Newly elected president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Photo: Saroj Nepal)
The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) has unanimously elected Sunil KC, a prominent young entrepreneur and investor, as its new president.
Thirty-two-year old KC is also an executive member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the umbrella organization of the private sector in Nepal.
KC, a major investor in the energy sector and a key figure in fostering Nepal-India entrepreneurial ties, has been given additional responsibilities to strengthen private sector collaboration between the two countries after being elected as the president of the NICCI.
The NICCI plays a crucial role in fostering economic cooperation between Nepal and India, promoting investments and business opportunities.
To qualify for membership in the NICCI, organizations must have a demonstrated interest or involvement in business activities between Nepal and India.
Sunil KC has been elected president of the NICCI, following in the footsteps of its founding president and subsequent leaders, including late Prabhakar Shamsher Rana, Rukma Shamsher Rana, Surya Shamsher Rana, Arun Chaudhary of CG Holdings, and Srijana Rana.
The FNCCI will officially unveil its new leadership team, including Sunil KC as president, at a general meeting in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Nepal prioritizes Indian investment
Following his election as the NICCI president, KC has prepared an action plan to be carried out in the coming days.
"My special attention would be focused on maintaining and increasing the imports from Nepal," said newly elected President KC, "There have been problems in exporting readymade shoes. It would be my first priority to increase exports of Nepali products."
His second priority is to bring Indian investments in energy and infrastructure development sector of Nepal.
Even though there have been Indian investments in power projects including Arun III, the elite families of India have not yet invested in the power projects in Nepal. The Indian investment has been increasing in Nepal since 1990.
"There has been an investment gap from the private company of India," said KC, "We are planning to hold an annual Nepal-India summit targeting the Indian investment."
KC further said that he has planned to extend NICCI's chapters in Birgunj and Biratnagar and establish its office in New Delhi in the next two years.
Likewise, his another plan is to open a subsidiary institute to promote startups in both the countries.
The NICCI had been registered in Kathmandu District Administration Office in 2051 BS. There are 167 members in the organization, currently.
Seasoned energy sector professional
India is the biggest market for hydroelectricity generated in Nepal. Nepal is exporting electricity to India apart from efforts being made to bring in investment for this sector from the southern neighbor.
Nepal and India have already signed an agreement to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India. KC is also the incumbent the director of Singati Hydro Energy Limited and High Himalaya Hydro Construction Pvt. Ltd., and Executive Director of Mountain Infra Company Limited.
Since Indian Ambassador to Nepal is the ex-officio patron of the NICCI, KC says, the direct contacts can be established with the Indian entrepreneurs. He is of the opinion that a tri-country company (Nepal-India-Bangladesh) can be established to generate hydropower in Nepal.
An advisor of the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN), KC has invested in the 25-MG Singati Hydropower and 86-MW Landruk Modi hydropower projects.
His career begins while he was 13
Born in Dang 32 years ago, KC had started his career as a media person when he was 13. He is also the co-founder of Tulsipur FM. In 2014, he had established the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA), an independent, non-partisan foreign policy think-tank based in Kathmandu. His entrepreneurial journey had begun with the Asia Corporation that he established in 2016.
This allowed him to bid on government tenders and collaborate with multinational companies. He is also the Managing Director of Asia Corporation P. Ltd. that sells raw materials to ready made goods. Besides, the Corporation also exports hydropower, hardware, and technology, e-governance solution, pharmaceutical products manufactured in Nepal and supplies chemical fertilizers in Nepal.
KC, has been involved in various international forums including ADA University Policy Forum, Azerbaijan, South Asia Conference of Institute for Defense and Strategic Analysis, Indian Council of World Affairs, Vivekananda International Foundation among others.
AIDIA founder KC, a political science graduate from a university in New Delhi, has been producing and directing AIDIA dialogues.
