NICCI proposes CEO's roundtable during PM visit to India

Kathmandu, Apr. 30

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) has proposed to organise a CEO's roundtable in New Delhi during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

This event will help to connect Nepali business leadership with leading Indian business executives and prospective investors where the discussion on the potential projects and investments could be discussed, a delegation of NICCI said to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal.

The delegation led by NICCI's President Sunil KC called on FM Khanal on Thursday.

It called for an expansion of Nepal's diplomatic footprint in India, proposing the establishment of Consulate General Offices or Trade Representative Offices in Mumbai and Bangalore.

The recommendation drew on current trade figures — approximately 80 per cent of Nepal's exports are directed to India, 60 per cent of imports originate from India, and around 85 per cent of third-country trade transits through Indian ports including Kolkata, Haldia, and Visakhapatnam.

"NICCI also aims to organize Nepal-India Partnership Summit in close coordination with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal, and other concerned line ministries and private sector industries from both countries," it said in a statement.

The delegation also requested to operationalize a dedicated economic diplomacy mechanism with structured private sector participation, focused on export promotion, investment outreach, and tourism branding.

Formation of a Foreign Investors' Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also proposed to coordinate with diplomatic missions and facilitate inbound investment.

NICCI also informed FM Khanal of its plans to establish a Contact Office in New Delhi to support investment promotion, trade facilitation, and tourism outreach, and sought the backing of the Government of Nepal and the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.

Minister Khanal appreciated the idea of Investor’s Council and diplomatic footprint to expand in India.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 May 2026.