25th June 2025, Kathmandu
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal, held a meeting on Tuesday with Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India and concurrently Ambassador to Nepal.
Nepal-South Africa Investment Surge
During the meeting held at the FNCCI Secretariat, President Dhakal highlighted the vast potential for South African investors in Nepal, particularly in the development of tourism infrastructure. He urged Ambassador Sooklal to facilitate and encourage South African businesses to invest in Nepal.
He mentioned that although trade between Nepal and South Africa is currently limited, there is strong potential to expand economic relations between the two countries. President Dhakal emphasized the attractive investment opportunities in sectors such as agro-processing, hydropower, infrastructure, and information technology in Nepal. He also stressed that tourism is Nepal’s most naturally gifted sector. “Nepal’s unique geography allows one to travel from the lowland Terai region to scenic high-altitude hills within an hour,” he said, adding, “This makes Nepal an ideal destination for investments in resorts, wellness centers, adventure tourism, and eco-tourism infrastructure.”
FNCCI also expressed its commitment to always support trade delegations, exchange market information, and provide necessary facilitation. President Dhakal informed that, with the active involvement of FNCCI, the Government of Nepal recently amended 30 different laws related to investment.
These reforms have made foreign investment processes simpler and have facilitated profit repatriation. He also mentioned that, following FNCCI’s initiative, the government has approved a draft of a bilateral investment agreement, which is expected to provide a more trustworthy environment for foreign investors.
On the occasion, Ambassador Prof. Anil Sooklal expressed his commitment to further strengthening trade and investment relations between South Africa and Nepal. He pointed out that there is great potential for collaboration, especially in the tourism sector. “Tourism is one area where South Africa and Nepal can work together and achieve notable progress.
Just as South Africa is known for wildlife tourism, Nepal’s diverse geography, biodiversity, and cultural heritage are equally exceptional. We must work together to promote tourism in both countries,” he said.
Currently, Nepal imports grains, fruits, beverages, and machinery from South Africa, while exports from Nepal include carpets, ready-made garments, and iron-related products. Both parties expressed confidence that this meeting would contribute to making Nepal–South Africa relations more effective and results-oriented.
The meeting was also attended by former FNCCI President and Honorary Consul of South Africa to Nepal, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha.
For more:- Nepal-South Africa Investment Surge