Key speakers from the government and private sector have stressed policy gaps and the undervalued role of the private sector as obstacles to Nepal’s development.

Yuba Raj Khatiwada, economic and development advisor to the prime minister and former finance minister, shared that rapid political shifts have not been matched by supportive economic policies, which has hindered Nepal’s path to prosperity. “We enacted political changes swiftly, yet economic growth has not succeeded in gathering the same pace,” he remarked while speaking at the Kantipur Conclave 2024, an event focused on “Democracy in Dilemma” adding that, “Some gaps have emerged. Institutional changes took time, and policies could not fully capture the intentions behind political transformations.”

Khatiwada also addressed the complex task of federalism implementation as one of the major challenges arising from political transformation. “Federalism has not even reached a decade of implementation. We must understand it’s not a system that yields results overnight,” he said.

Binod Chaudhary, a lawmaker and businessman, spoke on the challenges faced by the private sector, which contributes around 80 percent of total investment and 85 percent of total employment in Nepal. Chaudhary argued that despite operating within legal boundaries, the private sector faces undue criticism. “The private sector deserves recognition from the state, not undue criticism,” he emphasised.

This fourth edition of the Kantipur Conclave, organised by Kantipur Media Group and spanning Wednesday and Thursday, will explore both national and international themes under the banner “Democracy in Dilemma.”