- The Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Non-Resident Nepali Association signed a five-year agreement to boost investment, trade, and economic cooperation in Nepal.
- The partnership aims to channel capital, technology, and expertise from overseas Nepalis into key sectors like tourism, manufacturing, and information technology.
- Both organizations will collaborate on joint investment conferences and policy advocacy to support startups and small-to-medium enterprises.
- Leaders called for legal clarity, policy stability, and reduced red tape to build confidence among potential international and non-resident investors.
Kathmandu, Nepal: For years, Nepalis living abroad have sent money home, supported their families and built businesses and careers in different parts of the world. Now, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) want to turn more of that financial strength, knowledge and international experience into productive investment and jobs inside Nepal.
The two organisations signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, seeking to strengthen investment, trade and business cooperation between Nepal and Nepalis living abroad.
NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal and NRNA President Dr. Hem Raj Sharma signed the agreement at a function at the NCC office.The MoU will remain in effect for five years and may be renewed by mutual consent.
The agreement is intended to create a more practical link between Nepalis abroad who are interested in investing and businesses and entrepreneurs operating in Nepal. Under the MoU, the NCC and NRNA will work together to facilitate foreign direct investment and promote cooperation in trade, industry and entrepreneurship.
The two organisations will also cooperate in knowledge transfer, innovation and technology exchange and jointly advocate policies that are more supportive of the private sector.
They plan to organise investment conferences, roadshows, business summits and other events where investors and Nepali businesses can meet directly, discuss ideas and explore partnerships.
The partnership will also focus on export-oriented industries, small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. Training programmes, workshops and seminars are planned to help strengthen business skills and capacity.
More than money
For NCC President Agrawal, the opportunity presented by Nepalis living abroad goes well beyond the money they can invest.
He said Nepal needs to find ways to connect the capital, knowledge, skills and business experience accumulated by Nepalis overseas with the country's economic development.
Nepalis working in different countries have gained experience in areas ranging from information technology and tourism to manufacturing, finance and international trade. Many have also developed business networks and connections with international markets.
Agrawal said these resources could be channelled into sectors with strong potential in Nepal, including information technology, tourism, manufacturing and trade.
But he also warned that investment would not come simply because Nepal has good policies on paper.
He said effective implementation, legal clarity and a stable investment environment were equally important. Uncertainty in policies and laws, he said, has made it difficult for domestic and foreign investors to develop confidence in Nepal.
Agrawal called for greater cooperation between the government and private sector to ensure investment security, political stability and a business environment in which investors can plan for the long term.
He also made it clear that the new agreement should not end as another document signed at a formal ceremony.
The real test, he said, would be whether it could generate actual investment, create jobs, expand trade and contribute to Nepal's economic transformation.
Investors need confidence
NRNA President Dr. Sharma echoed many of these concerns, saying the association's priority was to connect the capital, skills, technology and international experience of Nepalis abroad with Nepal's development.
He said Nepalis living overseas possess not only financial resources but also managerial expertise, technology, international business experience and valuable networks.
But attracting those resources to Nepal requires more than encouraging people to invest.
Sharma pointed to the legal, administrative and procedural difficulties that non-resident Nepalis can face when attempting to start businesses or invest in the country.
He said the government and private sector should work together to make the investment process simpler, safer and more predictable.
For many potential investors, the decision to invest is influenced not only by the potential return but also by how easily they can establish a company, obtain approvals, understand regulations, resolve disputes and move money through the financial system.
If these processes remain complicated, investment promotion campaigns may struggle to produce the desired results.
Where could the investment go?
The MoU identifies agriculture, tourism, information technology, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and emerging businesses as potential areas for non-resident Nepali investment.
These sectors offer opportunities, but they also need different kinds of support.
Technology businesses need skilled workers and reliable digital infrastructure. Manufacturing requires dependable electricity, transport and efficient regulatory services. Tourism needs infrastructure, connectivity and consistent policies, while agriculture needs better technology, market access and modern supply chains.
The challenge for the NCC and NRNA will therefore be to move beyond general promises and identify projects that are commercially viable and ready for investment.
Investment conferences and business summits can help bring people together, but investors ultimately need clear information, reliable projects and confidence that their investments will be treated fairly.
Bringing the second generation closer
Sharma also raised an issue that could become increasingly important in the years ahead: how to connect young Nepalis born or raised abroad with Nepal.
He said programmes focusing on language, culture, tourism, entrepreneurship and investment could help strengthen the relationship between second-generation Nepalis and their ancestral country.
Many young people in the diaspora may have limited direct experience of Nepal but possess education, professional skills and international networks that could be valuable to the country.
Creating meaningful opportunities for them to engage with Nepali businesses, startups and investment projects could help turn cultural connections into long-term economic relationships.
Removing the red tape
Former NCC President Rajendra Malla stressed that the government also has an important role to play.
He urged authorities to remove legal and procedural obstacles that discourage non-resident Nepalis from investing in Nepal.
Malla particularly criticised lengthy procedures and the need for investors to visit multiple government agencies for a single project. He called for simpler procedures and greater policy stability.
His concerns reflect one of the long-standing frustrations of investors in Nepal: the gap between investment policies and the experience of actually doing business.
A potential investor may be attracted by Nepal's market or opportunities, but excessive paperwork, unclear responsibilities between agencies and frequent policy changes can discourage investment before a project even begins.
Turning promises into results
The NCC-NRNA agreement comes with a clear opportunity, but its success will ultimately be measured by what happens after the signing ceremony.
The two organisations could potentially help build a pipeline of investment-ready projects, connect Nepali entrepreneurs with overseas investors, facilitate technology partnerships and provide practical support to businesses seeking international markets.
Success could eventually be measured in more concrete terms — new companies, investment volumes, jobs, exports, technology transfers and businesses established by returning Nepalis.
The five-year duration of the agreement provides enough time to develop such initiatives and demonstrate results.
Nepal's large overseas community is already an important part of the country's economic and social story. The bigger challenge now is to create conditions in which people living abroad feel confident that their money, ideas and experience can make a meaningful contribution at home.
The NCC-NRNA MoU could become a useful bridge between those two worlds. But for that bridge to carry real investment, Nepal will need more than agreements and conferences. It will need predictable policies, efficient institutions, simpler procedures and, above all, confidence that investment made in Nepal can be protected and allowed to grow.
