Kathmandu: Nepal has secured foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments worth Rs 33.092 billion for 236 projects in the current fiscal year up to mid-September. The investment pledges encompass a diverse range of sectors and project sizes, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to attract foreign capital.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Department of Industry’s report covering the months of Saun (mid-July to mid-August) and Bhadau (mid-August to mid-September) reveals that the commitments include 225 small-scale, four medium-scale, and seven large-scale projects. This demonstrates a broad interest in Nepal’s economic potential across varying scales of business.
In terms of sector-wise investment, the Information Technology (IT) sector has attracted the highest number of investment commitments, with 120 projects totaling Rs 562.754 million. This indicates a growing interest in Nepal’s IT industry, which is seen as a key area for future growth.
Meanwhile, the agricultural sector leads in terms of promised investment amount, with Rs 21.598 billion pledged for nine projects. This highlights the significance of agriculture in Nepal’s economy and the potential opportunities for growth in this sector.
Other sectors that have received investment commitments include manufacturing, with Rs 1.24 billion for 12 projects; energy, with Rs 182.55 million for one project; services, with Rs 2.815 billion for 15 projects; and tourism, with Rs 6.692 billion for 79 projects. These commitments reflect a balanced interest across various sectors, catering to different aspects of the country’s economy.
In addition to securing investment commitments, the Department of Industry facilitated visa arrangements for 409 foreign investors, 60 investor representatives, and 107 dependents in the past two months. This demonstrates the country’s proactive approach in accommodating foreign investors and their teams.
To date, the Department of Industry has approved a total of 7,475 projects, with a cumulative foreign investment commitment of Rs 684.51 billion. This underscores Nepal’s ongoing efforts to foster a conducive environment for foreign investment, contributing to the country’s economic development.