110 | Infrastructure Diplomacy and Development: How Nepal manages infrastructure aid from India, China, and Japan

In this episode, Shuvangi Poudyal explores infrastructure diplomacy and development: how Nepal manages infrastructure aid from India, China, and Japan . Shuvangi is a public policy researcher based in Kathmandu, with a focus on South Asia geo-economics, regional connectivity, and local governance. As the Program and Outreach Officer at PEI, she contributes to research projects like Infrastructure Diplomacy and RENT, while also coordinating programs and communicating findings through publications and an in-house host at PODS by PEI. She previously worked with Nepal-based think tanks CESIF and Governance Lab. She holds a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Warwick, UK.

Khushi and Shuvangi delve into PEI’s latest publication Of Infrastructure Diplomacy and Development, a comprehensive study that examines the aid dynamics between Nepal and its key partners—India, China, and Japan, and others. A key contributor to the study, Shuvangi provides insights into the geopolitical context shaping Nepal’s infrastructure landscape, the trends in aid and investment, and the public perceptions of different donors. We also explores the distinctions between DAC and non-DAC partners, their environmental and social impacts, and discuss recommendations for the Nepali government on navigating this complex terrain.

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