Mr. ​Kunal Kayal is a dynamic business leader, financial strategist, and investor with an extensive portfolio spanning banking, insurance, energy, and infrastructure. Currently serving as the Vice President of the Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), he works at the forefront of bilateral economic cooperation and entrepreneurial development. With a strong foundation as an All India Merit Rank Chartered Accountant and former banker having worked as an Acting C.E.O. of a regional development bank, Kunal brings a deeply analytical and highly strategic approach to corporate governance and large-scale growth.  

​He currently holds the position of Chairman across multiple high-impact enterprises, including Sanima GIC Insurance Limited, Surya Energy limited, Upper Deumai Hydro Limited, and Nepal Infrastructure Development Company Limited. He is also a key driver of expansion within the manufacturing and industrial sectors through the family-owned Keyal Group. Keyal group is one of the leading groups in Nepal with many industries under its roof, namely, Narayani Steels, Bikki Hardware, AAC Blocksetc etc.

Mr. Kunal believes that uplifting modern startup ecosystems and sustainable technology—from renewable energy and carbon-offset initiatives to advanced digital infrastructure—is essential for regional competitiveness.  

​Mr. Kunal is also the Honorary Consul of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Kathmandu, his work is driven by a mission to place strategic investment, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable innovation at the heart of Nepal's economic strategy.

Sunil KC is the President of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI), where he has led the apex bi-national chamber to facilitate trade, transit, and investment between Nepal and India since 2024.

Sunil was previously the Vice President of NICCI, where he served for five years and played a pivotal role in advancing cross-border partnerships. A young entrepreneur and Track II diplomacy advocate with deep expertise in the Public-Private Partnership landscape. Sunil oversees significant infrastructure and energy companies, serving as Director of High Himal Hydro Construction, Nepal’s No. 1 EPC Hydro Contractor, and Singati Hydro Energy Limited, the latter of which successfully connected a 25 MW Run-of-the-River project to the national grid in 2021. He is also an Executive Director at Mountain Infra Company Limited, the first public limited construction firm in Nepal. Additionally, he founded the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) in 2014, growing it into one of Nepal’s most respected independent think tanks, and established the Asian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AIAI) as the subsidiary of AIDIA in 2025. Since 2017, he has been the Founder and Managing Director of Himalaya Vista International Trading and founded Himalaya Vista Consultancy, a business consultancy firm operating in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Western Balkans.

Before his current leadership roles, Sunil started his career at the age of 13 as a reporter for Radio Swargadwari FM in Ghorahi, Dang, and later co-founded Radio Tulsipur FM 100.2 MHz, a community radio station. He served as a Visiting Faculty Member at Mid-West University and as an Advisor to the President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries. He currently serves on the Board as a think tank member of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board and the Executive Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, an apex body of Nepalese Private Sector Business fraternity, where he served as an advisor for International Investment Promotion earlier and is an Advisor to Obeetee Nepal, a subsidiary of Obeetee India, No.1 Hand Knitted Carpet manufacturer in India as well as the Advisor for Asian Affairs at EDU Intergovernmental in Brussels since 2016. His articles have been published in leading newspapers across South Asia, and he has also written more than a dozen popular Nepalese modern songs.

Sunil grew up in Dang, Asia’s largest valley, and is a Political Science scholar with an Honours degree.

PUBLICATIONS

Policy & Investment Analysis

 Nepal-India Energy Cooperation on the eve of PM Dahal’s India Visit, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).

Making BIMSTEC a regional vehicle for Nepal’s economic growth, East-West Center (Asia Pacific Bulletin No. 559).

Go digital on diplomacy, MyRepublica.

FDI post Covid-19, MyRepublica.

Mr. Karan Kumar Chaudhary is Managing Director at Arun Intercontinental Traders (CG Holdings).

Mr. Gaurav Tayal is the Vice President of Nepal India Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He is the Managing Director of Surya Nepal Private Limited. Gaurav Tayal joined the Company as Chief Operating Officer in October 2025 and took charge as its Managing Director in December 2025. He is also the Chairman of Surya Nepal Ventures Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, Gaurav has over 22 years of experience in manufacturing, design and engineering projects, business excellence, new product scale-up and commercialization, and supply chain operations.

Mr. Tayal joined ITC Limited in June 2003 and has worked across multiple businesses in the FMCG sector, handling several senior management roles. Prior to being deputed to Nepal, Gaurav was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Matches & Agarbatti Strategic Business Unit (SBU) of ITC Limited, India.

Mr. Barnan Lamichhane is an energy and infrastructure professional with experience in renewable energy development, investment, and business strategy. He currently serves as Director of BG Group Pvt. Ltd. and 9.9 MW Habitat Power Company Limited. He also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the 65 MW Nar Khola Hydropower Project and is actively engaged in advancing private sector participation in Nepal’s energy industry.

Beyond his energy sector portfolio, Mr. Lamichhane is the Founder and Managing Director of Nexus Holdings Pvt. Ltd., an investment company focused on renewable energy, healthcare digitization, agriculture, hospitality, technology, education, and other high-impact sectors. Through Nexus Holdings, he promotes innovation, sustainable investment, and long-term economic development in Nepal.

Mr. Lamichhane holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kathmandu University and an MBA from Texas Tech University in the United States. Before taking on his current engagements in Nepal, he gained professional experience in cybersecurity and enterprise technology in the United States.

Drawing on his diverse experience in energy, digital transformation, and technology-driven business solutions, he is committed to strengthening Nepal’s business and trade ecosystem. He contributes to collaboration among developers, investors, policymakers, and technology partners to improve investment conditions, accelerate infrastructure development, and support the sustainable growth of Nepal’s overall business environment.

Mr. Ashik Shrestha is a Director at Panchakanya Group; a highly reputed building materials manufacturer with over 54 years of operations in the Nepalese market.
Apart from his professional endeavors, he also serves as a board member at Plast Nepal Foundation; a non-profit body that lobbies for sustainable policies for the plastics industry in Nepal.

Mr. Ramesh Sharma is the Honorary Consul of the Kyrgyz Republic in Kathmandu.

Mr. Shashi Kant Agrawal is the Honorary Consulate of Ecuador in Kathmandu.