FNCCI President Dhakal urges government action for IT sector growth

KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal highlighted Nepal’s information technology (IT) sector's economic growth potential and suggested carrying out industrial development to benefit from this sector.

Speaking at the International ICT Discussion on ‘Positioning Nepal as a Global IT Hub’ in Kathmandu on Saturday, FNCCI President Dhakal emphasised that Nepal should prioritise IT development, drawing inspiration from the rapid progress seen in other countries.

Dhakal pointed out that Nepal’s large youth population actively engages in IT studies and entrepreneurial ventures, making it well-positioned to export IT services. 

In the budget for the forthcoming fiscal year, the government’s recent declaration of the next decade as the ‘IT Decade’ — including plans for establishing an IT park in each province, creation of 1.5 million jobs, and annual IT service exports worth at least Rs 300 billion — underscores the commitment to fostering the sector, Dhakal said. He acknowledged that IT is integral to modern life globally and urged both domestic and foreign investors to tap into Nepal’s IT potential. 

With approximately 500 IT companies already operating in Nepal, proper policies and an investment-friendly environment could lead to exponential growth in the sector, Dhakal opined.