Kathmandu, May 20 -- The government has appointed economist Dr Biswo Poudel as the 18th governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), concluding weeks of political negotiation over who would lead the central bank.

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday finalised Poudel's appointment based on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The committee had shortlisted three candidates-Biswo Poudel, acting governor Neelam Dhungana Timilsina, and Dinesh Bhattarai.

"The Cabinet has decided to appoint Biswo Poudel as the new governor of Nepal Rastra Bank," said government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung after the meeting. "The decis...