A commercial delegation from the Federation of European Businesses in India (FEBI) visited Kathmandu from 6 to 7 May, as part of a mission hosted by the European Union Delegation to Nepal.

The two-day visit aimed to provide European businesses with a deeper understanding of Nepal’s evolving business landscape, recent policy reforms, and emerging investment opportunities. It marked a significant step towards strengthening economic ties between Europe and Nepal.

The FEBI delegation met with several high-level officials, including Badri Prasad Pandey, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation; Yuba Raj Khatiwada, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister; and Sushil Gyewali, the CEO of the Investment Board Nepal.

EU Ambassador to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, commended Nepal’s recent initiatives to attract foreign investment while acknowledging the challenges the country continues to face. She noted the European Union’s increasing focus on investment in Nepal’s key sectors, which align with national priorities, and underscored the importance of enhancing EU-Nepal business collaboration to unlock the country’s full investment potential.

Throughout the visit, Nepali officials and stakeholders briefed the European delegation on recent economic reforms, priority investment sectors, and the government’s policy outlook. They encouraged European businesses to seize Nepal's growing trade and investment opportunities.

A highlight of the mission was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FEBI and the European Economic Chamber Nepal. The agreement lays the foundation for greater institutional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and support for business facilitation between European investors and Nepali enterprises.

The delegation also held focused consultations with honorary consuls, investment bankers, and business leaders from the energy, aviation, and IT sectors. These discussions explored business-to-business opportunities and helped build stronger commercial connections between European and Nepali stakeholders.

A key component of the visit was a high-level dialogue involving representatives from investment policy think tanks, relevant ministries, investment promotion agencies, and the private sector. This event helped consolidate insights and prepare the groundwork for the upcoming EU-Nepal Business Forum 2025, scheduled for November.

This mission marks a meaningful step towards fostering sustainable economic engagement between Europe and Nepal, paving the way for increased investment and long-term cooperation, the mission said in a statement.