FIDIC Asia Pacific Conference 2024 underway in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Society of Consulting Architectural and Engineering Firms (SCAEF Nepal) has organised the 'FIDIC Asia Pacific Conference 2024' in Kathmandu.

FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, is the global representative body for national associations of consulting engineers and represents over one million engineering professionals and 40,000 firms in about 100 countries worldwide.

The conference is being attended by representatives from 23 countries, over 100 international participants, and 300 national participants and observers.

The event, hosted by the umbrella organisation of Nepali consulting firms, was inaugurated in the presence of FIDIC President Catherine Karakatsanis and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) Secretary Keshab Kumar Sharma, on Monday.

In her address, FIDIC President Karakatsanis stressed that important conferences like this should not limit discussions to sensitive issues such as climate change but ensure that the issues raised lead to practical implementation. She affirmed FIDIC's ongoing commitment to this goal and expressed readiness for future collaboration.

MoPIT Secretary Sharma voiced confidence that the conference would offer valuable advice and suggestions to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. He stated, "The issues raised in this conference and the conclusions drawn from the discussions can serve as a roadmap for solutions to the impacts of climate change we have been facing for decades. This conference will definitely help us at the policy-making level."

SCAEF Nepal General Secretary Kamal Karki highlighted that hosting such an international conference is a significant achievement for Nepal and affirmed the organisation's commitment to implementing the conference's recommendations at the relevant levels.

With the theme ‘Governance for Climate Shocks’, the conference will tackle technical and policy issues related to managing environmental disasters across seven specialised topics. The organisers are optimistic that the conference will be beneficial for the global community, especially in the context of increasing disaster risks.

FIDIC Asia Pacific (ASPAC) President Sudhir Dhawan, Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal (FCAN) President Rabi Singh, and other dignitaries attended the inauguration of the conference.

The international conference will continue till November 20.