Seoul, South Korea: Abhijit Bhand participated in the 2nd Global Governance and Diplomacy Workshop titled "Changing the Narrative on Globalization Through International Partnerships", organized by the International Cooperation Division of KDI School of Public Policy and Management at Yeong Bin Gwan, The Shilla Hotel, Seoul. The workshop brought together diplomats, policymakers, academicians, government officials, researchers, and development professionals from across the world to deliberate on contemporary global governance challenges and the role of international partnerships in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Building upon the success of its inaugural edition, the workshop served as a platform to exchange policy experiences and best practices from different countries while strengthening dialogue on globalization, international cooperation, and sustainable development. Unlike conventional academic conferences, the event emphasized practical policy experiences shared by senior diplomats and international leaders who have been directly involved in addressing global development challenges.
The workshop commenced with opening remarks by Professor Jong-Il You, Dean of KDI School, who emphasized that the world is currently witnessing two transformative transitions: the shift from a fossil fuel-based industrial civilization to a clean energy-driven digital economy, and the transition from a unipolar global order towards a multipolar world founded on stronger multilateral cooperation. Dean You observed that while these transformations create uncertainty and significant challenges, they also provide unprecedented opportunities for governments, international organizations, and policy experts to reshape global governance through collaboration and innovation.
The workshop featured distinguished representatives from the diplomatic community, including His Excellency Amit Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Korea, Her Excellency Catherine Raper, Ambassador of Australia, His Excellency Gabriel Waiselfisz, Ambassador of Argentina, former Ambassador to the United Nations Hyun Cho, along with senior representatives from Peru, Türkiye, and the European Union. Their participation enabled attendees to gain first-hand insights into policy formulation, diplomatic negotiations, and international cooperation from diverse geopolitical perspectives.
Mr. Abhijit Bhand With His Excellency Amit Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Korea
The first session focused on some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change, economic security, and women-led development. Drawing from the experiences of India, Australia, and Argentina, the speakers discussed national policy initiatives, implementation strategies, and the institutional mechanisms adopted to address these complex issues while advancing sustainable development. The discussions highlighted how international cooperation and evidence-based policymaking can strengthen national resilience in the face of evolving global challenges.
The second session shifted attention to emerging opportunities in international economic cooperation. Discussions explored Peru's upcoming APEC 2024 Presidency, the European Union's technological transformation agenda, and Türkiye's European Union accession process and economic integration. Speakers emphasized that economic development increasingly depends upon collaborative governance, technological cooperation, regional integration, and effective diplomacy rather than isolated national efforts. The sessions concluded with an engaging question-and-answer interaction, enabling participants to exchange perspectives on policy innovation, institutional reforms, and future global partnerships.
Reflecting on the workshop, Abhijit Bhand remarked that globalization should no longer be perceived merely through the lens of international trade and economic integration. Instead, he observed that the future of globalization lies in building resilient partnerships that facilitate the exchange of knowledge, technology, innovation, and public policy expertise across nations. According to him, institutions such as KDI School play a crucial role in creating platforms where policymakers, diplomats, researchers, and professionals can collectively examine practical solutions to complex global challenges.
Bhand further noted that one of the workshop's greatest strengths was its emphasis on learning directly from practitioners responsible for shaping international policy. He expressed that listening to ambassadors and senior diplomats discuss real-world governance challenges provided perspectives that extend well beyond academic literature. In his opinion, successful public policy increasingly requires interdisciplinary collaboration, international dialogue, and adaptive governance capable of responding to rapidly changing geopolitical, technological, and environmental landscapes.
He also highlighted that discussions on climate action, economic security, technological transformation, and women's leadership reinforced the interconnected nature of contemporary policy challenges. According to Bhand, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be accomplished through isolated national initiatives but demands stronger international partnerships supported by innovation, capacity building, institutional cooperation, and evidence-based policymaking. He emphasized that intellectual property, technology governance, and international cooperation will continue to play an increasingly significant role in enabling sustainable and inclusive economic development worldwide.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering stronger international cooperation and promoting dialogue among governments, academia, and policy institutions. By bringing together distinguished diplomats, development practitioners, and policy experts from multiple jurisdictions, the event demonstrated KDI School's continued commitment to advancing global governance education and creating meaningful opportunities for collaborative policy learning. For Abhijit Bhand, the workshop provided valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of globalization and reaffirmed the importance of international partnerships in addressing shared global challenges and shaping a more resilient and sustainable future.
