Rebuilding after a Himalayan catastrophe: A talk with Nepal's finance minister

A sudden glacial collapse in northern Nepal on August 26 sent a catastrophic wall of ice, rock and water tearing through mountain valleys, killing nearly 1,400 people, leaving thousands missing, while destroying hydropower stations, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure. Now comes the daunting task of rebuilding. Nepal’s Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle joins the FCCT as his government grapples with a reconstruction bill expected to run into the billions of dollars. Speaking during a visit to Bangkok for the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, he will discuss Nepal’s response to the disaster and reconstruction efforts, the challenge of rebuilding in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions, and Nepal’s economic outlook. An alumnus of Harvard University and the London School of Economics, Dr Wagle spent more than 25 years as an international development professional before becoming Nepal’s finance minister in March 2026. Moderator: Devjyot Ghoshal , Reuters’ chief correspondent for Thailand and Myanmar, and FCCT board member.