Digital Gandaki Samvad 2026 to be held in Pokhara on Saturday

POKHARA, KASKI: Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) Gandaki Province and CAN Federation Kaski are to jointly organise Digital Gandaki Samvad 2026, a high-level technology conclave, in Pokhara on Saturday, June 6.

The one-day programme will bring together tech experts, policymakers, government officials and industry stakeholders to discuss the province’s digital future and contribute to Nepal’s national IT agenda.

The dialogue aims to produce actionable recommendations for the region’s tech ecosystem and to align provincial initiatives with national digital priorities under the guidance of CAN Federation Acting President Chiranjibi Adhikari.

The forum will concentrate on three main themes: Nepal Budget 2026/27 and its implications for the IT sector, Sovereign AI, and public–private partnership (PPP) models in ICT. Participants will review budget allocations and fiscal incentives for IT startups, discuss governance and data-security measures for locally developed AI systems, and examine PPP arrangements to expand infrastructure such as high-speed networks and data centres across the province.

On Sovereign AI, speakers are expected to consider building large language models trained on Nepali languages and measures to reduce dependence on foreign technology infrastructure while protecting national data.

The PPP sessions will explore collaboration between municipal and provincial authorities and private IT firms to scale digital services and literacy programmes throughout Gandaki.

Gunanidhi Pandey, president of CAN Federation Gandaki Province, said the dialogue will link provincial socio-economic goals with modern technological approaches to help establish Gandaki as a leading digital hub in Nepal.

“Strategic frameworks give us direction, but localised IT implementation and precise execution are the true keys to success. We must ensure that these digital policies become practical, accessible tools for the businesses, students and local authorities right here in Kaski,” said Purushottam Kunwar, president of CAN Federation Kaski.

The whitepapers and resolutions from the dialogue will inform the province’s official digital transformation blueprint and support a collaborative, secure technology environment for Nepali citizens.