Potential of AI in Nepal is unlimited: Minister Gurung

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Oct.27: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has said that the potential of AI and robotics to uplift economies, automate industries, and enhance Research and Education is unlimited.

Addressing the Closing remarks of the Inauguration Session of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics on Sunday, Minister Gurung addressed how AI and technologies can boost Nepal toward a brighter, more prosperous future if we properly plan and use it wisely. 

Nepal has a unique opportunity to leverage AI and robotics to support sustainable economic growth, create skilled jobs, and build resilient Digital Ecosystems. The experience from Developed Countries provides a roadmap of possibilities regarding the right policies, partnerships, and investment in technology infrastructure.

"We recognize that these technologies have the power to redefine industrial landscapes and make workplaces safer, more efficient, and more innovative. For Nepal, such advances in industry automation can lead to improved productivity and competitiveness, particularly as we encourage our youth to engage in research, development, and innovation in the field of advanced IT with AI and beyond, " He said. 

Minister Gurung said, "We recognize that these technologies have the power to redefine industrial landscapes and make workplaces safer, more efficient, and more innovative. For Nepal, such advances in industry automation can lead to improved productivity and competitiveness, particularly as we encourage our youth to engage in research, development, and innovation in the field of advanced IT with AI and beyond." 

He said that the aim is to make Nepal an appealing and secure destination for technology investments, which will further solidify our place in the global technology landscape.

Full Speech 

Day1_Speech: Closing remarks of Opening/Inauguration Session

Hon Minister PS Gurung, MOCIT,GoN

 “The Development Visionary leader” Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Government of Nepal KP Sharma Oli ,Program Chair, Dignitaries on Dash, Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen. 

It is my privilege and an honor to address you all at the end of this Grand inauguration session of this Transformative International Conference on AI and Robotics-2024, with the Theme:.”Fueling the Future:The Synergy of AI ,Technology and Innovation in Empowering Today’s Youth”. We are here together to discuss, share, and learn from some of the most groundbreaking advancements in AI, robotics, and emerging technologies that are reshaping the world and empowering youth towards a prosperous future. I would like to welcome foreign delegates and participants in the country of Mount Everest and its beautiful capital city Kathmandu, wish your Pleasant and Wonderful stay in  Nepal and I wish the Grand success of the whole Conference.

Here, I would like to re-iterate the quote by Fei-Fei Li: “I imagine a world in which AI is going to make us work more productively, live longer, and have cleaner energy.” 

As we have heard in this Inauguration speech and keynotes, the potential of AI and robotics to uplift economies, automate industries, and enhance Research and Education is unlimited. Today’s discussions on AI, Youths, and a Prosperous Nepal have highlighted on how these technologies can boost up Nepal toward a brighter, more prosperous future if we properly plan and use it wisely. 

From cutting-edge AI research to innovative applications, Nepal can adopt this global wave of innovation, bridge technological divides and Leap forward to the Hi-Tech domain. AI and robotics have already made tremendous contributions globally. Particularly, in developed economies, where they are leading transformations in industry, governance, education Research and Development of society. Learning from these achievements, Nepal has a unique opportunity to leverage AI and robotics to support sustainable economic growth, create skilled jobs, and build resilient Digital Ecosystems. The experience from Developed Countries provides a roadmap of possibilities regarding the right policies, partnerships, and investment in technology infrastructure. As we reflect on the theme "Robotics and AI for Global Prosperity and Industry Automation," we recognize that these technologies have the power to redefine industrial landscapes and make workplaces safer, more efficient, and more innovative. For Nepal, such advances in industry automation can lead to improved productivity and competitiveness, particularly as we encourage our youth to engage in research, development, and innovation in the field of advanced IT with AI and beyond.

Application of AI for Transformative Change with priority on Customer Service Excellence, Education System and Enhanced Online Services for Good Governance are the need of the Day. These priority areas represent our strong commitment for Technological advancement and improving the lives of all Nepalese citizens through inclusive and equitable digital transformation. A Unified Public-Private Partnership Model-which will help us to pool resources, share expertise, and create a sustainable AI and ICT ecosystem that, benefits all stakeholders. 

We are focused on : Leveraging AI for Prioritized Sectors: Customer service Excellence, A joint effort among Public and Private Sector stakeholders to unlock the potential of AI and advanced ICT industry  with AI, IT Special Economic Zone, Where  AI based ICT industries will be prioritized, laying a strong foundation for AI-driven advancements across sectors, Revolutionizing the IT Industry and Promoting Business Process Outsourcing to create jobs and also channel vital revenue streams into our economy, Building an AI and ICT-Friendly Ecosystem with the preparation for prerequisites necessary for a prosperous and stable digital economy.

