Minister Bhandari Highlights Nepal’s Investment Opportunities at New Delhi Partnership Summit

Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has announced significant policy reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment in Nepal. Speaking at the plenary session of the 29th Partnership Summit in New Delhi, India, the Minister emphasized that foreign investors can now apply for investments up to Rs 500 million directly from abroad through an automated online pre-approval system.

Minister Bhandari revealed that the threshold for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nepal has been reduced from Rs 50 million to Rs 20 million, with no minimum investment requirement for the IT sector. This, he stated, is part of Nepal’s broader effort to enhance its business environment and attract global investors.

“We are focused on policy and legal improvements to promote trade in Nepal, offering streamlined processes for registration and facilities for investors,” Bhandari said. He highlighted the establishment of a One Stop Service Center (OSSC), which consolidates 14 government agencies under one platform to provide integrated services for investors.

The Minister assured the global business community that Nepal offers a liberal and open market policy, reflected in its participation in multilateral, regional, and bilateral agreements. “Foreign investments in Nepal are yielding good profits, and we are committed to creating a business-friendly environment,” he noted.

Minister Bhandari also expressed optimism about the Summit’s outcomes, envisioning it as a platform for fostering sustainable development, innovation, technology transfer, and economic prosperity. He extended an invitation to international investors to explore Nepal’s potential and join in achieving shared economic goals.

Highlighting Nepal’s investment opportunities, Bhandari pointed to sectors such as tourism, hydropower, agriculture, aromatic plants, IT, medicine, and manufacturing as having immense potential for growth. He also underscored Nepal’s progress in electricity export, stating that under bilateral and trilateral agreements, the country is now exporting power to India and Bangladesh, demonstrating its readiness to harness regional cooperation for economic gains.

The Minister reaffirmed Nepal’s priority in deepening its historic ties with India, rooted in shared history and cultural and economic interdependence. He expressed gratitude for India’s role in supporting Nepal’s economic endeavors and reiterated the importance of bilateral collaboration in achieving mutual prosperity.

Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, welcomed Minister Bhandari to the event. The 29th Partnership Summit, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), brings together leaders from various sectors to discuss pathways for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Summit is expected to further enhance economic cooperation between Nepal and India while opening avenues for foreign partnerships in Nepal’s evolving investment landscape.