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The Vibrant Gujarat is a flagship investment summit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has drawn the regional leaders and leading countries demonstrating commitment and keenness to share the pie of economic growth opportunity that India offers.

Japan, Australia, the UK, the US, Norway and the Netherlands, among others, were actively seen to showcase their companies, strengths and collaboration projects at the summit where Who’s Who of India’s Business was present. At this perfect platform for networking and striking partnerships for the future, it was clear that countries wanted their share of success in Aatmanirbhar Bharat—Viksit Bharat 2047.

Days ahead leading to the summit, international diplomatic leaders could be seen highlighting their pavilion and promoting their capabilities. X and other social media platforms were full of posts from these countries on how they engaged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he visited their pavilions. They were engaging with the media to showcase their partnership, the strengths of their collaborations and where they can make a difference in the future.

Nepal was one of the 35 partner states, who had the opportunity to host a pavilion. The Nepali delegation was led by the Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat together with Ambassador Shankar Sharma. The Indian government website of communication of government policies and outcomes tweeted around seven minutes byte of address by Mahat. Other than that, half day into the first day, there were no signs of Nepali industry, pavilion and business persons. There was no coverage in Nepali media of what Nepal could bring to the summit and in which sector. Automotive, defense, precious stones, energy, industrial innovations, tourism and education were among the country’s presentations.

 For example, Australia’s presentation at Country Seminar is under the title “Australia–your destination for business, industry, study and tourism”. Saudi Arabia, the EU, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, Germany, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Oman, the UAE, Ukraine, Korea, Mozambique, and many others presented at the Country Seminar. Nepal’s country presentation was also listed  in the queue of the Country Seminar.

But the big question for now is that does Nepal leverage enough when invited? When the G20 India Summit invited Bangladesh as a special guest, there was an outcry as to why Nepal was not important enough to be invited to G20 India Summit. Perhaps this calls for an assessment in light of Nepal’s participation at Vibrant Gujarat. Does Nepali leadership at PMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Industry work in sync to make that difference and have a strategy to reverse the imbalance in the country with higher ODA than FDI? What preparations did they do ahead of “Vibrant Gujarat”?

Today the flagship business summit of India is being attended by world class industry leaders but Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ramesh Rizal or Sushil Bhatta, CEO of Office of the Investment Board Nepal or president/leaders from Chambers of Commerce as FNCCI, NICCI, CNI or other leading businesspersons of Nepal are not visible. Interestingly, MoICS Minister Rizal attended the Nepal Country Pavilion at 6th CIIE held in Shanghai (China) toward the end of Nov 2023.  Wasn’t this an opportunity to engage with Indian and global leadership and other country leaders to showcase Nepal as a hub for tourism, service industry, mass manufacturing and winter sports. One of the most evident miss out is on Nepal’s reservoir of hydro energy and traditional medicines and herbs which contribute to green energy to better health.

Nepal will soon host its third International Summit, “Nepal Investment Summit” (NIS2024) in April 2024 and preparations are underway. This was a unique opportunity to promote NIS 2024, what it entails at the Nepal pavilion during VGGS2024. Senior leaders from Chambers of Commerce such as FNCCI, CNI and NICCI should have accompanied Mahat and engaged with international leaders on the margins of VGGS2024. With discussions on “Workforce for Future: Development of Skills for Industry 4.0”, Nepal could have showcased the diverse skill set and plans of Nepal Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Prime Minister Modi visited many pavilions but did his visit to the Nepal Pavilion materialize or not? There were no photos, commentaries, or effort at any level to use as a pre-event marketing material and how it leads to NIS 2024. This shortcoming was evident. At a time when Nepal’s FDI performance in 2022 was bleak with mere $65m and recent exits of International Corporations as Malaysia’s Axiata and Pakistan’s Habib Bank from Nepali market and high level corruption cases have potentially dented the confidence of an international investor, is Nepal not keen to grow FDI and wants to be a donor’s ODA dependent country?