Establishing a Dedicated IT Special Economic Zone with Tax and regulatory incentives, State-of-the-art infrastructure, Skills development programs, R&D facilities for fostering innovation, and Support for startups to incubate and accelerate local ventures. Revolutionizing the IT Sector and Creating Employment through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). By attracting foreign companies to outsource their operations to Nepal, we can generate substantial employment opportunities for our skilled youth, stimulating economic growth across the country. Building an AI- and ICT-Friendly Ecosystem for Global Investment with Our long-term strategy to build a safe, stable, and AI-friendly environment that will attract major global investors by Developing supportive policies and frameworks to streamline investment in the AI and ICT sectors, Building a skilled workforce with training programs in AI, data science, and machine learning, Enhancing digital infrastructure to support seamless connectivity and data processing capabilities, Facilitating access to funding for local startups and tech companies, and Fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that encourages new ideas and solutions. As part of this ecosystem, we are also committed to creating an environment that respects data privacy and cyber security. 

Our aim is to make Nepal an appealing and secure destination for technology investments, which will further solidify our place in the global technology landscape.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

To achieve the Vision of advanced ICT Ecosystem with AI and beyond, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) has published a concept paper related to the use and practice of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nepal. National A.I. Policy formulation is in progress. MOCIT has prioritized to revise DNF 1.0 making the Digital Nepal Framework more effective with new digital transformation agendas and its effective implementation, Prioritization on new formulation and radical changes in the existing policies, laws and structures as per the requirement:  Draft of IT and cyber security Act are on the process of revision, National Cyber Security Policy 2080 and established The National Cyber Security Center. Moreover, Social media operation and management directive is under implementation and social media regulation bill is being prepared for secure and responsible use of social Medias. Ministry is working to build digital public infrastructure through the effective implementation of programs in the digital foundation under the Digital Nepal Framework. For the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, digital public infrastructure should be prioritized and the government's policies and programs are also in the same direction. Integration of National Identity Card Management System and Nagarik App is high priority of government for better outreach of e-services to public. Government of Nepal has prioritized to establish information technology hub and knowledge park at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. These will be foundational pillars for implementation of the information technology decade. The government is in the process of creating detail implementation plan. Building a digital ecosystem with sustainable infrastructure is possible only through the collective efforts of all stakeholders rather than the efforts of a single government. Government is ready to address policy, legal and infrastructural hurdles for digital transformation however, private sector has major role in implementation. 

To achieve the target , We need support, ideas, and expertise of everyone in this room and beyond. It is a collective effort, a partnership in every sense, to create an AI- and ICT-friendly environment that can uplift Nepal and set a new standard for technological development in South Asia. Let us join hands, build on our shared ambitions, and work together to establish Nepal as a leading destination for safe and Lucrative IT investments. Together, we can jump in a new digital era for Nepal which empowers our people, strengthens our economy, and position Nepal as a country of technological innovation and digital advancement.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Finally, as a minister of MOCIT, I would like to call for ACTION to all stakeholders to join our HANDS & HEARTS (मन, बचन र कर्म)   together with the strong commitment to make Nepal a new destination for AI-friendly and ICT-friendly environment in Nepal. Let us work together, combining our strengths and shared vision, to elevate Nepal as a major global hub for IT and digital transformation. Let’s invite international investors for secured investment in the IT sector to change the face of Nepal with the development of a vibrant Digital Ecosystem. I would like to invite all of you business leaders, educators, policymakers, investors, and visionaries to join us on this transformative journey. Let’s create a digital ecosystem in Nepal that not only changes lives of the people but also stands as a witness to the incredible power of collaboration and innovation in this 21st century of Advanced Technology. I hope this conference and the commitments here provide a comprehensive roadmap, laying out a vision for Nepal as a global IT and AI hub with clear steps and goals for achieving it.

At last but not the least, let us commit to make Nepal a thriving hub of AI and robotics, innovation with the advancement of ICT as a potential Industry. With the right vision and collaboration among stakeholders Government, Academia, Industry, and youth, we can build a foundation that transforms Nepal’s economy and society for the better. Together, we can realize the promise of AI and robotics to create a more prosperous and equitable future for all. 

Once Again, I would like to wish for the Grand success of the conference and Pleasant stay of the international and national delegates in Kathmandu, Nepal. Thank you for this Grand Opportunity to the Organizer team Robotics Association of Nepal and National Youth Federation Nepal.

 Thank You all !!