Kathmandu: Economist Dr. Bishwanath Poudel has been appointed as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. The decision was made during Tuesday evening's meeting of the Council of Ministers, based on the recommendation of the Governor Selection Recommendation Committee.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, informed the media that the recommendation committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, had shortlisted three candidates: Dr. Bishwanath Poudel, Acting Governor Neelam Dhungana, and former Secretary Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai. Among them, the Council chose Dr. Poudel.

Interestingly, Dr. Poudel had initially served as an expert member of the same recommendation committee but resigned from the role after his candidacy for the governorship was decided.

His appointment follows political consensus between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, although the formal process was delayed despite prior preparations.

Dr. Poudel, a PhD holder from the University of California, USA, is a seasoned economist and a professor at Kathmandu University. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, and Advisor to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Though he had previously contested the 2079 House of Representatives election from Chitwan under the Nepali Congress banner, he is not affiliated with any party committee. His independent stance and broad experience have made him a preferred advisor to Finance Ministers across party lines.

With a background of providing non-partisan, practical advice for national economic development, observers believe Dr. Poudel's appointment will help improve coordination between the Finance Ministry and the central bank—an area that has faced challenges in recent years.

Sources close to him say Dr. Poudel's appointment will allow for smoother policy coordination regardless of political changes, potentially benefiting Nepal’s broader economic stability.