Global experts, Bank chiefs convene in Kathmandu to shape Nepal’s AI leadership agenda

KATHMANDU: Nepal has entered the regional artificial intelligence (AI) leadership discourse as global experts, senior policymakers, and top banking executives gathered in Kathmandu for a high-level symposium on “AI and the Future of Leadership,” signaling growing institutional focus on AI-driven governance and financial transformation.

The one-day symposium, held on January 5, 2026, was jointly organized by the Drucker Leadership Academy (DLA), the Nepal Applied Mathematics and Informatics Institute for Research (NAAMII), and Tangible Careers. The event brought together more than 50 participants, including CEOs and board members of major commercial banks, senior government officials, technology leaders, and international academics, positioning Nepal as an emerging voice in Asia’s AI transition debate.

Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Bam Bahadur Mishra inaugurated the event, outlining a cautious but forward-looking vision for AI adoption in Nepal’s financial sector. He stressed that while technological innovation is inevitable, leadership in the AI era must prioritize regulatory stability, financial integrity, and systemic resilience.

“Leadership in the AI era demands both technological fluency and an unwavering commitment to financial discipline,” Mishra said, underscoring the central bank’s concern over unregulated or premature deployment of AI systems in sensitive financial operations.

The symposium comes at a time when Nepal’s banking sector, after rapid digitization over the past decade, is under pressure to determine which AI applications can deliver measurable value beyond market-driven hype.

Banking, Workforce, and Technology Transformation

Setting the context, Prabin Raj Pokharel, Senior Executive Vice President at the Drucker Leadership Academy, traced the evolution of technology adoption in Nepal’s banking industry. He framed AI not as a disruption in isolation, but as the next phase in a longer digital transformation cycle that includes core banking automation, digital payments, and data-driven decision-making.

Alok Khatri, Co-founder of Tangible Careers, addressed workforce readiness, warning that institutions risk falling behind if human capability development does not keep pace with technological change. Presenting the “AI Pyramid” framework, Khatri emphasized structured reskilling and leadership capability-building as prerequisites for sustainable AI adoption. His presentation drew strong interest from both banking executives and academic participants.

On the technical and policy front, Dr. Bisesh Khanal of NAAMII and Professor Virginia Dignum delivered in-depth insights into AI’s scientific foundations and evolving global standards. Their presentations focused on responsible AI design, transparency, and alignment with international best practices, areas increasingly relevant as Nepal begins drafting long-term AI strategies.

Digital infrastructure and policy readiness were examined by Gaurav Pandey of NASIT/Ekabana and Adesh Khadka, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. They highlighted gaps in data infrastructure, cloud readiness, and regulatory coordination that must be addressed to enable nationwide AI deployment.

Debates Highlight Institutional Readiness and Ethics

Two high-level panel discussions anchored the symposium’s most substantive exchanges.

The first panel, titled “Post-AI Leadership: Building Institutional Readiness Beyond the Hype,” was moderated by Alok Khatri and featured Satyendra Timilsina, Executive Director at NRB’s Payment Systems Department; Suman Pokharel, Deputy CEO of Global IME Bank; and Professor Francois Rameau.

Panelists challenged the assumption that AI adoption is primarily a technology procurement issue. Instead, they emphasized governance structures, risk frameworks, leadership commitment, and organizational culture as decisive factors in moving from pilot projects to system-wide implementation. Speakers repeatedly warned against rushed adoption without adequate safeguards, particularly in financial services.

“Institutional readiness requires measured approaches that balance innovation with risk management,” panelists noted, pointing to the need for regulatory clarity and internal capability development.

The second panel, “AI Ethics and Policies: Building Trust Through Responsible Innovation,” was moderated by NAAMII’s Sandhya Sitoula. Participants included Govinda Gurung, CEO of Agriculture Development Bank Ltd., and Dr. Ashutosh Modi, Associate Professor at IIT.

The discussion focused on algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the risk of AI exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. Panelists argued that Nepal has a strategic advantage as a late adopter, allowing it to embed ethical guardrails into AI policy from the outset rather than correcting failures retrospectively.