Selling Ncell

December 15, 2023 08:30 am

In the shivering winter cold, the decision by Axiata to exit from Nepal has created a heated debate amongst Kathmandu-centric intellectuals (politicians, lawyers, academics, activists and former bureaucrats). However, there is more smoke than fire and/or light in the emotionally charged debate. At the one end of the spectrum, the ultra-nationalistic adrenaline is running high calling how the country is being duped by foreigners and is put on sale. At the other end, pragmatic calls are made not to irritate and disturb foreign direct investment (FDI).

KATHMANDU, Dec 6: Analysts and political leaders have expressed concern over the Axiata’s controversial exit from Ncell stating that it might seriously affect the inflow of foreign direct investment to the country in the future.

KATHMANDU, Nov 26: The government is going to hold an investment summit to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.

In a promising turn of events, Nepal has witnessed a substantial surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) commitment, reaching an impressive Rs 22.08 billion during the first four months of the current Fiscal Year (FY). This figure nearly doubles the FDI commitment recorded in the corresponding period of the previous FY, signaling a positive trajectory for the nation's economic landscape. While this surge is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, it is crucial to acknowledge that there is still a long way to go in making Nepal truly conducive for FDI.

FDI brings not only capital into a country, but also transfers knowledge and technology from the sender to the recipient country. China benefited immensely from these. To some extent, this has happened in India and Bangladesh, but not so much in Nepal because Nepal’s FDI landscape is littered with issues that hurt the flow of FDI and the associated knowledge and technology transfers.

KATHMANDU, Nov 1: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said Nepal requires sufficient financial resources for its economic development and transformation.

KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Foreign companies pledged to invest additional Rs 5.88 billion in Nepal in the past one month.

KATHMANDU, May 15: Nepal received foreign direct investment (FDI) commitment worth Rs 29.74 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, which was 14 percent less compared to the commitment amount in the same period of last year.

KATHMANDU, May 3: The government is enforcing an automated system for foreign direct investment (FDI) worth up to Rs 100 million, targeting to facilitate the foreign investors.

KATHMANDU, April 17: Foreign companies repatriated cash dividends worth Rs 13.77 billion from Nepal in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

KATHMANDU, Jan 13: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made it stricter to take money abroad. The central bank today through a notice has requested not to make any type of investment abroad except as prescribed by the law.

KATHMANDU, Dec 15: The commitment for foreign direct investment (FDI) declined by almost 60 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year.

KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Nepal’s realization of foreign direct investment (FDI) is only one-third of the total amount committed by the investors.

KATHMANDU, OCT 15: The government has revised the minimum threshold for foreign direct investment (FDI) to Rs 20 million from the existing Rs 50 million.

Nepal and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1977. The bilateral cooperation between the two countries has since increased manifolds. While the UAE is the fourth largest trading partner of Nepal, this Middle Eastern nation is also one of the popular destinations of Nepali migrant workers. The two countries also share common views on significant global issues ranging from renewable energy, climate change to world peace and fight against terrorism both as a member of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement at the multilateral level. Against this context, Republica's Kosh Raj Koirala talked to UAE Ambassador to Nepal, Saeed Hamdan Al Naqbi, to understand the current state of bilateral relations between Nepal and the UAE, potential areas of cooperation and ways to further promote bilateral relations between the two countries. Excerpts:

Is FDI really the panacea we seek?

September 15, 2022 13:15 pm

FDI needs to be viewed as a means to achieve SDGs and not an end in itself. This means that all FDI potential projects should be viewed from the lenses of environment, labor and human rights, SMEs, health, inclusion and diversity.

Nepal's FDI exceeds Rs 227 billion

September 14, 2022 10:39 am

KATHMANDU, Sept 14: Nepal received foreign direct investment of over Rs 227 billion from 55 countries as of mid-July.

KATHMANDU, June 27: Nepal received commitments for foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 51.56 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, which was around Rs 13 billion more than the commitment made during the same period last year.

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has revised the minimum threshold for foreign direct investment (FDI) to Rs 20 million from the existing Rs 50 million.

KATHMANDU, May 16: Nepal received commitments for foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 34.54 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.

KATHMANDU, April 29: At a time when the country’s foreign reserves are declining, the commitment for foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased, according to the Department of Industry. In the past nine months of the current fiscal year, more than Rs 33 billion of FDI has been approved.

KATHMANDU, April 11: The government has started a workout to reduce the threshold amount for foreign direct investment (FDI) from the existing Rs 50 million.

New York, Jan 14: Fusemachines, an AI talent and education platform and service provider, has announced $1 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Business Oxygen Private Limited (BO2), a Nepal-based private equity fund bringing foreign investments to help local companies grow on Wednesday.

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Foreign firms pledged to invest Rs 30 billion in Nepal in the first five months of the current fiscal year.

KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows have increased this year after the transmission of COVID-19 declined. According to the Department of Industry (DoI), foreigners have taken permission to invest around Rs 30 billion in Nepal in the first four and a half months of the current fiscal year.

