KATHMANDU: The Banking, Finance and Insurance Institute of Nepal (BFIN), in collaboration with the India-Nepal Centre of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), organized a high-level symposium titled “An Aspiring Nepal: How to Benefit from Economic Reforms?” at the Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu.
The event convened a diverse group of policymakers, economists, business leaders, and experts from Nepal and India to deliberate on Nepal’s economic reform agenda and explore avenues for deeper regional cooperation.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Binod Atreya, Managing Director of BFIN, who set the tone by emphasizing the urgency of economic reforms for Nepal’s future development.
The keynote speech was delivered by Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.
He shared valuable insights from India’s own reform journey and highlighted practical lessons that Nepal could adopt to accelerate its economic transformation. Binod Chaudhary, Member of the House of Representatives and President Emeritus of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), underlined the importance of a strong and dynamic private sector in driving forward meaningful reforms.
The symposium also featured remarks from several high-profile speakers including Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Member of Nepal’s National Planning Commission; Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Nepal; FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal; Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Guru Prasad Paudel; CBFIN President Upendra Prasad Poudel; MD and CEO of Nepal SBI Bank Ram Kumar Tiwari; and Visa Inc.’s Head of Government Engagement for India & South Asia, Anand Jha.
Moderated by Atul K. Thakur, Secretary of the India-Nepal Centre, the panel discussion focused on key areas such as policy innovation, financial sector transformation, and strategies for sustainable economic growth.
The dialogue also addressed the need for inclusive development, improved public-private collaboration, and regional alignment of reform agendas to ensure shared prosperity.
Speakers emphasized that economic reforms hold immense potential to boost Nepal’s economic growth, create employment opportunities, and improve overall sustainability.
They also highlighted the importance of leveraging India-Nepal cooperation to maximize the impact of reform initiatives. The program underscored the need for Nepal to align its policy priorities with regional economic trends and promote inclusive development that benefits all citizens.
The symposium witnessed active participation from senior government officials, corporate executives, academics, and media representatives.
It served as a timely and strategic forum to foster deeper dialogue on economic reform and regional collaboration, marking a significant step toward shaping a more resilient, reform-oriented, and prosperous future for Nepal.
Comment