The research studies included in this series were carried out in Nepal’s seven provinces during September 2021-August 2022 by a group of researchers from CESIF in collaboration with the local consultants in various districts. The CESIF researchers extensively engaged and interviewed a large number of experts at Nepal’s federal capital, Kathmandu and in various provinces and districts including the federal and provincial ministers, politicians, members of parliament, bureaucrats, thematic experts and opinion leaders, border experts, security forces, local governments, businessmen, academicians, civil society, customs and immigration officers, border side communities and representatives of other government agencies engaged in dealing with foreign investors among others. Household surveys in the bordering districts with China and India and personal observation of researchers in the study districts remained a crucial part of the research to understand the changing perception and dynamics of the Nepal-China border, the trends and patterns of foreign engagements at provincial levels, perception of provinces towards foreign investments and relation between geopolitics and Nepal’s agenda of prosperity. Moreover, a number of province level consultation meetings were held to discuss the role of foreign investments in provincial development in Province 1, Madhes Province and Sudurpaschim province throughout the study period. 

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This article was first published in CESIF.