Nepal received foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges worth Rs 36.68 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year—almost double the amount recorded during the same period last year.
According to data from the Department of Industry (DoI), Nepal had received FDI commitments of Rs 18.66 billion between mid-July and mid-November in FY 2024/25. This year’s pledges are Rs 18.02 billion higher, marking a significant increase in investor interest.
A total of 382 foreign investment–backed firms were registered for operation in Nepal during the review period. Of these, 251 firms submitted investment proposals through the DoI’s automated system, while 131 firms followed the regular process. In terms of investment volume, the automated system accounted for Rs 2.36 billion of the pledged amount.
The DoI reported that foreign investors were primarily attracted to small industries, which saw the registration of 369 firms. Additionally, six medium-sized and seven large enterprises received investment pledges.
By sector, information technology continued to dominate FDI interest, with 205 firms registered—representing 54 percent of all FDI-based firms. Tourism ranked second, receiving approval for 118 industries, or 31 percent of the total.
Other sectors receiving FDI approval included:
- Manufacturing: 21 firms
- Energy: 1 firm
- Agriculture: 13 firms, which also attracted the highest investment volume of Rs 21.88 billion
Meanwhile, 7,621 new firms—both domestic and foreign—received approval to begin operations during the first four months of the fiscal year. These businesses are expected to generate employment for 33,814 people. Registrations surged particularly between mid-July and mid-September, but declined steadily in the following two months.
