Mr. Keshab Man Singh
Director General, Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI)
Mr. Keshab Man Singh has been an integral part of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) since mid-1996, joining as Executive Manager during the tenure of NICCI’s Founding President, Mr. Prabhakar SJB Rana. Starting from scratch, he played a pivotal role in transforming NICCI into a dynamic and impactful binational chamber. Through decades of dedication—navigating both challenges and opportunities—he now serves as the Director General.
Before joining NICCI, Mr. Singh gained over 11 years of experience in various capacities under senior Indian and Nepali officials during the 1980s at Nepal Orind Magnesite Pvt. Ltd. (NOMPL)—a Rs. 3 billion joint venture between the Government of Nepal and Orissa Industries Ltd. This mining-based project, located in Lamosangu, Sindhupalchowk, was based on a 300-year magnesite reserve at Kharidhunga, Dolakha, with the mining and factory sites connected by ropeway. The plant utilized advanced hybrid technology from Germany, the USA, and Japan across three key processes to produce dead burnt magnesite (DBM) for full export and talc powder for local and Indian markets—both with 100% value addition in Nepal. The project also aimed to eventually export refractory bricks globally, catering to furnaces and kilns, steel and metal processing, power plants, chemical industries, and foundries. Supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), following its feasibility study, along with EXIM Bank of India and leading Nepali financial institutions, the project employed over 300 personnel and engaged thousands during factory and colony construction at both sites and mine development. Mr. Singh ultimately served as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for the project.
Prior to this, he served as CFO at a company involved in the import of Japanese and Italian vehicles, as well as German forestry equipment in Nepal. He also briefly held the position of Chief Executive Officer at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Nepal), and worked as an assistant lecturer at a management college for two years during the 1980s.
Mr. Singh holds Master’s degrees in both Management (MBA) and Economics from the 1980s. Notably, for his MBA thesis on the Magnesite Project, his Viva Voce was uniquely conducted by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, Professor Dr. Ram Prasad Rajbahak, who was deeply interested in the project and devoted several hours to the evaluation at his ministry as the project was under his ministry.
Over the years, Mr. Singh has worked closely with all Presidents of NICCI, including the Founding President Mr. Prabhakar SJB Rana, followed by Mr. Rukma Shumsher Rana, Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary (two terms), Mr. Sanjiv Keshava, Mr. Sashi Raj Pandey, Mr. Saurya SJB Rana (two terms), Mrs. Shreejana Rana (two terms), and currently Mr. Sunil KC, the 8th President under the 11th Elected Executive Committee.
In his long-standing role as Secretariat Chief in various permanent capacities, Mr. Singh has consistently coordinated with government bodies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, NICCI member organizations, fellow binational chambers, and other key stakeholders, contributing significantly to NICCI’s continued growth and influence.
