More than 150 economists from different nations have gathered in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Monday to mark their presence in the discussion titled " Environment and Development in South Asia" organized by the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).

Economists from South Asian countries -- Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh -- and those from Canada, Sweden, United States, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, Australia, among others, are participating in the two-day conference.

Over 70 papers will be presented on subjects related to environment, development, climate change, economics, health, and poverty, among others, SANDEE said.

It has been learnt that Professor Elinor Ostrom, the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize Winner in Economic Sciences, is also scheduled to address the conference.