NICCI welcomes govt's 100-point reform agenda to boost FDI
KATHMANDU: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) has welcomed the government’s 100-point governance reform agenda.
NICCI said the measures are likely to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create a business-friendly environment and prioritise business facilitation.
The government has proposed simplifying, expediting and making transparent the processes for industry registration, approval and operation; strengthening the one-stop service centre; implementing a single-window approval system through the Investment Board; integrating business registration and tax procedures; and digitising the entire service system to make it trackable. It has also set a goal of strengthening an investment-friendly environment through strategies for private sector protection and promotion.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NICCI said decisions taken at the first Cabinet meeting of Prime Minister Balendra Shah send a positive message about improving Nepal’s investment climate, reducing administrative hassles and restoring private sector confidence.
NICCI President Sunil KC said the reforms would lay a strong foundation for attracting foreign investment. “Policy clarity, streamlined procedures, and the expansion of digital systems will boost investor confidence,” he said. “This will help position Nepal as a regional investment destination.” He highlighted the importance of the single-window approval system, the start-up fast track, and efforts to remove administrative barriers for the private sector.
Saibal Ghosh, co-convenor of the Indian Business Forum under NICCI, said the reform agenda would also attract Indian investors. “Policy stability and faster decision-making processes make cross-border investment easier,” he noted, adding, “This is a positive signal toward further strengthening Nepal-India economic cooperation.” Ghosh recalled NICCI’s long-standing advocacy for a single-window approval system and said digital governance, transparent service systems and legal frameworks related to project facilitation would reduce investor risk.
NICCI urged the government to ensure effective implementation of the announced measures and to maintain continuous dialogue with the private sector, particularly bilateral chambers like NICCI. The chamber noted that around one-third of Nepal’s total FDI so far has come from India and said Nepal can benefit significantly from cooperation with India in sectors such as trade, energy and technology.
The chamber cautioned that real improvements in the investment climate will depend on swift and practical implementation of the policies rather than on announcements alone.
