August 13, Kathmandu.
The possibility of attracting investment from the UAE for the development of startups and industries in Nepal is becoming strong. Detailed information on the meeting between the Startup Summit Nepal 2026 team and the UAE Ambassador, nationwide campaigns, and investment opportunities.
The possibility of attracting investment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the development of startups and industries in Nepal is becoming strong.
A meeting has taken place between the team including Shobha Gyawali, Chairperson of Startup Summit Nepal 2026, and His Excellency Abdullah Saeed Mubarak Jarwan AlShamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal, regarding the development of new ventures and innovation-based businesses in Nepal, creation of an investment environment, and connecting UAE investors with Nepali startups.
In the meeting, Ambassador AlShamsi expressed the view that if a necessary environment can be created for entrepreneurs wishing to establish industries and startups in Nepal, UAE investors can be attracted to invest in Nepal.
He stated that if promising business ideas, innovative technology, and investable projects are identified in Nepal and systematically advanced, Nepal could become an attractive destination for UAE investors.
Ambassador AlShamsi particularly emphasized the need to prioritize orientation, skill development, and training in information technology, technical, and technology-based sectors.
He was of the view that if necessary skilled manpower can be prepared in Nepal, youth can be attracted towards technology-based entrepreneurship, and promising projects can be developed, then investment opportunities will also expand.
Nepal and UAE have had a long-standing relationship in economic, labor, trade, and investment sectors. UAE Ambassador AlShamsi has also continuously emphasized expanding Nepal-UAE relations into new areas of economy and investment.
Similarly, Shobha Gyawali, Chairperson of Startup Summit Nepal 2026, stated that to create a startup environment in Nepal, it is first necessary to provide practical knowledge and information to youth, students, and potential entrepreneurs regarding this.
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According to her, Kathmandu-centric programs alone will not be sufficient for the development of startups, so preparations are underway to extend the campaign to all seven provinces and universities of the country.
She stated that by reaching the provinces and universities, information will be provided on the concept of startups, business mindset, business plan development, sources of investment, market management, use of technology, and practical aspects of enterprise operation.
Gyawali said, “In the first phase, we will conduct programs in various provinces and universities of Nepal to provide detailed information about startups to students, youth, and potential entrepreneurs. Its initiation has already taken place from Tribhuvan University.
Individuals who want to start a business must acquire practical knowledge on how to transform their ideas into a business, where to source investment, and how to establish themselves in the market.”
She clarified that the objective of Startup Summit Nepal 2026 is not merely to organize a conference and finish, but to facilitate the entire journey from the entrepreneur’s idea to investment.
She said, “Our goal is not just to inform youth about startups and send them home. It is to transform promising ideas into projects, make projects investable, and ultimately connect them with investors, both domestic and international. Only this way can the startup initiative yield real economic results.”
Chairperson Gyawali stated that even though there is ample potential in Nepal, some new businesses could not gain expected momentum due to the lack of capital, technology, market, skills, and guidance, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation between the government, private sector, universities, financial sector, and international investors.
A meeting was held at the UAE Embassy between the team including Shobha Gyawali, Chairperson of Startup Summit Nepal 2026, Keynote Speaker Er. Umesh Kumar Gupta, Director Basudev Neupane, and Director Narayan Prasad Oli, and His Excellency Abdullah Saeed Mubarak Jarwan AlShamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal.
Startup Summit Nepal 2026 aims to develop the campaign that will start at the provincial and university levels into the form of national and international investment conferences.
For more: Startup Summit Nepal Pushes UAE Investment
