Dr. Durgesh K. Rai is a Fellow at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi. Before joining ICRIER, he was associated with National Labour Institute (NLI), NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. He has over twelve years of experience in policy-oriented research, working closely with the key central ministries like the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Finance. He has also been involved in many important studies undertaken for international organisations like ADB, DFID, ILO, OECD, World Bank etc. He has worked on a number of projects related to key subjects like Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), G20, India in the Global Production Networks, Labour Regulations and Growth of Indian Manufacturing, Totalisation/Portability of Social Security Benefits etc. His main areas of research include international trade and investment- trade policy, regional and bilateral trade agreements, trade in services, India and the global economy; human capital; international migration and labour regulation.

He holds Ph.D in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He also has M.Phil from the same University. He has published articles in several national and international journals and authored a number of book chapters and reports. He has also presented his work at various national and international conferences and seminars.