Call for investment in Far-west: Investment conference scheduled for mangshir in Dhangadhi

Dhangadhi: Stakeholders have called for investment in the Far West Province, which is regarded as a “virgin land” from a tourism perspective, ahead of the upcoming Far West Province Investment and Development Conference.

At a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in collaboration with the Far West Government and the Nepal Tourism Board, speakers urged investors to explore the vast tourism potential of the region.

Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey highlighted the need to develop tourism infrastructure in the Far West, stressing the importance of coordinated policy formulation and effective implementation among the federal, provincial, and local levels to foster an investment-friendly environment.

“The Far West, with its unique blend of nature, culture, and adventure travel, holds immense tourism potential. I call on investors to seize this opportunity and invest in its tourism infrastructure through this conference,” Minister Pandey said. He added that budget has been allocated this year to establish a Nepal Tourism Board office in the province to further strengthen tourism development.

Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to welcoming private sector investment. “We aim to showcase the Far West’s potential at both national and international levels through this summit. The government is committed to ensuring legal guarantees and investment security for domestic investors,” he said, calling on stakeholders to participate in the summit scheduled for Mangsir 1 and 2 in Dhangadhi.

Presentations on tourism prospects and investment opportunities were delivered by Nrip Bahadur Sunar, Member of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, and Dilip Bhatta, an expert for the Investment and Development Conference project.

Industry leaders, including Hotel Association President Binayak Shah, emphasized the vast investment opportunities in the region, while Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi underscored the need for integrated efforts to drive tourism growth in the Far West.

Other participants included Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) General Secretary Yubika Raj Bhandari, Nepal Mountaineering Association Vice President Thakur Raj Pande, Siddhartha Hotel and Group of Companies Executive Director Krishna Neupane, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) General Secretary Ram Prasad Sedhai, Confederation of Nepal Industries Tourism Committee President Pampha Dhamala, and Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) General Secretary Devraj Joshi.

It was also informed that mountaineering in the Far West and Karnali provinces has recently been made free for two years. Meanwhile, the upgrading of Dhangadhi Airport and the construction of Kanchanpur Airport are in their final stages. The Far West, officials noted, also carries significant religious tourism potential, reinforcing the call for investment in the region.