FNCCI President Dhakal requests AIIB to invest in Nepal  

Kathmandu, 26 March: Chandra Dhakal, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) requested the AIIB to invest in Nepal.

In a meeting between the board officials of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and private sector representatives in Chandragiri on Tuesday, FNCCI President Dhakal mentioned that Nepal is a country with immense potential for growth and development. The government is serious about streamlining processes and regulations to create a better ‘doing business’ climate, he stated on the occasion.

The meeting specifically dealt with exploring potential investment opportunities in Nepal across various sectors. Issues also included in the talk were how AIIB could contribute the most in sectors like transportation, energy and urban development, among others and how the private sector could contribute to the sustainable development of Nepal.

Dhakal shared with the board officials of AIIB that the Nepali government is in the process of amending 12 Acts so as to improve the investment climate of the country. He further apprised the officials of the government’s plans to sign bilateral investment agreements with potential countries.

Also included in the discussion was the Nepal Investment Summit scheduled for April 28-29. He requested the AIIB delegation to disseminate this information to all member nations. The good aspect of the Investment Summit this time is that the private sector too has been included as co-organisers, he stated. The private sector is now looking for more cooperation and collaboration with institutions like AIIB, he added. Stating that AIIB has already been a key partner in several important projects in Nepal, he expressed eagerness to explore new avenues for collaboration.

Nepal is strategically located between two economic giants, India and China, which means Nepal can provide easy market access to goods produced in Nepal to two of the world’s biggest markets, Dhakal said. He informed the AIIB board officials that the private sector is eager to leverage this potential through strategic partnerships with organisations like AIIB.

Present at the meeting were board officials of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), government officials and private sector representatives.