Kathmandu, 19 May 2026

The Nepal Business Summit 2026, held on 18 May 2026 in Kathmandu, concluded with great success. The Summit was convened as a joint initiative of the Nepal Business Institute, the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI), the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN), and the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN), under the theme: "Transforming Nepal's Economy through Entrepreneurship, Investment and Innovation."

Rt. Hon'ble Dol Prasad Aryal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, delivered the keynote address as Chief Guest, emphasizing the need for collective action to seize the moment. He called upon the government, private sector, civil society, and all stakeholders to contribute through their collective efforts toward strengthening Nepal's national economy.

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the Keynote Speaker of the Summit, affirmed that the current government has received a clear mandate to bring about a paradigm shift-both in economic policy and in governance so that tangible change is felt across the public and private sectors. He noted that this commitment is codified in RSP's 100 point Bacha Patra. Dr. Wagle highlighted the government's focus on equal opportunity for social development through Equality based opportunities to all, and emphasized that energy and digital connectivity are central drivers of Nepal's sustainable growth. He reassured investors that the government is fully investment friendly and private sector friendly so he further urged private sector to invest without any fear but with the confidence.

Kunal Kayal, Officiating President of NICCI, highlighted the significance of bringing policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and development partners together on a single platform to address shared development challenges. He noted that NICCI, as a bilateral chamber, works actively to strengthen commercial ties between Nepal and India across trade, energy, infrastructure, cross-border connectivity, and financial integration. As Nepal works to restore economic momentum and build investor confidence, Mr. Kayal reaffirmed NICCI's commitment to facilitating government-private sector dialogue, fostering cross-border partnerships, and advancing economic cooperation.

Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, acknowledged the challenging global environment shaped by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the world economy. He noted, however, that these developments also present new avenues for collaboration and confidence-building. On the topic of foreign direct investment, Dr. Bhatta pointed out that while dividend outflows over the past five years amounted to NPR 97 billion, net FDI inflows stood at NPR 60 billion indicating a strong return on investment which he further added this data also shows there is an opportunity for foreign investors to invest in Nepal.

During the panel session, former Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Shankar Sharma emphasized the significant opportunity presented by Nepal-India cross-border economic integration. He noted that India's strategic policies including the Neighbourhood First Policy and Regional Supply Chain initiatives position Nepal advantageously as a neighbouring country. With Nepal targeting 7% economic growth, Dr. Sharma stressed that deeper supply chain integration with India could meaningfully contribute boost Nepal's trade and industrial development.