Rupa Chanda

Rupa Chanda serves as Director of Trade, Investment and Innovation Division at UNESCAP while maintaining her position as Professor of Economics at IIM Bangalore, where she has taught since 1997. After beginning her career as an economist at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, she has established herself as a leading expert in international trade and macroeconomics, with particular focus on trade in services, migration, and regional integration. Her contributions include significant research on health services, professional services, education, and mobility, while serving on numerous expert committees including WHO's International Health Regulations Review Committee. Her academic excellence has been recognized through multiple awards including the Dewang Mehta Award for Best Economics Teacher and the ICFAI Best Teacher Award. Through her current leadership at UNESCAP's Trade Division, she continues to shape policy on trade, investment, and sustainable business practices in the Asia-Pacific region while maintaining her research focus on international trade and economic development.