The government of Nepal has declared the decade of 2024-34 as the decade of information technology. The government has an ambitious target of generating employment for 1.5 million people directly and indirectly and export IT services worth NPR 3 trillion in ten years. Nepal earned NPR 67 billion by exporting ICT enabled services in 2022, according to government figures.
The Nepal government has aimed to reduce the digital divide through various programs like setting up IT parks, establishing data centres, promoting domestic software usage, and increasing the access of broadband services. The government has also announced that it will provide a rebate on tax to information technology companies in reinvested profit.
According to Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies (NAS-IT), over 2,000 IT companies are operating in Nepal employing more than 70,000 IT personnel. The IT sector contributes to 4.5 percent of the country’s total forex earnings and 60 percent of the ICT services are being exported to the US.
It is estimated that over 10,000 students are graduating in IT every year providing a talent pool to grow the industry. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are supporting Nepali academic institutions to incorporate tech curriculum. Nepali academic institutions are now teaching the latest courses which are not even taught in many foreign universities.
Tech Sovereignty: A Quest for Nepal
Now the time has come for the government, academia and industry to come together to promote Nepal as an emerging tech hub.
It may be relevant to recall here that in cooperation with Nepali embassies in London, Spain, Delhi and Dhaka, Genese Solution facilitated the organization of seminars to promote Nepal as an emerging tech hub. Leading IT entrepreneurs, policymakers and officials from those countries took part in those seminars and learnt about Nepal’s potential. On the sidelines of a seminar organised in Delhi in September 2023, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among Tribhuvan University, Institute of Engineering (IoE), Indira Gandhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), India, and Genese Academy so as to enhance student access to industry R&D, technological updates, and real-world experiences through lectures, training, and guest speakers. The moU also calls for enhancing support to research publications, help researchers in their collaborative efforts, including joint supervision of graduate projects, explore opportunities for incubation centres and future collaborations, and facilitate faculty/student exchanges within Nepal and internationally, among others.
The ICT policy 2072 BS adopted by the Nepal government called for integrating ICT policies in all spheres of governance including education and training. But with the emergency of latest technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and emerging cyber security threats, it is high time the government revises its policy so as to meet aspirations of Nepali people. These are the areas Nepal government should focus on:
Enhance Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Training:
Nepal must immediately fortify its cybersecurity infrastructure in light of the growing threats in cyberspace. By bringing together frequent cybersecurity events, like the one Genese Solution recently arranged where experts came together to talk about the newest developments in cybersecurity and best practices, is one way of accomplishing this. The government should also fund specialized training programs for IT professionals to equip them with the expertise needed for effective defense against cyberthreats.
Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Nepal needs to create an environment that is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship in order to encourage the establishment of new enterprises. This can be done through creating incubation centres, giving grants and seed funding to startups, and making connections and networking opportunities easier in order to enable access to international markets. Genese Solution can be extremely valuable in guiding aspiring business owners through the difficulties of establishing and expanding their companies offering mentorship and consulting services.
Expand Digital Literacy and Inclusion
Encouraging e-governance is essential to guaranteeing that the digital transformation benefits every citizen. Comprehensive digital literacy programs aimed at women, the elderly, and people living in rural areas should be implemented by the government. Nepal can close the digital divide and guarantee that everyone can take advantage of and participate in the digital economy by increasing access to digital tools and services.
Similar government initiatives can be modeled after Balen Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and his recent efforts to offer skill-based training for youth to boost employment and economic development. Online government services, community-based digital literacy workshops, and digital identity schemes can be especially useful in this endeavor.
We have recently seen that Nepali entrepreneurs within Nepal and abroad are making their presence felt locally as well as in global markets. There are thousands of Nepali success stories and we need to nurture them. We must seize the opportunity.
