Kathmandu, 20 Sep: Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has urged Indian investors, industrialists and business leaders to invest in Nepal. Addressing an interaction organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, he called on Indian businesses to explore and expand investment and trade opportunities in Nepal. He also said that the present time is suitable for investment in Nepal.
Speaking at the interaction held on the third and final day of his three-day visit to India, Minister Wagle invited Indian businesses to participate in Nepal’s economic transformation, highlighting emerging investment opportunities in the country. He expressed the government’s commitment to providing significant investment opportunities in sectors with high growth potential.
He urged Indian companies already operating in Nepal to expand their investments and encouraged new investors to explore the Nepali market.
Minister Wagle said the Nepal government is advancing an agenda focused on good governance, economic prosperity, investment facilitation and structural economic transformation. He also briefed participants on the government’s efforts to accelerate policy reforms and create a more predictable, transparent and investor-friendly business environment.
“Digitalization, clean energy, high-value agriculture, wellness tourism and manufacturing based on the concept of production partnerships are emerging as important drivers of Nepal’s economy,” Minister Wagle said. “We want Indian businesses to view Nepal not merely as a market, but as a strategic partner for investment, production, value addition and integration into regional and global supply chains.”
The finance minister said recent government measures through the annual budget, tax reforms and investor-friendly policy initiatives are aimed at improving the business environment, removing investment barriers and facilitating private-sector-led economic growth.
He particularly emphasized the significant potential for Nepal-India economic cooperation in investment, manufacturing, energy, tourism, agriculture, the digital economy and other emerging sectors.
Minister Wagle also noted that the long-standing economic relationship between Nepal and India provides a strong foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Indian business leaders and CII members participating in the interaction sought information about trade and investment opportunities in Nepal. Participants also discussed potential areas of cooperation with the finance minister and sought further information about Nepal’s investment policies, incentives, sector-specific opportunities and business environment.
The interaction was attended by Sanjiv Puri, former president of CII and chairman and managing director of ITC Limited; Dr. Naresh Trehan, chairman of Global Health Limited (Medanta); Ravikant Jaipuria, founder chairman of Varun Beverages; and Rahul Mittal, chairman of RITES, among other business leaders.