Who is to be held accountable? Did such a lapse occur for the first time? Previously, on many such occasions the business community did not take interest to participate and showcase their vision. Is it merely a political transition problem or to be blamed only on bureaucratic hurdles but the fact remains that there is a lack of sync between leadership in the political and business sectors.

The Nepali Mission led by Ambassador Sharma has made great inroads across industry and sectors. In my discussions from time to time, it appears that stakeholders from Nepal are not enthusiastic or more busy in domestic politics, that they do not prioritize international visibility, dialogue and partnerships. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Nepali leaders have not leveraged the hard work and network of Ambassador Sharma and his team.

None of the above can happen till the time country leadership takes the reins of growth and the roadmap that leads to it. Vibrant Gujarat is led by Prime Minister Modi and CM Bhupendra Patel. Prime Minister Modi over the last 10 years has worked on the ground and around the world in working out partnerships for the private and public sector to implement. Even if Nepali political leadership succeeds in securing a stage to showcase and get an international commitment of investment, it is for the bureaucratic and business arm to make it happen. This is where investment summits/conferences under the GoN or chambers of commerce become more “check in the box” without actual conversions.

 The ownership, collective leadership and the will at all levels is self-defeating. Today, a Nepali is only concerned with watching his/her own interest and Nepal has been turned into an orphaned state with highest ODA in South Asia or made out as one by inaction and lackadaisical approach where more interpretation and analysis can be seen than action. Nepal had huge potential of high productivity but it has now been reduced as a trading country and treasury full of remittances, where both strategies will drive the workforce to foreign lands in search of work. It is easier said than done that foreign countries erode the richness of Nepal when its own leaders are responsible for the state of affairs. 

The author is a financial, geopolitical and security analyst

Nepal has reasserted its commitment to Non-Alignment Movement’s (NAM) objectives and principles at the Ministerial Meeting of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement being held in Kampala, Uganda. Addressing the meeting, Foreign Minister NP Saud said the constitution of Nepal itself embraces NAM principles as a basis for its foreign policy.

“We always conduct independent, objective, balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy. We never join any military alliance and never accept to be a part of the security pact of any country,” he said, hinting at the security and strategic pacts of major powers mainly of China and the US.

Over the past few years, there has been a debate in Kathmandu about America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and State Partnership Program, and China’s Global Security Initiatives. Minister Saud’s statement is in line with Nepal’s commitment to not joining any strategic or military alliances. 

Of late, countries in the Global South, including Nepal, are facing increasing pressure from big powers, mainly the US and China, to choose their sides. Most of the time, they have stayed out of the great-power rivalry.  

The NAM summit is taking place at a time when the world is confronting multiple challenges, from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war to escalating tensions in the Middle East and China-Taiwan dispute.  

“We are witnessing the worst nightmare in Gaza. We all have been bearing the brunt of the Russia-Ukraine war. To our dismay, geopolitical competition and polarization have resurfaced as defining features of our global political order,” said Saud. He stressed that NAM principles have become more significant than ever.  

Over the past few months, there is a growing debate in Nepal about the revision of non-alignment policy. Some politicians and experts are of the view that in the changing context, the principle of non-alignment is becoming irrelevant. Some have proposed the policy of multi-alignment without elaborating what it entails.

Many of them provide the example of India, which is sending a low-key representation to the NAM summit. But the current government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reasserted the importance of non-alignment policy. Dahal himself is attending the conference to demonstrate Nepal’s commitment.

Minister Saud said that NAM, as a strong bloc with 120 countries representing around 60 percent of the world’s population, holds “both majority and moral strengths to devise solutions to global problems that we face today, from conflicts to climate change; economic injustice to social inequality; the digital divide to debt distress, and hunger to disease.”

“NAM must play a pivotal role in promoting multilateralism, defending the UN Charter and international law, finding peaceful solutions to disputes, reforming the global financial architectures, creating a just global economic order for shared affluence,” he added.

