Japanese businessmen keen to invest in Nepal

Kathmandu, Apr. 5: A team of 19 Japanese investors is on a visit to Nepal to explore the investment potential here.

The Tokachi Nepal Business Finding Delegation, led by chairman of Obihiro City Council, Komori Tadanaga, includes industrialists, entrepreneurs, company presidents and business representatives from Tokachi, Hokkaido.

Komori is also the president of Nihon Kachiku Boeki Company Limited which specialises in artificial insemination of livestock for edible meat.

“The members of the delegation are mostly the presidents of the companies such as manufacturing of confectionery items, dairy products, solar energy, Japanese sweets, real estate, construction, soya sauce and household water purifier,” read a press statement issued by the delegation.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masasasi Ogawa said in a programme organised on Wednesday afternoon that the main interest of the delegation was to see and feel Nepal by themselves as an investment destination.

The delegation will visit industries in Pokhara and Chitwan and meet private sector representatives.

“The business delegation is quite serious to promote the Tokachi - Nepal business relationship. This visit is the first step to the path of business development,” said Komori.

Addressing the Japanese delegation, Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi said that the Nepalese business should learn all the process of producing, packaging and marketing strategy of product from Japanese entrepreneurs.

He urged the visiting business delegation to come and invest in Nepal as the investment climate was gradually improving.

“There has been significant progress in improving business environment through policy reforms. We are simplifying company registration and exit process. More laws and regulations are in the offing to simplify the business process including visa and repatriation,” said the minister.

Senior leader of Nepali Congress and convener of Nepal-Japan Parliamentarians Friendship Association urged the Japanese businessmen to support in transferring their knowledge and modern technology to Nepal.

“Agriculture and small and medium scale industries play an important role in the economic progress. We need to develop this sector here,” he said.