Special act and IT industry
There is a need for a special ACT under the banner of “Institutions of special importance” backed by a special budget for generating talents in all sectors through Human capital building program specially in high revenue generating sectors like IT industries. Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution by an act of Parliament of Nepal for such institution which "serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state". Institutes of National Importance should receive special recognition, higher autonomy, and funding from the Government of Nepal. Nepal must develop a comprehensive national strategy in Human Capital Development by bringing out such special ACT in order to become a significant player in the global IT industry including specific programs, policies, and institutions aimed at building skills and markets. A clear vision of local needs is crucial to avoid becoming a repository for outdated technologies from other countries.
I have served Nepal through a unique combination of being a national-level policy planner, a pioneering educator in the area of information technology and computer engineering, an industrial administrator, an entrepreneur, and a social reformer working for the upliftment of women, child-education and youth employment. I have pioneered and initiated new educational programmes since 1979. My efforts to improve technological infrastructure culminated into the first-ever Computer Engineering programme in the history of Nepal at the Institute of Engineering under Tribhuvan University.
As a national-level policy planner, I have worked for a year as a Member of ICT Advisory Board under the Prime-minister’s office. As an educational policy planner, I have served as a member of the Academic Council under the University Grant Commission (UGC) , Nepal. I have also worked as a governing member of the Nepal Engineering Council for three years.
As an educator, II have served the Engineering faculty of Institute of Engineering (IOE) of Tribhuvan University, Nepal, from 1979 until my retirement in 2015—first as a Professor in the Electronics and Computer Engineering Department and later as the Assistant Dean when I managed four state-owned and 10 TU-affiliated engineering colleges. I have also worked as a Senate member in Pokhara University bringing out policies and designing the course-curriculum for BE Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, BCA, BE in Information Technology. I also served as a member of the Advisory Board of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund Board (RTDF) under the Ministry of Information and Communication. Among a plethora of other influential contributions to the IT field, I have also been running my software company Designco Nepal since 1991.
I won an ICT award from the private sector 2020 as well as from the government of Nepal 2023
I have also served as Chairperson of the Board of Nepal Upatyaka Khane Pani Limited (KUKL), Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is a public company registered under the Nepal Government’s Company Act 2063 and operates under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) modality. According to KUKL’s Articles of Association, the company has the objective to undertake and manage the water supply and sanitation system of the Kathmandu Valley.
In the social sector (NGOs) I have worked as Chairperson of Women Agency Research Nepal (WARN), Chairperson of Dharma Heera Memorial Academy (DHMA), Chair Person of IETE (Nepal chapter) and Former Service Chair of Rotary Club of Mount Everest, Nepal.
The government should mandate that technology is evaluated with a Nepali perspective to ensure its suitability for the country's unique context. There is an urgent need of a good policy on incentives with adequate investment in digital infrastructure Additionally. Nepal should review heavy taxation policy for Nepal-based IT companies in order to make them competitive in the region. An association for IT professionals with concerned stakeholders can also be established to coordinate and support each other. The sector is attracting international clients, leading to an increase in the country's exports of IT products and services. This creates new career opportunities in international business, trade, and export management. The development of the IT sector is driving innovation and digital transformation across various sectors, such as healthcare, education, tourism, and finance. This creates new career opportunities for individuals with IT skills and expertise in these sectors. Overall, Nepal's booming IT sector is creating numerous career opportunities, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributing to the overall economic growth of the country.
Promoting Nepali IT products is being done through organizing fairs and exhibitions, facilitating reciprocal visits by leading software and IT companies to attend symposiums and seminars hosted by Nepali authorities in collaboration with international institutions. I participated in International CeBIT IT fair in Hannover thrice in late 1990s in order to initiate IT industry in Nepal. Close contacts should be established with the major suppliers in neighboring countries to develop subcontracting opportunities and links to their markets.
According to the Digital Nepal Framework report, the telecom and e-commerce sectors are early job facilitators. Nepal's e-commerce sector is valued at close to US$30 million, with over 40 percent growth per annum.
The revenue from Nepal's e-commerce is expected to increase annually. The telecom sector is also a major employer, with the potential to grow Nepal's job market in the form of skilled workforce requirements for technical work, installation, and maintenance. Private sector should be encouraged to work in collaboration with public sector.
International awards, Infodevelopers ICT awards, National ICT award institutions along with Computer Associations of Nepal (CAN), Nepal Association of Software & IT Services Companies (NASIT), boot camps, and training programs have helped to ICT Hman Capital flourish the IT sector.
With the implementation of special act for Human Capital Development supported by adequate investments in education, training, and infrastructure, Nepal's IT industry is poised to create up-and-coming employment opportunities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, computer security, automation, computing, Internet of Things (IoT), software development, IT infrastructure, digital marketing, data analysis, and cybersecurity in the near future.