ANI
24 Feb 2026, 14:31 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], February 24: The three-day Indo-Nepal Trade Festival 2026 concluded in the national capital with a strong push for deeper cooperation in energy, digital infrastructure, tourism and innovation, signalling a shift in bilateral ties beyond conventional trade.
Held at PHD House in Hauz Khas under the theme 'Connecting People, Enhancing Bilateral Trade,' the festival was led by the Everest Chamber of Commerce with support from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trade and Export Promotion Centre. Organisers said the event featured over 50 stalls and drew more than 20,000 visitors.
Addressing the inaugural session, Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, underscored the need for export diversification beyond soybean and palm oil, while calling for stronger tourism promotion in India. He also urged greater Nepali participation in Indian trade fairs with a clear private-sector roadmap.
Chief Guest Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary to the Government of India, conveyed New Delhi's support for Nepal's upcoming general elections, noting India's logistical assistance. He highlighted that 40 Nepali entrepreneurs received training at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras under the India-Nepal Startup Partnership, with select participants advancing to incubation and investment stages.
Energy cooperation dominated discussions, particularly during the 'Harnessing Himalayan Hydropower' session, where experts proposed the 'Himalayan Compute Corridor' concept. With abundant hydropower and a cool climate, Nepal was positioned as a potential hub for data centres aligned with India's AI ambitions, provided domestic grids and transmission systems are strengthened first.
Deliberations on fintech stressed QR interoperability, smoother cross-border remittances and regulatory coordination to deepen financial inclusion. Tourism stakeholders advocated integrated promotion of the Ramayana and Buddhist circuits, alongside adventure tourism and destination weddings, backed by better border management and branding.
Sessions on media ethics, youth engagement and Vision 2030 highlighted the importance of responsible journalism, research partnerships, traditional knowledge validation and AI-led startup ecosystems.
Across more than 10 high-level dialogues, the festival reflected a growing consensus: Nepal-India relations are evolving toward a multidimensional framework anchored in energy security, digital growth, innovation and people-to-people trust. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Nepal National news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Nepal National.
More InformationTOKYO, Japan: Japan's centuries-old kimono is finding renewed relevance in an era focused on sustainability, as designers and artisans...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street endured a sharp sell-off on Monday as jubilation over a Supreme Court decision striking down a core...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft announced that Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years at the company, stepping down as head of its...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. investors are withdrawing money from domestic equities at the fastest pace in at least 16 years, as fading...
DETROIT, Michigan: Workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant have overwhelmingly approved their first contract with the...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia is close to finalizing a US$30 billion investment in OpenAI as part of the artificial intelligence...
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): Amnesty International South Asia has expressed deep concern over reports of civilian casualties...
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 24 (ANI): The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party on Tuesday celebrated...
New Delhi [India], February 24: The three-day Indo-Nepal Trade Festival 2026 concluded in the national capital with a strong push for...
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a senior secured debt financing package of up to...
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): The ruling of the US Supreme Court striking down tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump...
Kathmandu [Nepal], February 24 (ANI): Nepal's Election Commission is facing mounting criticism for failing to take action against alleged...
