Kathmandu, October 29
Nepal approved foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments worth Rs 16.23 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2083/84 BS.
According to the Department of Industry, 422 industries were registered by the end of Ashoj, with investment commitments totalling the amount. In the same period of the previous fiscal year, 2082/83, FDI commitments worth Rs 35.13 billion had been approved, indicating a significant decline this year.
Of the industries registered by the end of Ashoj, 410 applied through the automatic route and 12 through the approval route.
In Ashoj alone, FDI commitments worth Rs 5.10 billion were approved, with 94 industries registered. Of these, 88 were registered through the automatic route.
Most of the industries registered during the quarter were small-scale. The department reported 417 small industries, two medium-sized industries and three large industries. All industries registered in Ashoj were small-scale.
By number, information technology-related industries accounted for the largest share, with 252 registrations. Tourism-related industries followed with 108, while 33 were service-oriented, 25 manufacturing, and two each in energy and agriculture.
In terms of investment value, tourism attracted the highest FDI commitments at Rs 6.08 billion. Energy received Rs 4 billion, while infrastructure-related industries secured Rs 3.57 billion.
The department’s data show that manufacturing industries received FDI commitments worth Rs 1.60 billion, while information technology-related industries received Rs 928.3 million.
