AmCham Nepal and US Department of Commerce host high-level webinar to boost ICT trade and investment

KATHMANDU: The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Nepal, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service, organized a dynamic webinar on U.S.-Nepal Commercial Opportunities in the ICT Sector.

The event brought together nearly 100 top ICT CEOs and professionals from organizations including AmCham, CNI, FNCCI, and NASIT. Key government and private sector representatives from both Nepal and the United States shared insights into growing trade and investment possibilities, especially in cybersecurity, AI, data centers, and other emerging technologies.

The webinar aimed to promote bilateral business matchmaking, support Nepal’s digital transformation, and connect Nepali entrepreneurs with the U.S. tech ecosystem. It also spotlighted how American investors can benefit from Nepal’s rapidly growing ICT capabilities and talented workforce.

Expert Insights on a Growing Partnership

Mark Templer, Political and Economic Chief at the U.S. Embassy, praised Nepal’s innovation potential, highlighting success stories such as Nepali drone tech used for Mt. Everest clean-up and global animation studios based in Nepal. “Nepal is a potential growing market with immense talented people,” he said.

Adesh Khadka, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), introduced Nepal’s Digital Framework 2.0 and reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving its Digital Decade goals. He emphasized Nepal’s democratic values, free-market orientation, and commitment to digital expansion as a foundation for strong commercial partnerships with the U.S.

Dileep Agrawal, Founder and MD of WorldLink Communications and an AmCham Nepal member, demonstrated how his company leverages American technology to bring internet access to rural areas. “Nepalese people trust the American brand value,” he said. “U.S. partnerships are crucial to our commercial growth.”

Officials from the International Trade Administration (ITA), EXIM Bank, and SelectUSA offered detailed briefings on how their platforms and funding mechanisms can support cross-border business growth. Sectors highlighted for investment included AI, biotech, biomedical, quantum computing, renewable energy, fintech, and high-performance computing.

Brendan Cue of SelectUSA invited Nepali tech companies to participate in their annual global summit, connecting with over 5,000 professionals from 100+ countries.

Xiobing Feng, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Commercial Service in New Delhi, thanked participants and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting ICT businesses in Nepal and enhancing bilateral trade.

The session was moderated by Christopher Ashe, Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Strong Testimonials from Industry Leaders

The webinar received strong endorsements from the private sector, further reinforcing its relevance and impact:

“Very powerful session unearthing the growth opportunities in Nepal through partnership & investment with companies in the United States along with support from U.S. Commercial Service. ICT is surely the future economic growth sector for Nepal,” Mangesh Lal Shrestha, CEO of Moses and founding AmCham Member.

“The session bridged ecosystems and deepened our understanding of U.S. support tools like EXIM Bank and SelectUSA—vital for building global healthcare tech from Nepal,” Sachin Karanjit, Director of Operations, Deerhold.

Advancing Nepal’s Digital Future

An ICT Country Report was officially launched during the session, offering data and analysis to guide future collaborations. The event builds on AmCham Nepal’s ongoing efforts to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) and facilitate U.S.-Nepal commercial diplomacy.

AmCham Nepal General Manager Amir R. Thapa said that this initiative follows a successful AmCham-led delegation visit to Washington, D.C. in March and complements past efforts such as Tech Peak Nepal at the Orlando SSOW Conference, and DFC-led funding orientation sessions in Kathmandu.

“These are excellent examples of commercial diplomacy led by AmCham Nepal,” said Thapa. “We are paving the pathway and showcasing Nepal’s potential through trade and investment to foster economic prosperity for both nations.”