President Dhakal Invites Indian Investors to Seize Nepal’s Expanding Economic Opportunities
Kathmandu — Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), has extended a strong invitation to Indian investors to explore Nepal’s rapidly expanding investment landscape, emphasizing the country’s stable economy, young workforce, and investor-friendly reforms.
Addressing the “An Aspiring Nepal” symposium held today in Kathmandu, President Dhakal spoke to a distinguished audience comprising senior government officials and business leaders from both Nepal and India. He highlighted Nepal’s economic growth of 4.9% in the first half of the current fiscal year 2024/25, crediting the momentum to robust performance in the agriculture and industrial sectors.
“Our agriculture and industrial sectors are showing particularly strong performance, driving this growth momentum,” Dhakal said, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in the services sector.
He pointed to Nepal’s macroeconomic stability, including foreign exchange reserves of $17.27 billion, as a foundation for sustainable development. A key focus of his remarks was Nepal’s demographic advantage—a median age of just 25—offering a young, skilled, and tech-savvy workforce poised to support diverse industries.
Outlining high-potential areas for investment, Dhakal cited energy, cross-border trade, ICT, tourism, and commercial agriculture as particularly promising. He underscored a milestone energy partnership in which India has committed to purchasing 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity from Nepal over the next decade. He also mentioned the continued duty-free access for Nepali manufactured goods in India, which will remain in place even after Nepal transitions to developing country status in 2026.
Dhakal emphasized recent policy reforms aimed at creating a business-friendly environment. These include the simplification of foreign direct investment (FDI) procedures through an ‘automatic route’ mechanism and the amendment of over 30 laws to streamline operations and improve investor confidence.
In his closing remarks, President Dhakal issued a clear call to action: “With our strategic location, improving infrastructure, skilled workforce, and investor-friendly policies, Nepal offers unparalleled opportunities across multiple sectors. We welcome Indian and global investors to be part of our nation’s exciting growth story.”
The event featured participation from Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, along with high-level delegates and private sector leaders from both nations.