KATHMANDU, Dec 8: The government is introducing provisions for issuing infrastructure bonds and blended financing, claiming that the move is aimed at attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) in mega projects.

KATHMANDU, September 20: Foreign investors are found increasingly attracted to run hotels in Nepal with such companies proposing to invest in around two dozen hotels in the first two months of the current fiscal year.

KATHMANDU, July 19: Lack of clarity on the policy of foreign direct investment (FDI) and procedural flaws existing at the bureaucratic and political fronts has appeared as a major hindrance to attract foreign capital, said experts.

KATHMANDU, June 8: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), in a bid to shorten the process for licensing of the foreign direct investment (FDI)-based companies, has scrapped the provision that required foreign investors to take permission from the central bank to bring in the foreign capital inside Nepal.

KATHMANDU, April 23: Nepal’s realization of foreign direct investment (FDI) is far lower than the amount pledged by the foreign investors, shows a report unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Wednesday.

KATHMANDU, April 10: Foreign investors pledged to invest Rs 24.79 billion in Nepal in the first nine months of the current fiscal year

Should there be FDI in agriculture?

February 8, 2021 08:00 am

FDI flow in agriculture will increase competition and because of the sheer size of capital, it might create an unequal playing field for the domestic investors. This is where the current hue and cry is coming from.

KATHMANDU, Jan 13: The government has enforced the Regulations of the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA), allowing the authorities to adopt flexibility on issuing residential visas to foreign individuals and investors on ‘conditions’.

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The private sector has urged the government to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in primary agriculture production only after assessing prudently the nature of investment.

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: The government’s recent decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in primary agriculture production has invited a controversy.

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: India is considering a plan to allow up to 26% foreign direct investment from countries with which it shares a land border, including China, without government scrutiny for some sectors, the Economic Times reported on Tuesday, citing government officials.

KATHMANDU, Nov 13: Nepal has seen less than half the pledged amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) materialize in each of the last five years. Data from the Department of Industry shows that Nepal received commitments for cumulative foreign investment of Rs 114.96 billion in the past five years.

FinMin defends removing loan from FDI

August 31, 2019 08:58 am

KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Minister for Finance Yuba Raj Khatiwada has defended the provision in the new Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA) to remove loan from the components of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

KATHMANDU, July 3: After the establishment of one-stop service center at the Department of Industry, foreign direct investment (FDI) of Rs 7.92 billion has been approved for 41 industries from the information technology (IT), manufacturing, services and tourism sectors.

Post-summit challenges

April 16, 2019 01:05 am

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an effective instrument for promoting sustainable development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Nepal. Realizing this fact, the government of Nepal has organized three investment summits so far. First was in 1992 following the restoration of democracy. The investors attending the summit had pledged investment of approximately $100 million, but only around 25 percent of the pledged amount was realized.

Post-summit thoughts

April 14, 2019 02:05 am

Before and even after Nepal Investment Summit 2019, there have been debates for and against such investment promotion event. Some claimed this is not the right time to organize the event when investment-friendly environment is still elusive in the country. Others went to the extent of saying that it would be a mistake to go for such summit without evaluating the achievement of 2017 summit.

Whose Investment Summit?

April 9, 2019 01:25 am

Nepal Investment Summit 2019, held in Kathmandu on 29-30 March, was so well attended that the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies couldn’t even find a vacant seat in the opening session of the conference.

KATHMANDU, March 31: With a strong kick start to Investment Summit Nepal 2019, 615 delegates from over 40 countries provided a strong platform for dialogues and articulate discussions regarding Nepal's potential market.

KATHMANDU, March 30: Investors at home and abroad attending the 3rd Nepal Investment Summit have sought full implementation of Nepal government's commitment to put procedural reforms and policies for investment security, while expressing their excitements over favourable environment created for investment in Nepal.

Marshalling foreign investment

March 30, 2019 01:05 am

The government of Nepal has organized Nepal Investment Summit, only two years after holding a similar conference, with more than 600 delegates from foreign governments, multinational institutions and companies around the world. Government has showcased 77 projects with cost of US$ 33.6 billion, and the private sector has proposed 17 projects at $1.8 billion, making the conference price tag $36.4 billion.

KATHMANDU, March 17: Energy projects top the government priority for foreign direct investment (FDI) in terms of investment amount, according to the Investment Board Nepal (IBN).

KATHMANDU, March 15: Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has prepared a list of 50 projects for showcasing to foreign investors at the Nepal Investment Summit 2019 scheduled for March 29 and 30.

KATHMANDU, March 11: The association of dairy cooperatives has opposed the government's plan of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in milk production and processing.

KATHMANDU, March 3: Dairy industrialists have urged the government not to open gates for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the dairy sector, stating that the country was on the way to becoming self–sufficient in dairy products.

KATHMANDU, Feb 3: Back in March 2017, Nepal received foreign direct investment pledges amounting to $13.51 billion and many hoped something big was going to happen in the country.