Kantipur Media Group will host the first iteration of Kantipur Conclave on Sunday, bringing together eminent speakers and participants from across the globe to hold a discussion on diverse issues facing Nepal, and the solutions to propel the country forward.

With the motto ‘Unleashing Nepal’s Potential’, this year’s conclave will serve as a platform for thought-leaders to share innovative ideas and present suggestions for inclusive and sustainable development to usher Nepal into a new era. The two-day event is being held at Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu and features 10 sessions—both in English and Nepali—and 50 speakers and moderators.

The conclave will kick off on February 17, featuring three keynote speakers: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli; Idah P Riddihough, World Bank's country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka; and Sandip Ghose, executive director of MP Birla Cement.

Riddihough, in her previous stint, served as the operational services director for the bank, supervising financial management and procurement teams for South Asia. Ghose also worked as a country manager and managing director of Unilever Nepal between 1998 and 2002.

The inaugural session 'Youth for Nepal' will feature notable figures like Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Miss Nepal 2018, and Lex Limbu, a London-based blogger, over a discussion of success stories and the opportunities and challenges facing young people in the country.

On the final day of the conclave, two parallel sessions will run in English and Nepali languages, featuring thematic discussions on Nepal's future course, tourism prospects, foreign investments, gender equity, and the IT industry, among others. Among the sessions on February 18 will be a conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Gyawali and Finance Minister Yubraj Khatiwada and an hour-long discussion with chief ministers from all seven provinces.

On the sidelines of the Conclave, exhibition booth spaces are being provided to promoters where over 250 participants will showcase and promote their products, enabling vendors to interact with their market audience and understand their needs.

The sessions will be live-streamed on the Kantipur Conclave’s official website, as well as the social media platforms of The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur daily.