Kathmandu, September 18

The Dolma Group held an event today to celebrate five years of investing in Nepal, the launch of Dolma Consulting, and the pioneering DFID-backed work of Dolma Himalayan Energy.

The only international private equity fund dedicated to Nepal, Dolma Impact Fund I (DIF) has invested in two hydro projects, two solar projects, three technology companies and two healthcare companies, creating sustainable employment for over 5,000 Nepalis.

DIF is the private equity arm of the Dolma Group, founded by Prof Tim Gocher.

“DIF has pioneered the impact investment and private equity market in Nepal and is able to showcase the tremendous economic, social and environmental impacts of FDI (foreign direct investment) on economic growth, productivity and employment generation in Nepal,” Prof Gocher has been quoted as saying in a media release. “DIF has provided a credible track record of international private equity investment that we hope stimulates further much-needed FDI, and the knowledge transfer that comes with it, into the country.”

To complement the group’s expertise in successfully raising and investing FDI in Nepal, Dolma Consulting was formally launched today, headed by Managing Director Joseph Silvanus, former CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.

“The private sector has reached a level of sophistication that demand for international capital is growing, from banks, corporates and infrastructure projects,” Silvanus said. “Dolma Consulting offers clients a full suite of services to enable them to raise and deploy international capital. We are the path for Nepal’s companies to raise international equity, debt, and blended finance to achieve their domestic and global goals.”

At the event, Sandip Shah, managing director of Dolma Himalayan Energy (DHE) highlighted the innovative and bespoke Peak Energy Management (PEMa) system that combines solar PV and Energy Storage System (ESS) to ensure an accessible and affordable supply of power to Nepal’s grid and its people. “Using these technologies, DHE will provide the same crucial service as hydro storage plants — dispatchable power in the dry season, including at peak hours. The big difference is that our plants can be constructed in one year — a fraction of the time required for hydro plants. DHE can, therefore, rapidly reduce Nepal’s reliance on Indian electricity imports.”