Pre-Summit event for AI Impact Summit held

Kathmandu, Nov. 21

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu held an event on ‘AI for Inclusive Growth: Building Nepal’s AI Ready Future’ on Friday in partnership with the AI Association of Nepal. The programme has been designated an official pre-Summit event for the AI Impact Summit scheduled in New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026.

In the event inaugurated by Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel, more than 400 participants attended, representing startups, government agencies, business chambers, the Robotics Association of Nepal, NAS IT, the Fintech Alliance, the AI Association of Nepal, academic institutions, think tanks and media organisations.

Minister Kharel said that the government has given top priority to the development and use of AI and has formulated an AI Policy this year.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador of India to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said that the summit aimed to redirect global discussion towards the impact of artificial intelligence across sectors. The Ambassador encouraged Nepali youth to participate in the Summit’s AI challenges, including AI for All, AI for Her and YUVAi.

A keynote presentation from the CEO of the Digital India Bhashini Division Amitabh Nag highlighted Bhashini’s role in delivering digital public services in India, with demonstrations of various development-focused use cases.

On the occasion, participants discussed the development of Nepal’s AI policy, robotics and AI engagement among young people, and the potential role of AI in a digital public infrastructure framework. Representatives from India shared insights from the country’s AI ecosystem, read the statement.

Applications for the global challenges and the Research Symposium of the AI Impact Summit, to be held in February 2026, can be submitted online.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 November 2025.