Information and technology are top priorities of State: Minister Karki


Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki asserted that the State had accorded the highest priority to information technology (IT).

At a discussion programme organized by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) here on Monday, Minister Karki admitted that reforms at policy level were needed to promote IT sector and pledged to consider reforms in the sector.

Karki also shared that government was ready to collaborate with the private sector to attract investment in this sector and to create jobs as well as to enable favorable environment for the investors.

Similarly, CNI President Bishnu Kumar Agrawal viewed that Nepal was a suitable place for the development of IT sector in terms of skilled human resources, electricity production and weather conditions.

He opined that the IT sector’s development and promotion would help address foreign reserve related issues for Nepal.

The IT Council of the CNI held the discussion with Minister Karki, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Dr Baikuntha Aryal and the joint-secretary at the Ministry.

The CNI has urged the government to allow private sector to build IT Park in Nepal considering the facilities the government in India and Philippines among other countries provide to the private sector for the same.

Foreign currencies could be earned through IT sector. This sector should be encouraged since there will be cent percent Value Addition in the export of IT, said the CNI’s officials.

The CNI also welcomed the announcement of reviewing the minimum limit of foreign investment and setting it at Rs 20 million in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.

In Nepal, 7,500 graduates are being produced in IT sector every year on average. (RSS)