KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that optimum utilisation of information technology was inevitable to compete in the global market at a time when the country has entered the phase of economic transformation, ending political transition.

Addressing the 'Digital Nepal Conference' organised by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, along with Frost & Sullivan (market research company) in the capital city today, the prime minister cautioned that no one shall wait for us if we failed to pick up pace in the present dynamic world.

PM Oli was of the view that government was in the process of increasing the use of information technology for a developed and prosperous nation through good governance.

He stated that the government had commenced e-payment system, and that use of digital technology could not be avoided in education sector. He expressed hope that the Digital Nepal Conference would offer instrumental recommendations for capacity building of the citizens to increase production and productivity in the country.

'The government is ready for overall development of the society by 2030 through millennium development goals (MDGs). This is not only our duty but also a need. So, it is imperative to implement the concept of digital Nepal to achieve our goals,' PM Oli shared.

Also speaking at the programme, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota opined that information technology plays a key role in easy service delivery, economic growth and employment generation, adding that its use would be intensified in agriculture, education, health and tourism sectors by internalising the progress made by neighbouring India and China in this sector.

He expressed confidence that the recommendations received from the conference would contribute to the government's motto of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry Mahendra Man Gurung, underscoring implementation of Digital Nepal campaign, viewed that it was important to implement the national identity card by government which could help the citizens avail all state services and facilities with the help of a single identity card.

Likewise, Global President and Managing Partner of Frost & Sullivan, Aroop Zutshi presented a proposed framework themed 'Digital Nepal: Social and Economic Framework for Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' to the prime minister.

He pressed for modernising and digitalising traditional industries that would not only contribute to job creation but also give impetus to exponential economic growth.

On the occasion, Chiefs of the Department of Civil Personnel Records and Employees Provident Fund exchanged agreement paper to streamline services to be rendered to service-seekers through a one-door policy.

Several national and international experts on Information Technology sector and representatives of the agencies concerned are participating in the conference.