Saud also said that NAM should focus on the achievement of SDGs and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including the Paris Agreement, in the spirit of leaving no one behind, embracing the power of technology to drive progress for all, and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable countries and regions. 

“We anticipate a robust cooperation framework and renewed partnership with all our development partners and fellow members of NAM, for investment, resources, capacity-building, and technologies in the true spirit of North-South, South-South, and Triangular Cooperation,” he said. 

Nepal is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was formally established at a summit held on 1-6 Sept 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. 

On Jan 22, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. Over 7,500 invited participants are expected to attend the opening ceremony which has drawn international attention.  In 2020, Modi laid the foundation stone of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Ayodhya’s Vedic ritual began from Jan 17 which included the Pran Pratishtha ceremony which marked a pivotal step in the festivities following the worship of Lord Ganesha. Thursday will witness the commencement of special rituals like Mandap entry puja, vastu puja and Varun Puja. On Jan 19, a Yagya fire pit will be prepared and on January 20, the sanctum Sanctorum of the Ram Mandir will undergo purification with the placement of 81 Kalash with water from various rivers, and on Jan 22, Indian PM Modi will inaugurate the temple.  

According to AP, the temple is being built at an estimated cost of $217m, but it is far from complete. The site is filled with roaring bulldozers and busy builders still working on the elaboration of 46 doors—42 of which will have a layer of gold totaling around 100 kilograms—and numerous carvings that will form the final architecture of the temple, AP reports.

The temple, a three-story structure clad in pink sandstone stretches across 2.9 hectares in a 28-hectare complex. According to AP, it will have a 1.3 meter idol of Lord Ram. The temple has been divided into six parts, including the sanctum sanctorum and five pavilions—Gun Mandap, Rang Mandap, Nritya Mandap, Kirtan Mandap, Prathana Mandap.

The opposition Indian Congress has declared that it would skip the inauguration ceremony dubbing it a political project of BJP and RSS. “Religion is a personal matter. But RSS\BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain,” read a statement from senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.

The Ayodhya Ram Temple is one of important pilgrimage sites and it is significant for Hindus worldwide, including the Hindus in Nepal which constitute more than 80 percent population. Janakpurdham has dispatched bhar special gifts as offerings to Ayodhya; a team has gone there carrying the special offerings for Ayodhya under the Janakpurdham-Ayodhyadam religious procession.

According to RSS, upholding the tradition, Janakpurdham, as the maternal home of Sita, who was married to the then crown prince of Ayodhya sent the offerings. The offerings encompass various types of jewelry, utensils, clothing and sweets, decoratively arranged in specially crafted bamboo baskets.  A team of around 300 devotees has left for Aydohya with Gharbasak Bhar or gifts for a housewarming occasion. Two Shila big boulders lifted from the bank of the Kaligandaki River of Nepal were also sent last year.

Soon after signing a long-term power-trade deal with India, Nepal is preparing to export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh from July this year, according to multiple sources.

Officials from Nepal, Bangladesh and India are working to finalize the modality of power export as soon as possible. During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s New Delhi visit in May last year, India had agreed to allow Nepal to export 40 MW power to Bangladesh through its grid.

From July, Nepal will start exporting 40 MW to Bangladesh, which will pave the way for more cooperation in the coming days, said a diplomatic source. Now, three countries are working to finalize the tariff and other details to operationalize the agreement.

Nepal and Bangladesh are also working to construct a dedicated transmission line for the export of up to 5000 MW to Bangladesh. But there has been no tripartite agreement regarding the construction of a dedicated transmission line that passes through the Indian territory.  Private investors from Bangladesh are keen to invest in Nepal’s hydropower sector.

The signing of a long-term power trade agreement between Nepal and India has boosted the morale of both Indian and Bangladeshi investors, said the source. With the export of electricity to Bangladesh, the dreams of regional power trade will start materializing, said the government official. Recently, Nepal signed an agreement with India for the export of 10,000 MW over the next 10 years.