Page 15 - ICT Nepal News Issue 01

Nepal lacks development roadmap ministryfor lCT. Such separate ministry Where should Nepal particularlY
and nobody seems to come forward for ICT is required especially in a focus on to enhance ICT industrY?
to trace future development of country like Nepal where ICT sector ICT basically has two Parts--
Nepal. Nobody knows where Nepal's is slowly developing. If that is not hardware and software. Nepal should
development progress willreach in possible, government at least should not focus on hardware develoPment
next three years. Nobody is concern not separate lT and Communication- as China and even lndia has reached
over future of the country. However, -they should be placed together.lf far ahead in terms of hardware
lCT is such a. sector in Nepalwhich all these are not possible, we urge development. However, NePal has
is developing in its own despite the government to develop National to focus on software develoPment
contribution and efforts of those in lnformation and Communication which is solely knowledge-based.
power. ICT tools like mobile phones Council as an autonomous body which lndia is much ahead in terms of
and tablets have transformed the is responsible to develop a roadmap software development. Development
world including Nepal. But a bitter fact of the development of lT sector in of software has contributed a lot
is that our policy has failed to address Nepal and direct all departments and in lndia's economy. Our lT exPerts
and acknowledge this transformation m in istries accordingly. are working in different countries
brought by lCT. and big lT companies. Why cannot
So, the first thing is that the Where has the concept of Smart CitY we bring them all to work in
government should change its reached? Nepal by developing a favorable
perspective towards ICT sector and Almost four-five months ago, the environment?Another thing is that
recognize i nformation a nd tech nology government formed a committee there are more than 500business
as fundamental need of people. ln which is coordinated by me. The process outsourcing comPanies
1990, telecommunication in Nepal committee is responsible to develop working in Nepal without being
was quite ahead compared to India. a proposal of Smart City and do registered anywhere. Why don't the
But today Nepal is lagging behind. needful to develop smart cities across government facilitatesuch companies
Before lndia,Nepal had developed the different parts of the country. As to work through formal channel?lndia
concept of lT Park and it was developed a coordinator, I am worried about did the same by announcing tax
in Kavre. Howeveqit is not operating progress made in development holidays to lT companies. Why cannot
properly. The government later did of Smart City. However, my role is our government do the same to
not ensure basic infrastructures like quite ceremonial and bureaucrats attract big lT companies in Nepal?
electricity supply and laying of optical of different ministries including Similarly, another major thing is
fiberin the lT Park. What we believe Ministry of Urban Development have that we don't have scientific statisticsof
is the government shouldhandle the low concern over developing Smart lT sector. Neither the government
operation of lT Park to private sector Cities. We have been proposing the nor CAN has exact status, facts and
if it is finding difficulty in its operation. government to build Smart City as per figures of domestic ICT industrY.
But the government is unwilling do Nepal's own context. Thus, there is an urgent need to carry
so because it does not have a proper national survey of ICT sector from the
understanding of information and Bovernment level. I see that Nepal has
technology. high potential in ICT development as
On top of that Nepal is developing compared to other sector.
in ICT sector but its development
has not followed a consolidated way. How do you analyze current PolicY
"We are talking about National lD ersDective towards initiatives in the field of ICT sector?
Card Smart Licenseand digitalizationin ICT sector and The government policy has
working procedures of the government recosnize information addressed many things in ICT sector.
and these all are the instances of The recently endorsed ICT PolicY
development of ICT sector in Nepal. as 2072is also friendly. Howevel those
Afterour effort, the government has fundamental need old and new policies, though are
at least formed National lnformation friendly to ICT industry, has not been
and Communication Council lately. implemented properly. ICT industry
t e I e c o mmurri-catio u itt will progress much if only those

As per CAN Federation, under which Nepal was quite ahead policies are implemented.
nrinistry should country's ICT sector
fall? UPS and battery traders associated
We have been lobbying with But with CAN Federation are said to
the government to give a seParate have been affected after government

(15) IffiNEPAL (|anuary 20L7)