PM Oli asks investors to invest confidently

By Our Correspondent,Biratnagar, May 2: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged both domestic and foreign investors to invest in Nepal with confidence citing that the country has favourable environment for investment. 

Inaugurating the Koshi Investment Summit, 2025 organised by the Koshi Provincial government on Thursday, Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal is suitable for investment in various sectors in many ways. 

He also called on the administrative sector to focus on mobilising both external and internal investments. 

“This is a time when infrastructure has already been developed, so you can invest without hesitation. The government will not let any problem arise from its side regarding investments,” he said.

“Koshi Province is connected with infrastructure development and road networks. By the time your production reaches the market, we will have completed the Asian Standard six-lane East-West Highway. We can also import raw materials. So we can explore new possibilities in every sector,” the Prime Minister said. 

Stating that there would be no obstruction in bringing goods into or exporting goods out of the country, he assured that roads have been built to transport the products through various corridors and border points of Koshi Province. Airports including Biratnagar will be expanded,” he added. 

He further said, “Along with cultural, religious and touristic areas, the Himalayas including Sagarmatha and regions rich in herbs are located here. The people of Koshi are educated and hardworking. Therefore, there is immense potential for investment here.”

Prime Minister Oli said that if the decade of entrepreneurship is celebrated, the decade of employment would be successful. 

He added, “I would like to tell the youth not to wander in search of jobs, but to engage in entrepreneurship. The government will support ideas, training and cooperation.”

Urging the global branding of Mount Everest by its original name, ‘Sagarmatha’, Prime Minister Oli said there is no need to keep calling it ‘Mount Everest.’

He also informed investors that the government is clear about ensuring respect for labour, dialogue between employers and workers and protecting trade union rights as per the standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). 

Chief Minister of Koshi Province Hikmat Kumar Karki said that the Koshi Province government is ready to secure investment of investors and the private sector. 

He said that the provincial government has amended eight different laws through ordinances to secure investments in Koshi Province and end the hassles for investment. 

Chief Minister Karki said that the private sector has become enthusiastic about the investment summit. 

He said that 71 projects from eight different sectors have been showcased at the ongoing investment summit in Koshi Province. 

He said that the projects were selected after continuous coordination and discussions with the private sector for a year. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Madhes Province Satish Kumar Singh, who was present at the Summit, stressed on the need of developing industry and tourism sectors to prevent the increasing trend of youth going abroad for foreign employment.

Stating that the country will lag behind if we fail to prevent youth from going abroad by investing in industry and tourism, he said that employment opportunities should be created for youth within the country by increasing investment in tourism and industry.

Karnali Province Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel said that like Koshi Province, Karnali is also prosperous in many ways. 

He said that he had learned many things from the Investment Summit organised by Koshi Province.

On the occasion, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal urged the government to declare an investment decade to boost investment in the country and to formulate and implement a unified investment law.

He expressed the view that the next 10 years should be declared as an investment decade, laws related to investment, including forest, environment and land, should be unified and an integrated investment code should be formulated.

Stating that policy stability is necessary for investment and economic development, he said that the issue of investment facilitation should be given priority in the upcoming budget and monetary policy.

According to the organiser, a knowledge sharing session has been conducted with the participation of investors and experts at the Koshi Province Investment Summit. 

Similarly, thematic sessions will be conducted on Friday. Investors will participate in these thematic sessions according to their needs, said the organiser.