The Consulate General of Nepal in New York, in collaboration with The Great Nepali Diaspora (TGND), hosted an interactive session on Friday focused on positioning Nepal as a premier hub for IT services and clean energy investment. The event featured TGND founder Preeti Adhikary and Consul General Dadhi Ram Bhandari.
Preeti Adhikary outlined the mission of TGND, which she founded in August 2022 to unite a professionally and ethnically fragmented diaspora. She noted that while many diaspora organizations exist, TGND aims to provide continuous professional support throughout a person’s career—from student networking to executive mentorship. Since its inception, the organization has grown to 50 chapters worldwide.
Adhikary highlighted several key initiatives, including policy advocacy through legal and tech hubs, improvements to aviation safety, and long-term disaster preparedness. A major focus has been advocating for diaspora voting rights—an effort she described as a potentially transformative yet “unpredictable factor” for Nepal’s political landscape. Additionally, TGND is building a “living database” of Nepali experts worldwide to bolster development work currently occurring on the ground in Nepal.
A significant portion of the discussion centered on entrepreneurship and the East Coast’s role in scaling Nepal’s IT sector. Adhikary emphasized that “startups are the way to go,” detailing TGND’s work in running a virtual incubator and hosting pitch events. This initiative led to the creation of MomoVC, a U.S.-based venture fund for early-stage tech startups founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs, focusing on high-growth sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, and fintech. While the fund is currently based in the U.S. due to regulatory hurdles in Nepal—such as double taxation and repatriation issues—it actively prepares Nepali startups for global investment and expansion.
Attendees actively contributed to the conversation, which pivoted toward Nepal’s untapped economic potential, particularly in clean energy and tech infrastructure. Ujjwal Roy, CEO of Seethos and a contributor to Nepal’s first AI policy, highlighted that the country is “sitting on a goldmine.” With a theoretical hydropower capacity of 83,000 megawatts and only about 3,400 megawatts currently being generated, roughly 96% of this clean energy remains untapped. He argued that this resource is “more valuable than gold” in the era of AI, which relies on power-hungry data centers. He urged TGND to scrutinize Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to ensure that energy development benefits the entire nation rather than a select few.
Another participant expressed a desire for avenues to engage with startups in passive advisory roles, offering to connect entrepreneurs with customers on the U.S. East Coast to “change their trajectory.”
Consul General Dadhi Ram Bhandari acknowledged the “disconnect” between diaspora expectations and Nepal’s policy processes. He encouraged the diaspora to provide critical reviews and feedback to help “sensitize” policymakers. He noted that the government has prioritized IT service exports—supported by new “automatic approval” routes for FDI and the removal of minimum investment thresholds for tech startups—and is working to improve the investment climate. He cited a U.S. State Department report that highlights significant potential in Nepal’s strategic location and human capital.
Adhikary concluded by sharing plans to transform the consulate into a “hub for trade, innovation, and dialogue,” with future events planned for pitch sessions and professional networking within the diaspora community.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
