Japanese team explores investment potential in country

Kathmandu, April 5

A delegation of 20 Japanese investors is currently exploring investment potential in Nepal.

The delegation is led by Komori Tadanaga, chairperson of Obihiro City Council of Japan. The visiting Japanese team comprises of industrialists, entrepreneurs, company presidents and representatives seeking investment opportunities in sectors like confectionery, dairy products, solar energy, Japanese sweets, real estate, construction, sauce and water purifier, among others in Nepal.

“We are in Nepal to gauge the investment potential of the country. We aim to promote the ‘Tokachi (Hokkaido) Nepal Business Relationship’ and make our visit a milestone to proceed on the path of business development between the two countries,” Komori said at a seminar organised in the Capital today. He also informed that the business delegation will visit different industrial estates of Nepal and hold discussions with the Nepali government and also the private sector about investing in Nepal.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have said that bringing the technical know-how of Japan to Nepal would be instrumental for the country’s development. “We are in the age of globalisation and there is stiff competition in every sector. As Japan is advanced in technology, emphasis should be laid on bringing Japanese technology to Nepal to expand the industrial sector,” said Komori.

Similarly, Masashi Ogawa, Japanese ambassador to Nepal, said that the visit by the Japanese business delegation will help reveal the business potential between the two countries. “Nepal has immense investment potential due to the availability of a wide range of natural resources, including water,” Masashi said, adding that this visit is timely as Nepal today is in the quest of attracting larger foreign direct investment.

Likewise, Tamura Noboru, a representative of the Japanese business delegation, said that a number of Nepali people have been doing business in Japan successfully, which has conveyed a message to Japanese investors that Nepali people are capable and dedicated.

Addressing the event, Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi, said that the government is working not only to attract more capital investment, but also to bring in the latest technologies along with the investment. “Besides taking the benefit of technological advancement of Japan, Nepal is also keen to learn about the strategies adopted in Japan for industrial success, manufacturing goods and processing,” Joshi said.

Similarly, Joshi also urged Japanese investors to invest in Nepal informing that the government would assure that their investment would be a mutual benefit to both Japanese investors and Nepal.