KATHMANDU: According to the Department of Industry (DoI), 402 international companies committed to investing Rs 61.78 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal for the fiscal year 2023–2024. These foreign businesses, which made up 92.6 percent of all businesses registered, offered 19,565 workers job prospects. With the highest FDI commitment ever made in 2014–15 amid the terrible earthquakes, this sum is the second-largest to date.

Over time, the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) committed has fluctuated; during the COVID-19 epidemic, FDI fell precipitously in 2014–15 but subsequently increased to Rs 55.76 billion in 2017–18 and Rs 54.15 billion in 2021/22. The government reduced the required foreign direct investment (FDI) to Rs 20 million in an effort to attract more investors; nevertheless, political upheaval led to a decline in promises to Rs 30.69 billion in 2022–2023. Just Rs 148.87 billion, or almost one-third, of the FDI pledges made to Nepal over the previous 13 years have been fulfilled.

Including both local and international businesses, the government registered 434 firms in the most recent fiscal year, a 34.78 percent increase from the year before. A total of 25,551 persons were expected to find employment possibilities in 333 small, 49 big, and 52 medium-sized industries. According to their fixed capital, enterprises are categorized under the Industrial Enterprises Act 2020 as small businesses up to Rs 150 million, medium businesses between Rs 150 and Rs 500 million, and large businesses over Rs 500 million.

Additionally, 6,051 products registered their trademarks in the last fiscal year, with 11 new designs and two goods receiving patent marks. A total of 113 cases were filed against trademark violations, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect intellectual property in Nepal.