Welcome Address: A New Dawn for Nepal-India Relations

Speaker: Mr. Sunil KC, President, NICCI

Event: Nepal-India Startup Sambad | February 4, 2026

Namaste!

Esteemed Guest Er. Umesh Kumar Gupta ji, Executive Director at Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, our esteemed partners from the Embassy of India, Suman Sekhar Jee, my colleagues at NICCI, friends from the media, and above all - the dreamers, the doers, the young innovators of Nepal!

 (Friends),

We have gathered here today for a "Sambad", a dialogue. But let me tell you, this is not just a normal dialogue, but a Push against stagnation! This is also a Pledge for a prosperous future!

For centuries, the relationship between Nepal and India has been defined by history and culture. We share history, we share religion, and we share an open border. But friends, I ask you today - in the 21st century, is sharing history enough?

No!

The world is changing. The world is not asking "How old is your culture?" The world is asking, "How new is your innovation?" The world is moving from the Industrial Age to the Intelligence Age. And in this new age, Nepal cannot afford to be an observer. Nepal must become a Player!

Look at NICCI. Established in 1993 by visionaries like the late Mr Prabhakar SJB Rana, we have been the premier bi-national chamber for over 30 years. We facilitated trade, we brought investment, and we built hydropower ties that are now aiming for 10,000 MW of export.

But today, NICCI has decided - we will not just rest on past accomplishments. We have adopted a new mantra for 2024-2026: "Bridging the Investment Gap." And let me tell you, the biggest gap today is not in roads or bridges - it is in Risk Capital and Innovation.

That is why we are transforming. We are pivoting from traditional trade to "ICT & Startups".

Why are we doing this? Because the data demands it! Look at the energy in this country. We already have 16,000+ startups nationwide. Our young entrepreneurs have raised over $270 million in funding. Companies like eSewa and Khalti are not just businesses; they are revolutions.

But they need support. And they need a system.

And what are we giving you in the near future? We are not just giving you a speech. We are giving you a structure. NICCI is building the Nepal-India Startup Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre- a strong body for promoting entrepreneurship and start up ecosystem in Nepal.

This Centre will be the epicentre of our dreams.

        Do you need space? We will provide state-of-the-art incubation.

        Do you need guidance? We will bring mentors from the top corporates of India and Nepal.

        Do you need money? We will connect you directly to Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists who are hungry for ideas.

I must also thank the Government of Nepal. There was a time when policy was a hurdle. But today, policy is a helper! With the Startup Policy 2080, the government has woken up. They have allocated a Rs 1 billion Nepal Startup Fund. They are offering loans at 3% interest, collateral-free!. This is not small. This is unprecedented!

Now, the ball is in your court. Our target is Vision 2030. We want to see 10,000 world-class startups in Nepal. We want to create 100,000 new jobs for our youth.

We want a Nepal where a young boy from Jumla or a young girl from Janakpur does not dream of going abroad to wash dishes but dreams of staying in Nepal to write code, to build apps, and to export technology to the world!

Can we achieve this?

With partners like IITM Pravartak holding our hand, yes, we can!

With the energy of IN-SPAN, yes, we can!

So, my friends, let us stop talking about problems. Let us start finding solutions.

Let us build a Nepal that is self-reliant, innovative, and deeply connected with the economic engine of India.

Let us march forward with confidence!!!