Kathmandu: Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has described the automobile sector as one of the key pillars of the economy. While inaugurating the 18th edition of the NADA Auto Show 2026 here today, the Vice President further said the automobile sector has become an integral part of Nepal’s economy. “The NADA will succeed in charting a clear and effective roadmap for Nepal’s economic development, advancement and transformation,” the Vice-President said. He was of the view of discouraging the petroleum products and promoting the use of electric vehicles over fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Vice President Yadav applauded the role of the NADA Auto Show in generating entrepreneurship and stressed the need for Nepal to produce automobiles by itself. Advising the NADA to aim at introducing the Nepali automobile sector to the international level, he stated that the government and the private sector should work hand-in-hand to expand related infrastructure, such as charging stations, to build an environment-friendly and technology-friendly Nepal. Vice President Yadav expressed confidence that the expo would help make the Nepali automobile market more vibrant, thereby boosting domestic production and creating employment opportunities.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Anjan Shrestha, stressed the need for the government to formulate programs in a way that would boost the confidence of entrepreneurs when the country’s economy is facing a challenging situation. He noted that last year the automobile sector contributed Rs 81 billion in revenue to the state and expressed the view that the sector, which accounts for about eight to nine percent of the country’s total revenue, should not be seen just as a luxury item. Shrestha pointed out the need to start assembling and producing vehicles and spare parts domestically instead of relying only on imports, emphasizing the development of production-oriented sectors at home to create jobs for the youth.
NADA President Surendra Kumar Upreti highlighted the lack of suitable infrastructure for large exhibitions in Nepal. “Even though the country’s population and economic activity have grown, the exhibition center hasn’t been able to develop. The current site of Bhrikutimandap exhibition ground doesn’t have enough space for displaying trucks, buses, and large equipment, so building an international-level exhibition center in Kathmandu is a need right now,” he added. Upreti urged the government to see the automobile sector not just as a trade in vehicles but to understand its wider economic impact. He stated that considering the growing use of electric vehicles in Nepal, there should be policy clarity and incentives for the development of charging infrastructure and a local ‘assembly’ industry in Nepal.