The Embassy of India in Kathmandu, in partnership with the AI Association of Nepal, organized a high-profile event titled “AI for Inclusive Growth: Building Nepal’s AI Ready Future” on 21 November 2025. The programme has been officially recognized as a pre-Summit event for the AI Impact Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026.

The event drew over 400 participants representing Nepal’s startup ecosystem, government agencies, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Robotics Association of Nepal, NAS IT, Fintech Alliance, academic institutions, think tanks, and media. The discussions centered on recent AI advancements and Nepal–India collaboration in emerging technologies.

Hon’ble Minister for Communication and Information Technology of Nepal, Mr. Jagdish Kharel, attended as Chief Guest. He highlighted the Government of Nepal’s AI initiatives and the growing potential for bilateral cooperation in digital innovation.

At the plenary session, Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava underscored India’s “AI for ALL” approach, noting that the upcoming AI Impact Summit aims to shift global attention toward the real-world impact of AI. He urged Nepali youth to actively participate in the Summit’s global challenges—AI for ALL, AI for HER, and YUVAi.

A keynote by Mr. Amitabh Nag, CEO of Digital India Bhashini Division, demonstrated the transformative role of Bhashini in public service delivery in India. Mr. Anirban Sarma of ORF introduced the AI Impact Summit’s format and objectives.

A panel discussion on “Leveraging AI for Nepal’s Growth,” moderated by Dr. Suresh Pokharel, explored policy development, robotics adoption, and the role of AI in building Nepal’s Digital Public Infrastructure. Senior experts from Nepal and India shared insights based on their institutional experiences.

The event concluded with a workshop on AI tools and architecture led by experts from the AI Association of Nepal, featuring industrial case studies on Bhashini AI. Special Guest Ms. Radhika Aryal, Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, also participated.

Applications for the AI Impact Summit’s three global challenges and Research Symposium are open at: impact.indiaai.gov.in