The second day of the Kantipur Conclave opened with a discussion about the importance of connectivity for Nepal’s development and prosperity involving former vice-chair of National Planning Commission Swarnim Wagle and development economist Mahendra P Lama.

Speaking at the session titled Bhurajniti ra Artha Kutniti, or Geopolitics and Economic Diplomacy, Lama, a professor at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, said that connectivity has emerged as an important issue in today’s globalised world. He noted that Nepal’s two immediate neighbours China and India are launching connectivity projects in different parts of the world.

Both the speakers said that Nepal should act in a balanced manner to maintain sound relationships with and between India and China, two of the world’s largest economies, and also with other global powers.

Observers are keenly watching how Nepal will navigate relations with India and China, especially given that the country’s political parties lack uniform foreign policy.

“We need to go for a win-win situation, balancing relations with both the neighbours,” Wagle, who recently announced that he will contest the upcoming parliamentary elections on a Nepali Congress ticket, said at the event. “We need to pursue this in a balanced and wise manner. Each of our neighbours is a rising power. We should draw advantages from their strengths.”

Lama hailed Bangladesh for performing an “exemplary balancing act” towards India and China. “Whatever may India and China be doing, Bangladesh is behaving in a balanced manner towards both of them,” he said.

Discussion about geopolitics and connectivity gave way to one about social media and its use as a vehicle of public discourse in the following session titled Sarvajanik Sambad ko Shailee, or the Style of Public Discourse.

The panellists stressed social media as an effective tool for expression and communication, cautioning users to use the platforms wisely.

“Social media has become the public sphere for youths today,” Sobita Gautam, a youth activist, observed.

Dr Jeevan Baniya, a political analyst, said Nepal’s public sphere is largely determined by the political system. “Discussions on issues of public importance are few and less participatory in Nepal,” he said.

Singer and actor Prakash Saput said social media has played a huge role driving the current public discourse. “But the way of public dialogue today is so superficial that issues of importance get sidelined,” the ‘Pir’ hitmaker said.

Dr Bhagwan Koirala, a cardiothoracic surgeon and professor, said that the power and potential of the digital world has not been appropriately utilised. “If utilised properly, it can bring fruitful results,” Koirala, the author of the upcoming autobiography ‘Hridaya’, said. “If not, it can be dangerous.”

In another session of the Conclave, stakeholders and entrepreneurs spoke about the need to reduce Nepal’s import-export gap by increasing domestic production and branding production.

“We need to identify and help industries that have the potential to export in the near future,” said Vishnu Agrawal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries. “We need to encourage more business investments.”

Rajendra Malla, chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said Nepal needs to utilise its natural resources and brand its products for global consumption. “Government and private sector should move forward together like two wheels of the same chariot,” he said.

“We need to make exports competitive as the cost of doing business is high in Nepal,” said Shekhar Golchha, the president of FNCCI.

Ganesh Prasad Pandey, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, said that the ban on import of some ‘luxury’ items was put in place after discussion with experts. “The ban is temporary,” Pandey said. “Government is positive on cooperating with the private sector to increase production and export.”

Neelam Dhungana Timsina, deputy governor at Nepal Rastra Bank, said even though a lot of work is yet to be done, the export is increasing over the years.

The third session of the day, titled ‘Music has no boundaries’, brought together some of the country’s most acclaimed musicians working across genres—the ethnomusicologist Dr Lochan Rijal; singer and researcher Jhuma Limbu; rapper Girish Khatiwada; and the pop singer Swoopna Suman. The session was moderated by musician Aavas.

Limbu stressed the need to preserve Nepal’s homegrown music. “An individual's effort alone can’t preserve Nepal’s local music,” she said. “If we are to preserve our music, the state should include subjects about Nepal’s indigenous music in our school’s curriculum.”

Rijal, a multi-instrumentalist, said, “The biggest misfortune is that we are going to die without listening to our own music.” He also explained how preserving indigenous music can open economic avenues. “If only we could put our indiginious music in our school’s curriculum, over 90,000 people would get job opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, rapper Khatiwada, who is a pioneer of Nepali rap, or Nephop as it is called today, shared his experience of the early phase of the rap and hip-hop scene in Nepal. He reminisced on how rap music went from being a fringe genre in Nepal to gaining a mainstream status, and his own place in it. He also stressed the social responsibility of musicians as music plays a significant role in connecting with the mass and influencing them.

Swoopna Suman, the youngest of the panellists, spoke about how modern technology and easy access to the internet has helped artists to make a living. “Pandemic didn’t affect me much economically because I was earning from online platforms,” the ‘Kasari Bhanu’ hitmaker said.

Speaking as part of the day’s fourth session, titled ‘Women in Leadership’, Kathmandu Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol said women should first be economically independent before they join politics.

Other speakers at the session were Mina Kumari Lama, mayor of Hetauda Metropolitan City; Phubati Rajbanshi, chairperson of Gauriganj Rural Municipality; and Prabha Bogati, deputy mayor of Bidur Municipality. The programme was moderated by Prakriti Bhattarai, chairperson of Political Literacy for Women, a digital platform that aims to educate Nepali women about politics.

Rajbanshi said that it is now time for women to come for leadership roles, and political leaders should welcome their arrival.