KATHMANDU, AUGUST 29
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, has called on foreign investors to invest in Nepal's Sudurpaschim Province, citing its rich natural resources and cultural heritage.
Speaking at a meeting organized at the Ministry on Friday as part of preparations for the Sudurpaschim Investment and Development Conference scheduled to take place in Dhangadhi on November 17–18, Dr. Rana described the province as a region of immense natural beauty and a gateway to Nepal's prosperity.
She noted that Sudurpaschim holds vast potential in sectors such as hydropower and renewable energy, agriculture, tourism, cross-border trade, urban infrastructure, information technology and digital infrastructure, mining, and natural resource-based industries. "I urge both domestic and foreign investors to explore opportunities here," she reiterated.
Despite being endowed with abundant water resources, fertile land and rivers, dense forests, unique biodiversity, and cultural heritage, Dr. Rana lamented that the province has long remained underdeveloped due to the poor utilization of these assets. "It is encouraging that the Sudurpaschim government is hosting an investment conference to showcase the province's vast potential and attract foreign investment," she added.
She also recalled that notable development activities-such as road networks connecting the province with Kathmandu-were carried out in the past, particularly under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. On a broader scale, she highlighted that the government has amended key laws to foster an investment-friendly environment in Nepal.
Emphasizing the role of federalism, Dr. Rana stressed that provinces like Sudurpaschim should proactively harness their own potential and develop localized models of growth, rather than relying solely on the federal government for support.
