17th South Asian Management Forum (SAMF) 2026

11–12 May 2026 | Royal Institute of Management (RIM), Thimphu, Bhutan

Day 1 – Inaugural Session

The 17th South Asian Management Forum (SAMF) 2026 commenced successfully at the Royal Institute of Management (RIM), Bhutan, jointly organized by AMDISA and RIM Bhutan.

The inaugural session began with the National Anthem, followed by the traditional Marchang Ceremony and a cultural welcome dance reflecting Bhutanese heritage and hospitality.

Ms. Tshering Yangden, President, AMDISA and Director General, RIM Bhutan, welcomed delegates, academicians, policymakers, researchers, and management professionals from across South Asia.

The session was graced by His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan.

According to an official update shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Bhutan, the Prime Minister emphasized that while rapid technological and economic shifts continue to test regional resilience, Bhutan remains committed to innovation guided by the values of Gross National Happiness. The PMO statement further noted that the Prime Minister stressed the need for modern leadership to build “learning systems” that prioritize ethical governance, evidence-based decision-making, and inclusivity, while encouraging stronger regional partnerships across South Asia.

The inaugural session also featured the 5th Dharni P. Sinha Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Rajan Saxena, Former Director, IIM Indore and Former Vice-Chancellor, NMIMS University, Mumbai, India.

Day 1 – Plenary Sessions

Plenary 1

The first plenary session on the theme “The Future of Globalization – Challenges for Management Education and Networks” was chaired by Dr. Ashok Joshi, Past President and Chairman, Local Management Committee, AMDISA.

The session explored the evolving challenges of globalization and their implications for management education, academic collaboration, and institutional networks.

Plenary 2

The second plenary session on the theme “South Asia 2030: Navigating Change through Resilience and Innovation” was chaired by Dr. S. Padam, Chairman, SAQS Accreditation Awarding Committee, AMDISA.

Discussions focused on resilience, innovation, sustainable development, and collaborative regional approaches for shaping South Asia’s future.

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Day 2 – Plenary & Parallel Sessions

Plenary 3

The Day 2 plenary session focused on “Rebooting Management Education: Harnessing Emerging Technologies to Shape the Future of South Asia.”

Chaired by Dr. Syde Zahoor Hassan, Former Vice Chancellor, LUMS, Pakistan, the session explored the transformative role of AI, analytics, digital technologies, and innovation in shaping future-ready management education and leadership development.

Parallel Sessions

The Day 2 parallel sessions covered important themes including Governance 4.0, AI and analytics for public value creation, Circular Economy and Green Innovation, Green HRM and Sustainable Organizational Behavior, and Governance and Institutional Innovation.

The sessions emphasized the importance of innovation, sustainability, institutional resilience, and regional cooperation in addressing emerging governance and development challenges across South Asia.

Valedictory Session

The 17th South Asian Management Forum (SAMF) 2026 concluded successfully with the Valedictory Session held at the Royal Institute of Management, Bhutan.

The session reflected on the major outcomes and key insights emerging from the Forum’s plenary and parallel sessions conducted over two days.

The session featured the presentation of the Best Paper Awards of the South Asian Journal of Management (SAJM) for 2021–2024 by Ms. Tshering Yangden, President-AMDISA and Director General, RIM Bhutan.

The Forum concluded with renewed commitments toward strengthening regional collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and resilient leadership across South Asia.