Day 1 Opening Session

Cecile Fruman is Director, Regional Integration in the South Asia Region (SAR) of the World Bank. She is responsible for fostering collaborative activities amongst SAR countries and implementing a portfolio of regional investment projects. Cecile has dedicated her career to international development. She is a French national.

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, championed sustainable development and climate action during her tenure. As the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017, she focused on global development. Founding the Helen Clark Foundation in 2019, she fosters non-partisan policy research and debate in New Zealand, advocating for inclusion, fairness, and sustainability in various sectors.

Ambassador Karim, Director of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies at the Independent University, Bangladesh, previously advised the World Bank on Regional Integration in South Asia, during which he shepherded the initiation of power trade between Bangladesh and India. Previously, as Bangladesh’s immediate past High Commissioner to India, he also served ambassadorial assignments in Washington D.C., Pretoria, and Tehran.

Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Bhutan's Prime Minister since January 2024 and previously from July 2013 to August 2018, is a prominent environmentalist and cultural advocate. He transitioned from civil service to politics, playing a pivotal role in Bhutan's shift to parliamentary democracy and founding the People’s Democratic Party. Known for advocating Gross National Happiness, he addresses global issues like conservation, climate change, poverty, and democracy.