WASHINGTON DC: Foreign Minister NP Saud, who is presently on an official visit to the United States of America, has urged the US business community to invest in Nepal, citing that Nepal offers better investment opportunities.
Minister Saud said that Nepal has created an investment-friendly environment, including constitutional provisions that allow foreign investors to take back profits and capital to their home countries. The foreign minister assured the US investors that the Government of Nepal is dedicated to further promoting an investment-friendly atmosphere and making Nepal an attractive destination for investment.
During an interaction with the members of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC on Wednesday, he urged the US business community to consider expanding investment in Nepal. He talked about the high potential for exporting electricity generated in Nepal to neighbouring countries when there is a growing need to promote the use of clean energy to reduce carbon emissions. In this situation, the US investors are likely to make good profits by investing in Nepal, according to the Minister.
Describing information technology as another promising area for American investment in Nepal, he said, "I am confident that IT will be a game changer in Nepal's economic transformation.'
He informed the Chamber representatives that the government has already introduced a new policy allowing the establishment of an IT company with an investment of as low as Rs 100, while other sectors require a minimum investment of Rs 20 million. "Nepal has ensured that investments of up to Rs 100 million do not require prior permission as per an automated system for foreign investment."
On the occasion, the US Chamber of Commerce endorsed the establishment of American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal.
John G Murphy, Senior Vice President for International Policy, US Chamber of Commerce and another Vice President Atul Kashyap said the concerns of US investors regarding Nepal were growing.
The US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R Thompson, Nepali Ambassador to the US, Sridhar Khatri, officials from the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC and the Foreign Ministry employees were also present at the event.
Earlier on Wednesday, Minister Saud met with Senator Chris Van Hollen. During the meeting with a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, the Minister discussed various aspects of the Nepal-US bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of the exchange of parliamentary experiences between the two nations, according to the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC.
In recent years, Nepal has accorded top priority to economic diplomacy and mobilised its diplomatic missions abroad to promote foreign investment and tourism back home.
