The Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA) conducted a closed-door Roundtable discussion on 28th July 2025 in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) focusing on trans-himalayan security from a geo-economic perspective. The theme of the discussion was Himalayan Security from a Geo-economic Perspective: Implications for Nepal; with the intent of gaining broader insights into how Nepal’s academic and policy communities understand the geo-economic implications of Himalayan security. Discussions focused on how the Himalayan region is becoming increasingly enmeshed in the tectonics of strategic and economic contestation, and Nepal—situated between two great powers—faces a multidimensional challenge. While the discourse around the Himalayas often centers on security and territoriality, it is equally critical to explore the geo-economic transformations unfolding across this terrain.
Discussions covered a variety of themes relevant to geoeconomics in the context of the Himalayan region. The closed-door engagement saw discussants express a wide range of insights and opinions.