Industry minister urges US to extend trade preference and boost investment
KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav has urged US Charge d’Affaires Scott Urbom to help improve access for Nepali products to the US market.
Minister Yadav made the appeal during a meeting with Urbom on Thursday, noting that the Nepal Trade Preference Programme, which began in 2015, expired in December 2025 and requesting that its term be extended to benefit Nepali exporters.
She called for activation of the mechanism under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the two countries through regular dialogue to boost bilateral trade and investment.
Yadav said policy and legal reforms have strengthened an investment‑friendly environment in Nepal and that the government is keen to attract more American capital. She requested increased US investment in hydropower and renewable energy, tourism infrastructure, agricultural processing, productive industries and the digital economy, her secretariat said.
On the occasion, Scott Urbom said the US was positive about continuing trade concessions and promoting investment.
(With inputs from RSS)
