Nepali consulate general in New York, in partnership with Genese Solution, hosted a dialogue with the Nepali tech diaspora

KATHMANDU: The Consulate General of Nepal in New York, in collaboration with UK-based IT consulting and cybersecurity firm Genese Solution, organized an interaction with Nepali and Nepali-origin tech professionals in the United States on Friday, highlighting Nepal’s potential as an emerging technology hub.

The event, titled “Tech Forward: Uniting Diaspora Talent to Power Nepal’s Digital Leap,” served both as an introduction of Nepal’s new Consul General in New York, Dadhiram Bhandari, to the professional diaspora and as a platform to explore avenues for collaboration between Nepal and its global tech community.

Speaking at the gathering, Consul General Bhandari stressed the importance of diaspora engagement to drive Nepal’s digital transformation. “The IT services export has brought us to a historic moment, replacing labor export with knowledge-driven opportunities,” he said. “Innovation and adoption are already taking place in Nepal. The government has introduced an AI policy and is updating the Digital Nepal Framework 2.0.”

Bhandari emphasized that there is no cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the IT sector and highlighted the government’s incentives for companies and professionals. “Nepali diaspora has a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and willingness to contribute. For the U.S., this sector can unlock a robust partnership. The mandate of the consulate is to promote Nepal’s IT potential, and I will join hands with the diaspora community,” he added.

Diaspora as Bridge for Digital Nepal

Delivering a keynote presentation titled “Diaspora Lens: Driving Nepal’s Digital Future,” Genese Solution Founder and CEO Anjani Phuyal, who also serves as an AWS Ambassador, underlined the importance of diaspora-led initiatives.

“Nepali diaspora can play the role of a bridge between global expertise and local needs,” Phuyal said. He noted that Nepal is in a favorable moment, with the government prioritizing policy reforms and planning to establish a large IT Park under the Special Economic Zone. Such infrastructure, he argued, could open avenues for both domestic and diaspora professionals and companies.

Genese Solution, which now operates in 10 countries, has already worked with Nepali embassies in London, Madrid, Dhaka, New Delhi, Tokyo, and Canberra to showcase Nepal as a technology destination. Phuyal urged diaspora professionals to “share challenges from their domain, nominate champions to lead clusters, and collaborate for execution on the ground in Nepal.”

He stressed that Nepal must prioritize skills, culture, technology, and infrastructure while fostering partnerships between bureaucracy, industry, and academia to ensure a sustainable digital future.

Panel Discussion: From Talent to Opportunity

The event featured a panel discussion with prominent Nepali-origin tech leaders. Prasanna Dhungel, Managing Partner of GrowbyData, shared his experience of building a company in the U.S. market with Nepali talent at its core. “We started with Nepali talent and earned the trust of our clients over time. If you have the right culture and manage people well, it’s doable,” he said, urging firms to create value not only for clients but also for the community.

Similarly, Anish Joshi, Head of Tech at U.S.-based Fusemachines Inc., underlined the global competitiveness of Nepali talent. “Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. Nepal has immense talent, but there is a need for proper training and global market exposure,” Joshi observed.

Panelists collectively emphasized the importance of leveraging Nepal’s soft power to open international doors for Nepali talent. They noted that despite being a late entrant to the global tech industry, Nepal can still make meaningful contributions by focusing on skill development, fostering innovation-driven culture, and building robust infrastructure.

Setting the Tone for Future Engagement

The interaction also included a Q&A session, moderated by Sujita Basnet of Genese Solution. Participants engaged in discussions on bridging gaps between Nepal’s IT landscape and international opportunities, and how diaspora-led clusters could accelerate Nepal’s digital leap.

Concluding the event, Consul General Bhandari thanked the panelists and participants, reiterating the consulate’s commitment to host similar interactions in the future. “This is just the beginning. Our goal is to create an open channel for dialogue, collaboration, and concrete outcomes that can strengthen Nepal’s digital economy,” he said.

The hybrid event was attended by diaspora professionals from various U.S. states, entrepreneurs, and representatives from global technology firms. Organizers noted that the initiative reflects a growing momentum to position Nepal as a competitive digital economy, with the diaspora playing a critical role in that journey.