The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has organized the second edition of the “India-Nepal Startup Connect” program with the aim of providing a platform for startups from both countries to come together. This initiative seeks to foster collaboration between Indian and Nepalese startups by identifying the conducive market conditions for their expansion at an international level.
During the event, speakers highlighted how startups from India and Nepal are leveraging advanced technologies to address new challenges and social issues in innovative ways. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of new startups has been recognized as a significant opportunity, with AI being a proven success model in India.
Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, expressed his opinion on this news. He commended the efforts to strengthen collaboration between India and Nepal in the startup and AI sectors. Khatri emphasized the potential for Nepal’s startups to benefit from India’s expertise in digital technologies, citing examples of successful cross-border collaborations like the PhonePe-UPI partnership.
The program saw the participation of various stakeholders, including the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Navin Srivastava, who highlighted the growing startup culture among Indian youth and the opportunities created by India’s advancements in digital technologies for cross-border cooperation. Sanjeev, the Secretary of DPIIT in the Indian government, also noted the positive outcomes of initiatives focusing on the startup sector.
Furthermore, the event witnessed the presentation of the “Startup Policy” for Nepal by Prithvi Subba Gurung, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, who underscored Nepal’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for startups and integrating the latest technologies into their operations. The event brought together over 3,000 participants, 10,000 startups, and 1,000 investors, incubators, and accelerators, with expectations of engaging over 50,000 business enthusiasts from India and beyond.
Additionally, Umesha Kumar Gupta, Executive Director of the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), presented insights on how incubation centers can facilitate startup growth through technology development and partnerships with international universities. Collaborative efforts between various organizations, universities, and startup representatives from both countries were highlighted as essential for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
In conclusion, the “India-Nepal Startup Connect” initiative aims to continuously encourage and support activities that promote collaboration between the two nations in the startup sector. The previous edition of the program was held in the first phase on Magh 10, 2079 BS.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: February 8, 2025 12:00 am