Koshi Hosts First Provincial Investment Summit

The Koshi Province Investment Summit commenced Thursday, May 1, marking a historic first—no other provincial government has organized such an event since Nepal adopted federalism over a decade ago.

The two-day summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and is set to spotlight 71 investment-ready projects spanning sectors including tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Saroj Koirala, Executive Director of the Investment Authority, had earlier told Arthik Abhiyan, a sister publication of New Business Age, that preparations were complete to ensure the summit’s success. “The aim is not merely to gather investment pledges but to ensure implementation and sustained engagement,” he said.

To improve the investment climate, the provincial government has amended eight key laws through ordinances, covering areas such as public-private partnerships, transportation, cooperatives, industry, and tourism. In addition, a 16-point policy package has been unveiled to build investor confidence.

Rewati Raman Bhandari, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, emphasized that the legal reforms—carried out in coordination with the federal government—are part of a larger effort to eliminate regulatory hurdles and streamline investment procedures.

Foreign investors from China, India, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, along with non-resident Nepalis, are expected to attend the event.

Organizers say intergovernmental coordination and policy coherence will also be key discussion points aimed at creating a more efficient investment ecosystem.

Originally scheduled to be held for three days beginning January 24, the summit was later postponed citing incomplete preparations.

Notably, the third edition of the national-level Investment Summit held a year ago exposed systemic hurdles in Nepal's efforts to attract domestic and foreign investments.

Despite the participation of over 2,500 attendees, including more than 800 foreign delegates, none of the 12 government-proposed projects secured investment commitments, raising concerns about the event's effectiveness.

The two-day event, held on April 28 and 29, aimed to attract funding for projects spanning sectors such as hydropower, infrastructure, tourism, and healthcare. However, not a single foreign investor submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), and two domestic firms that applied were disqualified during evaluation due to non-compliance with project criteria.

The Koshi Province Investment Summit commenced Thursday, May 1, marking a historic first—no other provincial government has organized such an event since Nepal adopted federalism over a decade ago.

Foreign investors from China, India, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, along with non-resident Nepalis, are expected to attend the event.

Organizers say intergovernmental coordination and policy coherence will also be key discussion points aimed at creating a more efficient investment ecosystem.

Originally scheduled to be held for three days beginning January 24, the summit was later postponed citing incomplete preparations.

Notably, the third edition of the national-level Investment Summit held a year ago exposed systemic hurdles in Nepal's efforts to attract domestic and foreign investments.