Mr Shishir Priyadarshi, IAS Retd

Chair, Chintan Research Foundation

Mr Shishir Priyadarshi is a former Director of the World Trade Organization (WTO). With more than 22 years of experience working closely with global institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD and OECD, his areas of interest focus on international economic policy, infrastructure development and trade regulation. He has extensive and varied experience advising governments across Africa and Asia on economic policy, infrastructure planning and securing financial assistance.

Before his international role, Mr Priyadarshi served for more than 20 years in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), holding senior positions at both state and central levels. His experience includes work in various ministries related to the economic, finance and industry sectors, as well as supporting inter-ministerial coordination at the Cabinet Secretariat.

An alumnus of the University of Reading, UK (MA Economics), and Delhi University (MSc Nuclear Physics), Mr Priyadarshi holds gold medals in both degrees. He has published extensively on international trade, development and economic policy, and has held academic affiliations with institutions such as the London School of Economics, Indian School of Business, National University of Singapore, IIT Delhi, University of Barcelona and the World Trade Institute, Bern, among others.

His career reflects considerable diversity – spanning the Indian bureaucracy, international civil service, the private sector and academia – and a deep commitment to fostering sustainable development in developing economies.