CNI Meetings Foreign Minister Nepal For Economic Diplomacy & Policy Reforms
24th July 2025, Kathmandu
In a significant display of proactive engagement, the newly elected leadership of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has initiated high-level dialogues with key government officials, underscoring the private sector’s crucial role in shaping Nepal’s economic future.
CNI Meetings Foreign Minister Nepal
Separate meetings were held with the esteemed Hon. Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, focusing on critical reforms, investment promotion, and national economic growth strategies. These discussions highlight the CNI’s commitment to fostering a collaborative environment between the government and the private sector to achieve ambitious national development goals.
Strengthening Economic Diplomacy and Attracting FDI
During the meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, CNI President Mr. Birendra Raj Pandey passionately articulated the imperative for strengthening Nepal’s economic diplomacy. He emphasized a fundamental truth: Nepal’s development aspirations cannot be realized solely through domestic investment. This statement resonates deeply in a globalized world where foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a transformative role in accelerating economic progress, introducing new technologies, and creating employment opportunities.
Mr. Pandey stressed the urgent need to cultivate a legal, policy-based, and genuinely business-friendly environment to effectively attract FDI. This involves not just revising existing statutes but creating a comprehensive ecosystem that reassures foreign investors of stability, transparency, and ease of doing business. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of developing a country-specific economic strategy, a tailored approach that leverages Nepal’s unique strengths and opportunities. To amplify these efforts, Mr. Pandey urged the effective mobilization of Nepal’s embassies and diplomatic missions abroad, transforming them into proactive conduits for promoting Nepali products and services in international markets, thereby boosting exports and enhancing the nation’s global economic footprint.
Reiterating CNI’s ambitious vision, President Pandey reaffirmed the organization’s strategic goal of expanding the size of Nepal’s economy to USD 100 billion and achieving a sustained double-digit economic growth within the next decade. These targets, while audacious, reflect the CNI’s confidence in Nepal’s potential and its belief in the transformative power of a robust private sector. He expressed strong confidence in the government’s willingness to provide the necessary support and facilitation to help achieve these pivotal targets.
Foreign Minister Dr. Deuba, in a responsive and encouraging tone, acknowledged the CNI’s concerns and assured the delegation of the government’s unwavering commitment. She confirmed that legal and policy reforms to enhance both domestic and foreign investment are a top priority for the administration. Dr. Deuba noted that several key laws have already undergone necessary amendments, and others are actively in the revision process, signaling tangible progress. She explicitly recognized the private sector’s indispensable role in driving economic development and pledged the government’s commitment to actively addressing the challenges faced by industries and businesses.
Prioritizing Reforms and Promoting Domestic Products
The CNI team also held a productive meeting with Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal. Chief Secretary Aryal extended his congratulations to the newly elected CNI team, reaffirming the government’s understanding of the private sector’s pivotal role. He underscored that the national economy simply cannot progress without the active involvement and robust contribution of industries and the private sector. This acknowledgment from the highest administrative office signifies a crucial alignment in vision between the government and the industrial community.
Highlighting the government’s proactive stance, Chief Secretary Aryal affirmed that legal and policy reforms aimed at boosting private sector investment are receiving the highest priority. In a significant disclosure, he shared that the government is actively preparing to amend approximately 120 laws related to the economy, industrial development, and the vital forest sectors. This comprehensive legislative overhaul is poised to create a more conducive and predictable regulatory environment for businesses. He urged the CNI to provide specific, sector-wise recommendations, emphasizing the importance of detailed input from the private sector to ensure that these reforms effectively support overall economic growth and industrial expansion.
In a move aimed at bolstering local industries and promoting self-reliance, Chief Secretary Aryal further informed the CNI delegation about a new directive. This directive actively promotes the use of domestically produced goods in public institutions. This initiative is designed to create a consistent demand for Nepalese products, thereby supporting local manufacturing and contributing to national economic self-sufficiency. Building on this, he revealed plans to amend the Public Procurement Act to make the use of domestic goods mandatory in government purchases. This proposed amendment is a powerful step towards prioritizing national products and channeling public expenditure to strengthen domestic industries.
The meetings saw the presence of other key CNI officials, including Vice Presidents Mr. Raj Bahadur Shah and Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal, Executive Member Mr. Sandeep Sharda, Ms. Bidushi Rana, and Director General Dr. Ghanshyam Ojha. Their collective presence underscored the unified voice of the Nepalese private sector in advocating for a dynamic and investor-friendly economic landscape.
These high-level discussions signify a constructive dialogue between the government and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, setting a collaborative tone for tackling economic challenges and unlocking Nepal’s immense potential. The CNI’s strong advocacy for economic diplomacy, FDI attraction, and comprehensive policy reforms, coupled with the government’s demonstrated commitment to facilitating private sector growth and promoting domestic products, paints an optimistic picture for Nepal’s economic trajectory in the coming decade.
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