The rapid growth of online businesses in Nepal has led to a parallel surge in the courier industry, with entrepreneurs crediting e-commerce for driving a significant expansion in delivery services.

According to Durga Prasad Subedi, President of the Courier Service Association of Nepal (COSAN), the courier sector has experienced an estimated 25 percent growth, largely fueled by the increasing popularity of online shopping.

“Courier companies facilitate the delivery of goods ordered online and receive a commission in return,” Subedi said. “This arrangement has proven beneficial for those involved in the courier industry.”

Currently, 72 courier companies are officially registered and affiliated with COSAN. These companies deliver a wide variety of items—from essential documents to clothing and food—both within Nepal and internationally.

One such entrepreneur is Tilak Karki, who founded Pacific Freight Nepal Pvt. Ltd. in Kathmandu’s Thamel in 2017, after working in the sector for 17 years. Recalling the early days of his business, Karki said, “When I started, online orders were minimal. Most of our work involved transporting official documents between government offices. The workload was much lighter compared to what it is today.”

He noted that the landscape has since changed dramatically. “Nowadays, consumers are ordering a wide range of products online. The number of online vendors has grown significantly, and as a result, the courier business has expanded rapidly.”

Entrepreneurs from outside the capital are also tapping into the online marketplace. Antima Shrestha, owner of Fusion Fashion , a boutique in Khairhani Municipality, Chitwan, said she uses social media platforms such as TikTok to market her products and relies on courier services to fulfill orders across Nepal and abroad.

“Customers from all over Nepal and even from countries like Australia, Japan, and Denmark place online orders,” Shrestha said. “Since I cannot deliver them personally, I rely entirely on courier companies for shipping.”

She added that without online platforms, her customer base would have remained limited to the local area. “Thanks to social media and courier services, I’ve been able to reach a global clientele,” she said.

Shrestha emphasized the mutual dependence between the courier and e-commerce sectors. “The growth of one directly supports the other,” she remarked.