- Thursday, 13 November 2025
Kathmandu, Nov 13: Nepal has assumed the leadership of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre.
At the board of trustees meeting of the ADPC in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, Chief of National Disaster Management Authority of India, Rajendra Singh handed over the leadership to Executive Director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Dinesh Bhatta.
Earlier, Chief of National Disaster Management Authority, Singh was the chairperson of the Centre on behalf of India. Members from Nepal along with India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines were also present on the occasion.
Assuming the office for the term 2025-2026, Bhatta said in the capacity of the chair he has expected further activism of board members for strengthening governance, leadership and institutional development, the Authority sources said.
He further said that the ADPC has eminent place to advance initiatives for mitigating disaster and climate risks towards attaining sustainable development goals in the ADPC member nations, countries with working areas as well national and international spaces.
The sixth meeting of the ADPC board of trustees presided over by newly-appointed chair Bhatta has reiterated to take lead of regional programmes , including strengthening capacity for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation in the Asia and Pacific.
Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, the ADPC is an autonomous international organization. Pakistan will serve the Centre as the co-chair during the term. —
