CAN Federation Senior VP Adhikari submits E‑Commerce Directive 2082 recommendations to FNCCI

KATHMANDU: Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) Senior Vice President Chiranjibi Adhikari has submitted policy recommendations on the E‑Commerce Directive, 2082, to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) ICT Development Committee, urging a regulatory approach that keeps pace with technological innovation.

Adhikari’s recommendations follow the enactment of Electronic Commerce Act, 2081 and the subsequent E‑Commerce Directive, 2082. He said the new framework marks a watershed moment for Nepal but warned that 'policy must move at the speed of innovation, not the speed of bureaucracy' as the country shifts from an unregulated 'digital wild west' to a formal legal environment.

The submission sets out a 'Secure Growth' framework built on three pillars: security, simplicity and sovereignty. On security, Adhikari, drawing on his experience as a cybersecurity professional, argued that 'encryption' is not just a checkbox but a shield, and recommended the government establish a National Minimum Security Standard (NMSS). He also proposed a 'Trust Seal' for registered Nepali platforms that meet these standards to encourage consumers to move away from cash‑on‑delivery.

On simplicity, the paper calls for a single‑window, API‑driven registration system so entrepreneurs registering on the Department of Commerce portal have Permanent Account Number (PAN), value‑added tax (VAT) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) details synced automatically. The recommendations stress a tiered ecosystem to distinguish between global marketplaces and home‑based artisans, warning that a 'one size fits all' approach would stifle startups.

On sovereignty, Adhikari urged incentivised data localisation, suggesting the 2082 guidelines offer tax rebates for companies hosting data in local Tier‑3 data centres to keep Nepali citizens’ personal information within national borders.

The submission also proposes strategic changes to the draft directive. It recommends a Safe Harbour provision to limit intermediary liability where platforms have carried out due diligence and maintain a working grievance system, a fee holiday for small‑ticket digital transactions to accelerate the digital payment transition, and a 90‑day technical assistance period instead of the current 35‑day registration window to help SMEs comply without penalties.

Adhikari’s technical recommendations include categorising micro‑businesses to encourage sales via established platforms, replacing proposed imprisonment for platform failures with categorised financial fines, and enforcing price transparency so online and offline prices and availability are updated in real time.

A comparison table in the submission contrasts the government’s draft with industry proposals, noting differences on registration timelines, data privacy standards, refund mechanisms, logistics liability and penalties.

Adhikari also highlighted cross‑border payment barriers, calling for the directive to recognise international digital payments as essential to scaling Nepali businesses globally. He proposed a multi‑stakeholder inter‑agency working group including the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Nepal Rastra Bank, CAN Federation, npCERT, CSRI Nepal and private sector associations to develop a phased, compliant framework for international payment solutions.

FNCCI ICT Development Committee chairperson Shakti Kumar Begani welcomed the recommendations. He said, “The recommendations submitted on the draft e‑Commerce Directives 2082 reflect a strong understanding of Nepal’s digital economy needs. CAN Federation and its senior vice president, Chiranjibi Adhikari, have played a commendable role in consolidating stakeholder voices and presenting practical, forward‑looking policy suggestions. Such initiatives are vital for building a secure, inclusive, and innovation‑driven e‑commerce ecosystem in Nepal.”

The committee’s co‑chairperson added, “We highly appreciate the leadership and policy initiative taken by CAN Federation senior vice president and tech entrepreneur Adhikari. The stakeholder consultation‑based recommendations submitted to the e‑Commerce Directives 2082 are timely and constructive. Contributions from CAN Federation, including immediate past president Ranjeet Kumar Poddar, will significantly support the government in formulating progressive and business‑friendly ICT and e‑commerce policies.”

The CAN Federation’s submission calls for the directive to function as a partnership document that balances regulation with support for entrepreneurship, aiming to make Nepal a creator of secure, sovereign and competitive digital markets.