Kathmandu, Nov. 5
The Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the World Bank
Group have deliberated on the state of Nepal’s private sector, investment
opportunities, and current challenges.
NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal expressed his
views on the current economic situation of the country, the economic impact
following the ‘Gen Z Movement’, the investment climate, necessary policy and
legal reforms, and the prospects for sustainable economic development.
He said that Nepal is among the richest countries in
South Asia in terms of natural resources. “Through the exploration and
effective utilisation of the country’s abundant natural resources, the
foundation for long-term economic prosperity can be established,” he said.
According to him, the goal is not only to graduate
Nepal from the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), but also to
establish it as the country with the highest per capita income in South Asia.
He further noted that Nepal’s 57 per cent youth
workforce, low production costs, favourable climate, and assured investment
returns make the country an attractive destination for foreign investment.
He emphasised that there is tremendous potential for
investment in physical infrastructure, agriculture, hydropower, tourism,
mining, herbs, and medicinal plants, and stressed the need to ensure policy
clarity and foster an investment-friendly environment in these sectors.
Likewise, Agrawal mentioned that although the Gen Z
Movement had an impact on the economy, the morale of the private sector remains
high. He also urged the World Bank to reassess its projection of Nepal’s
post-movement economic growth rate at 2.1 per cent, arguing that it does not
reflect the real situation.
During the discussion, chairpersons of various NCC
committees and business representatives presented issues, challenges, and
recommendations for reforms related to agriculture, information technology,
land and housing, energy, tourism, and the service sector.
World Bank Group representative Marcin Piątkowski
emphasised the need to focus on institutional reforms, investment promotion,
policy harmonisation, and innovation to strengthen Nepal’s private sector. The
World Bank also presented a working paper outlining investment opportunities in
Nepal, with a particular focus on policy stability and enhancing implementation
capacity.
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