FNCCI, WHEF sign MoU to cooperate on 2027 summit to be held in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the World Hindu Economic Forum summit scheduled to be held in Nepal in 2027.

The agreement was signed by FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha and Suraj Vaidya, chairperson of the World Hindu Economic Forum Nepal-2027 Organising Committee, during a function at the FNCCI Secretariat on Wednesday.

Under the MoU, both organisations aim to establish Nepal as an attractive global hub for investment, innovation and entrepreneurship. The partnership will focus on identifying and promoting investable public-private projects across all seven provinces, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and strengthening the country’s economic diplomacy.

FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha said the joint effort would play a significant role in establishing Nepal as a preferred destination for international investment, trade and business partnerships. He added that the collaboration provides a crucial foundation for the success of both the WHEF 2027 summit and Nepal’s upcoming investment summit, and that joint promotional programmes will be organised within the country and abroad ahead of the summit to secure solid investment commitments.

"Nepal has unique potential such as natural resources, cultural heritage and a strategic geographical location. International collaboration is necessary to transform this potential into production, investment and employment. I believe this partnership will help take advantage of Nepal's potential," FNCCI President Shrestha said.

Suraj Vaidya, who is also a former president of FNCCI, said the summit would assist in drawing foreign capital, encouraging youth entrepreneurship and giving fresh momentum to Nepal’s economic development.

WHEF Patron Swami Vigyananand said Nepal holds immense potential and that the summit would serve as a platform to discover new avenues for the nation’s economic growth.

Former FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi said the forum will be used to mobilise industrialists, business operators and member organisations at provincial and district levels, and that the network would work on identifying viable projects and facilitate policy dialogue between the government and the private sector.

Other business leaders, including FNCCI Senior Vice President Sur Krishna Vaidya, Vice President Krishna Prasad Sharma and World Hindu Economic Forum Nepal Chairperson Pradeep Man Vaidya, emphasised that the international network would bring global investors, industrialists and policymakers to Nepal, thereby boosting external investment.

The MoU highlights that the forum will prioritise investment promotion in key sectors including tourism and hospitality; spiritual and wellness tourism; infrastructure; transportation; education; skills development; agriculture; herb processing; energy; information technology; and mining.