The outgoing Director General of CIRDAP stated that ideas without donor support do not capture the interest of policymakers. Dr. Durga P Paudyal reflected on his eight-year tenure in Bangladesh, where the institute is based, highlighting the challenge of persuading policymakers to act on new policies and ideas without adequate funding. He emphasized the importance of financial resources in implementing ideas during a briefing with journalists about the center's upcoming anniversary celebration. CIRDAP was established on July 6, 1979 through collaboration between countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the UN's FAO, with the initial goal of promoting cooperation in rural development and poverty alleviation. The organization started with six member states and has since grown to 15, with Fiji being the most recent addition in 2010. The current members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Fiji. Dr. Paudyal emphasized the importance of south-south cooperation, stating that it is easier to learn from neighboring or developing countries than from more developed ones. CIRDAP facilitates regional dialogues and meetings to share best practices among its member states. He explained that CIRDAP's activities in Bangladesh may not always be visible, but they have helped governments in various ways. He emphasized that discussions on climate change and rural development in the region involve all 15 member countries of the institution, not just Bangladesh. He clarified that programs organized in other countries may not be widely known in Bangladesh because CIRDAP primarily focuses on policy-level work, not grassroots initiatives. The Director General noted that CIRDAP was involved in developing Bangladesh's current poverty monitoring system and praised the government for showing interest in CIRDAP as a form of regional cooperation. He stated that they received more than USD 2 million from Bangladesh to construct an international conference center. The Director General also mentioned that they will be hosting a 'Founding Day' lecture, with former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam discussing sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, Dr Cecep Effendi from Indonesia will be taking over for Dr Paudyal on July 6, as per CIRDAP's official announcement.