Nepal Business Summit 2026 concludes in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Nepal Business Summit 2026, jointly hosted by the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) and the Nepal Business Institute (NBI), concluded on Monday in Kathmandu. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and development partners to discuss entrepreneurship, investment and innovation under the theme ‘Transforming Nepal’s Economy through Entrepreneurship, Investment and Innovation.’

House Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, the summit’s chief guest, delivered the keynote and urged the government, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to act together to strengthen the national economy and seize current opportunities.

Addressing the programme, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle, the summit’s keynote speaker, said the government has a clear mandate to bring about a paradigm shift in economic policy and governance so that tangible change is felt across public and private sectors. He pointed to the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) 100-point commitment as a policy roadmap and stressed that equality of opportunity, energy and digital connectivity are central to sustainable growth. Minister Wagle reassured investors that the government is “fully investment-friendly and private sector-friendly,” and urged the private sector to invest with confidence.

Kunal Kayal, officiating president of NICCI, highlighted the value of convening diverse stakeholders on a single platform to tackle shared development challenges. He said NICCI works to strengthen commercial ties between Nepal and India across trade, energy, infrastructure, cross-border connectivity and financial integration, and reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to facilitating government–private sector dialogue and promoting cross-border partnerships.

Dr Gunakar Bhatta, vice-chairman of National Planning Commission, pointed to a challenging global environment shaped by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the world economy, while noting these trends also open new avenues for collaboration. On foreign direct investment, he cited data showing dividend outflows of Rs 97 billion over the past five years and net FDI inflows of Rs 60 billion, saying the figures indicate a strong return on investment and opportunities for foreign investors.

In a panel session, former Nepali ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma highlighted the potential of deeper Nepal–India economic integration. He said India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Regional Supply Chain initiatives give Nepal an advantage as a neighbouring market, and argued that closer supply chain links with India could help Nepal reach its 7% growth target by boosting trade and industrial development.

At the summit’s closing session, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal outlined the government’s vision for rapid and sustainable economic growth driven by good governance, policy predictability and structural reforms. He emphasised the growing role of economic diplomacy and the government’s commitment to promoting investment, encouraging technology partnerships and strengthening stakeholder engagement to create a more conducive business environment.