KATHMANDU: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has stressed that prosperity should not be confined to a privileged few, but must reach the broader public.
Speaking at the Rising Nepal Summit 2025 in Kathmandu on Thursday, she underlined the importance of political stability in creating an environment conducive to investment and long-term development.
“Prosperity must serve the general people, not just a handful,” Bhandari said, calling for a holistic approach that integrates employment generation, inclusivity, rural development, women’s empowerment, and environmental responsibility.
Bhandari argued that Nepal’s development cannot be measured solely by current economic indicators, but must be continuously linked to political commitment, social inclusion, adherence to the constitution, and national dignity.
She stressed that the path to prosperity should not be a blind imitation of foreign models, but rather one based on a deep understanding of Nepal’s unique needs, resources, and context.
“Investment is an essential driver of prosperity,” she said, “but the focus must go beyond capital and profit—it must rest on trust and potential.” Political trust and sustained stability, she noted, are the key drivers for fostering domestic and foreign investment.
The former president also stressed that a prosperous Nepal must be self-reliant, and investment promotion must be seen as a means to fulfill the nation’s goals, not just a route to private gain.
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