The fourth episode in this season of A Closer Look takes us to the Himalayas. We're focusing on Nepal, on the same day that the country is electing a new President. What are the issues on people's minds in Nepal? How is the country finding its balance, wedged between India and China? And how are Himalayan farmers dealing with diminishing winter crops, due to complete lack of snow?

Join us for this webcast to get great insights on these and many other issues playing out in Nepal. With Deputy Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives Indira Rana Magar and leading investor Suman Joshi from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. The conversation will be moderated by Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director at Asia Society Switzerland.

SPEAKERS

Indira Rana Magar is Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal since January 2023. She has been a prolific social worker, working in the field of human rights for well over 30 years. In 2000, she founded the NGO Prisoner's Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal), which works to provide safe, supportive lodging and education for children whose parents are imprisoned. Currently, the organization runs 12 children’s homes, 2 schools, 4 daycare centers, and dozens of other sundry projects. PA Nepal has been constantly working to help children live a normal life beyond prison cells and help prisoners rehabilitate in society after serving their time in prison. Indira led the organization until her election as a Member of the House of Representatives in December, 2022. Between 2018 and 2021, she was also working for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in Nepal. Indira is a 2007 Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader and an Ashoka Fellow. In 2009, PA Nepal received the Asia Society Asia 21 Public Service Award. In 2017, she was the first Nepali to feature on the BBC's list of the 100 most influential women in the world. She started her work in prisons as a volunteer servicing prisoners and their children in 1990.

Suman Joshi is widely regarded as one of the most innovative banking experts in Nepal. He has intimate knowledge of commercial and investment banking. Following a successful banking career, he established True North Associates (TNA) which is now a prominent domestic private capital vehicle. In 2018, TNA acquired a significant stake in Dutch impact investment firm One To Watch (OTW), which channels foreign capital into Nepali SMEs. In addition to investing in Nepali businesses, both companies are actively involved in supporting entrepreneurs with business development services and strategic advisory. A recent example of proactive initiative aimed at helping business is the Covid MSME Fund, which was conceived by TNA and implemented by OTW with financial support from the Swiss Development Cooperation and FMO - the Dutch development bank. Suman received his degree in economics and political science from Punjab University, India, and executive education on private equity & venture capital from Harvard Business School. He holds a number of board and advisory positions at Nepali corporates and institutions. He is also a member of the Nepal advisory committee of British International Investment. A number of key investment firms banded together in 2020 to form the Nepal Private Equity Association of which Suman is the inaugural chair.
Suman is currently dedicated to improving the eco-system for alternative investments in Nepal.

Join us on Thu, Mar 23, at 12:00 CET, for the final episode of this season of A Closer Look as well, featuring Thailand. Register here.

Watch all previous episodes here.

A Closer Look is organized by Asia Society Switzerland with support of BDO and the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zurich.