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The Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) is a grouping of leading think tanks in South Asia, which meet to research and study on significant topics and issues concerning the region. Since its establishment in 2008, COSATT has been successful in bringing together think tanks and research organisations to forge closer ties for the objective of promoting regional cooperation and building peace in the region.

On January 28th 2016, representatives from Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) met in Singapore to deliberate on the themes which COSATT will focus on this year. After an overview on the political and economic outlook for South Asia for 2016 from the respective countries, two research themes were identified. The first theme was “Refugee and Migration in South Asia”. COSATT plans to organise a regional conference where experts, representatives from international organisations like UNHCR and policy makers will be invited. The regional conference is scheduled to take place in April in Kathmandu this year. The second theme which was identified was “SAARC and ASEAN Connectivity”. COSATT would like to increase their engagement with ASEAN as both these regions have a convergence of interest on various issues of international relations. In order to increase their engagement with South East Asia, COSATT will organise their second regional conference on “Regional Economic Integration Sharing Experience of ASEAN and SAARC “in July, where they would like to invite experts, policy makers and academics from South East Asia. The papers and recommendation of these conferences will be collated and published as a book after the conference.