Koshi Investment Summit to be held on May 1 and 2

By Shashidhar Parajuli,Biratnagar, Apr. 17: The Koshi Province Investment Summit which had been postponed for some time due to technical preparations is now set to take place next month. 

The provincial government has decided to hold the investment summit on the 18 and 19 of Baisakh (May 1 and 2) in the provincial capital, Biratnagar. 

It informed at a press conference on Wednesday that preparations for the summit have already begun.

The provincial government announced that 54 projects have been selected to be proposed to investors during the summit. An investment of Rs. 139 billion has been proposed for the implementation of these projects.

To ensure the success of the Koshi Province Investment Summit 2025, the government has formed a dedicated secretariat to manage and coordinate the event. The secretariat held a press conference on Wednesday in Biratnagar to brief the media about the preparations.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, stated that this is the first-ever investment summit at the provincial level and emphasised that it is in the broader interest of the province and led by the province itself. He mentioned that, based on three main priorities, the government selected 54 proposals out of over 125 received to be showcased at the summit.

He further explained that investment would be sought for projects prepared by the government, those operating under public-private partnerships, and those developed by local governments. Chief Minister Karki stated that the government would only propose projects that are feasible for implementation. Although many proposals have been received in the agriculture sector, those that cannot be implemented immediately have been set aside for now.

Likewise, Provincial Secretary and Summit Coordinator, Pawan Kumar Timilsina, said that preparations for the investment summit have been intensified. He emphasised the summit’s importance in capital formation through industrial development, poverty alleviation, and employment generation. 

“The summit will lay the foundation for mobilising domestic, private, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), as well as modern technology and knowledge within the province,” he said.

Saroj Koirala, Executive Director of the Koshi Province Investment Authority, announced that projects related to tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy, information technology, and urban waste management have been prioritised for showcasing at the summit. He said, “We are in continuous discussion and negotiation with investors to move forward with projects that can be implemented immediately.”

According to Koirala, the provincial government has proposed Rs. 35.97 billion for 15 tourism projects, Rs. 31.01 billion for 14 physical infrastructure projects, Rs. 3.08 billion for nine agro-processing projects, Rs. 65.4 billion for nine industrial development projects, Rs. 2.77 billion for three energy development projects, Rs. 470 million for two information technology projects, and Rs. 600 million for two urban waste management projects.

The provincial government is also showcasing projects such as a brick/block manufacturing industry, the Jhapa–Itahari Town Project, an electric transportation route, the Saptakoshi Resort, Gurans Product Development, Damak IT Park, the Dharan–Mulghat Trunk Line, and the Makalu Himal Tourism Project.

Chief Minister Karki said that it cannot be guaranteed that all proposed projects will attract investment, but the inclusion of some already-advanced projects will make the summit more result-oriented. He also said that the government is working to introduce necessary policy reforms to support this.

Rewati Raman Bhandari, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, said that the government is already working to amend cumbersome legal provisions before the investment summit through a one-stop service approach. 

He informed that the government is preparing to amend seven existing acts via ordinances and introduce one new act. He also said that industries and businesses that generate significant employment will be offered incentives such as fee waivers and subsidies on advance tax payments.