Auto entrepreneurs of the country officially launched the Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) on Wednesday, April 16, with a  message: "Empowering Growth through Mobility." 

The event, held in Kathmandu, brought together key stakeholders from across Nepal’s automobile and mobility ecosystem — including industry leaders, policymakers, and private sector representatives.

The event was chaired by Ritu Singh Vaidya, the first chairperson of NAIMA and notably, the first woman to lead a national automotive association in Nepal. In her keynote address, Vaidya outlined NAIMA’s vision, mission, and strategic goals, emphasizing the association’s ambition to reshape the sector through policy advocacy, sustainable innovation, and stakeholder collaboration.

“NAIMA serves as a unified platform for representation, strategic collaboration, development, and advocacy — voicing the collective interests of Nepal’s mobility sector at both national and international levels,” said Vaidya.

She outlined NAIMA’s mission to support “Mobility for All,” focusing on five foundational pillars: Mobility Solution for All, Safety and Infrastructural Enhancement, Policy and Regulatory Advocacy, Human Capital & Industry Best Practices and Consumer Empowerment & Shared Mobility.

Vaidya described NAIMA as a non-political, consensus-driven organization, founded on voluntary leadership and mutual agreement, with no plans to hold elections.

The association’s founding board includes leading figures from Nepal’s automotive industry, such as Suhrid Raj Ghimire, Shekhar Golchha, Cabinet Shrestha, Saurabh Jyoti, Sandeep Kumar Sharda, Nirakar Shrestha, Yamuna Shrestha, Nikunj Agrawal, Hemant Golchha and Udayan Kabra.

A key announcement at the event was the upcoming Nepal Mobility Expo, slated for August 6–10, 2025, at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu. Organizers say the event will be the largest mobility exhibition ever held in the country.

Gaurav Sharda, a member of NAIMA’s auto show committee, unveiled the official logo and dates of the expo, managed by Media Space Solutions. The exhibition will feature thematic zones, a wide range of exhibitors, and a call for industry-wide participation.

In closing remarks, founding board member Suhrid Raj Ghimire reaffirmed the association’s long-term vision.

“This is more than a beginning—it’s a movement,” he said.