Shanghai: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that Artificial Intelligence (AI), when democratized, is not just a tool but a global economic force adding that its dividends in productivity and innovation must reach all societies. Addressing the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2025 in Shanghai, China, on Saturday, Minister Gurung said Nepal was committed to open-source collaboration and ethical AI entrepreneurship, and called on governments, academia, and industry to work together for equitable AI development.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Gurung emphasized that Nepal is entering a defining phase of technological transformation, with the National AI Policy nearing final approval. This policy aims to position Nepal as future-ready, leveraging AI for inclusive development, ethical innovation, and global competitiveness. Key initiatives of Nepal’s National AI Policy include establishing a National AI Center to coordinate strategy and governance, AI Excellence Centers in top universities, Provincial AI Innovation Hubs, and integrating AI across sectors such as governance, education, and healthcare.
Minister Gurung highlighted the risk of a growing gap between AI-advanced economies and digitally underserved nations becoming the next frontier of inequality. He called for global partnerships to facilitate compute access, multilingual model development, and talent exchange across the Global South. Nepal strongly supports the UN-led multilateral AI governance mechanism, emphasizing open cooperation, non-militarization, human rights protection, and representation of Global South voices in setting global AI norms.
The Minister also stressed the importance of using AI to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children. He advocated for promoting AI systems that support local and regional languages, ensuring inclusivity and cultural preservation. He urged the global community to incorporate these considerations into the final Action Plan for ethical and equitable AI governance.
Minister Gurung pointed out that Nepal offers clean energy, natural cooling, a skilled youth population, and political will, making it a promising destination for AI research and development centers, data infrastructures, and AI-driven services. He called on global technology leaders, venture capitalists, and development partners to collaborate in Nepal’s AI-powered transformation.