Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has announced four key plans to transform Nepal into a digital hub within the next five years. Speaking in a video message on Monday, Thapa emphasised focusing on the information technology (IT) sector and building a strong digital ecosystem across the country.
Thapa recalled an earlier comment he made about earning 300,000–400,000 rupees per month from a laptop while sitting on a hill in Kirtipur, which was widely mocked. He clarified that his statement was realistic and based on clear plans.
Highlighting past government efforts, Thapa noted that while previous reforms produced some positive outcomes, they were insufficient. He pointed to the 2024–2034 vision of making IT a decade of growth, with targets of 30 trillion rupees in IT exports, 500,000 direct jobs, and substantial indirect employment.
He outlined four areas for improvement over the next five years:
1. Stable Tax Policy: A consistent tax framework for IT will encourage growth and attract investment.
2. Human Resources: Nepal produces around 15,000 IT graduates annually, but only 7,000 have found jobs over six years. Thapa stressed the need to first build skilled talent, after which companies will follow.
3. Moving Beyond Freelancing and BPO: Nepal must focus on digital products and move up the value chain, starting with sectors like agriculture, health, education, and services. This requires investment in STEM education, upskilling, and 10% tax incentives for research and development.
4. Green Energy and Digital Infrastructure: Utilising hydroelectric power for green data centres and energy-intensive services like AI, cloud computing, and blockchain will make Nepal competitive globally. Incentives and legal frameworks are needed to support this shift.
He concluded that, with systematic reforms, Nepal could achieve notable IT exports, create jobs, and become a regional digital hub within five years.