The Kantipur Economic Summit 2025 underway in Kathmandu on Wednesday has brought together leading voices from the public and private sectors under the theme “Building a resilient economy”.

The summit comes ahead of the presentation of the national budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is scheduled for May 29. With policymakers, industry leaders, and experts in attendance, the event aims to provide timely insights and recommendations to shape economic priorities ahead of the fiscal budget.

The first session, “Conversation with key taxpayers: Expectations and experiences”, will focus on the evolving relationship between the state and its top taxpayers, emphasising how taxation is not just a duty but a partnership in nation-building. The discussion will highlight the real-life experiences, challenges, and expectations of major taxpayers in Nepal. Speakers for this session include Upendra Paudyal, chairman of Nabil Bank; Anuj Agrawal, director at Vishal Group; Ravi KC, vice president of Surya Nepal; and Jabbor Kayumov, chief executive officer of Ncell. The session will be moderated by prominent banker Anil Keshary Shah.

The second session, “Budget: Beyond figures, towards purpose”, will delve into the broader implications of Nepal’s national budget. The discussion will examine how budgetary allocations can be directed not just towards expenditure but towards addressing the country’s development priorities, promoting fiscal discipline, and building public confidence. Panellists include Ghanshyam Upadhyay, secretary at the Ministry of Finance; Rameshore Khanal, former finance secretary; Chandra Prasad Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI); and Amrita Sharma, a researcher in the fiscal and financial sector. The session will be moderated by Yagya Banjade, journalist at Kantipur Daily.

The final session, “Face-to-face with the finance minister”, will feature Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, who will respond to questions surrounding slow economic growth, investment stagnation, declining private sector confidence, and public distrust in governance. The conversation will aim to shed light on the government’s plans to revive the economy, improve policy consistency, and build credibility with stakeholders. The session will be moderated by Rupesh Shrestha, deputy news editor at Kantipur Television.