Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held a meeting with Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Dr. Rakesh Pandey on Friday, 2 January 2026, with participation from the University of Nepal and NICCI leadership.

The discussion focused on strengthening academic collaboration between Nepal and India, particularly in the areas of faculty exchange, artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and innovation.

Key areas explored included potential cooperation with leading Indian institutions such as IIT Mumbai, establishment of an AI-focused academic school, faculty training opportunities in India, and joint research initiatives. The possibility of leveraging structured funding mechanisms for infrastructure development was also discussed.

The meeting concluded with agreement to pursue follow-up actions through formal proposals and institutional coordination, with a long-term vision that includes multi-campus academic development.