Nepal-Qatar Joint Business Council meeting to be held in Kathmandu

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Aug 31: Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), and Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber, held a meeting in Qatar.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening economic and business relations and mutual cooperation between Nepal and Qatar. At the meeting, Dhakal stated that they had agreed to hold the next meeting of the Nepal-Qatar Joint Business Council (JBC) in Kathmandu soon, according to the press note of FNCCI President Dhakal.

He noted that the Nepal-Qatar Joint Business Council (JBC) has become a crucial mechanism for promoting trade and investment between the two countries and emphasised the need to finalise the membership list promptly to make it more effective.

Praising Qatar's support in establishing the JBC, Dhakal urged Qatari investors to invest in Nepal, highlighting the abundant investment opportunities available. "There are investment opportunities in many sectors in Nepal. I invite Qatari investors to invest in hydropower, solar energy, information technology, fintech and agriculture-based industries," he said. 

Dhakal also stressed the FNCCI's ongoing digital transformation and mentioned that collaboration with the Qatar Chamber in this area would be important. He proposed sharing knowledge on AI-based business facilitation tools, blockchain-based trade documentation systems, and digital platforms for business matching and investment promotion. "Your support, based on Qatar's experience in adopting advanced digital technology, will be an invaluable help in making the FNCCI a modern, technology-friendly organisation," he said.

During the meeting, Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani stated that the JBC mechanism would be finalised and made more effective. Dhakal reported that Al Thani also committed to taking the initiative to strengthen economic and business relations with Nepal and to continue such meetings and discussions.

Meanwhile, Dhakal also invited the Qatar Chamber and Qatari business community to participate in the Nepal International Economic Summit (NIES) scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in February next year. He informed that a special ‘Qatar-focused investment session’ is being prepared for the summit to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

"The Nepal-Qatar partnership can be elevated to new heights through investment, innovation and cooperation. There is great potential to increase access for Nepali agricultural products, such as tea, coffee, cardamom, herbs and processed foods, to the Qatari market," he said. FNCCI President Dhakal proposed collaboration on certification, standardisation and joint branding initiatives for these products to meet international standards. High-ranking officials and businesspeople of Qatar Chamber, including Chairman Al Thani, attended the meeting.