Business

Overview

Message from the Ambassador

The United States Embassy welcomes you to the business page of our website! With the end of Nepal’s civil conflict and increasingly, political stability, we believe there are significant opportunities for U.S. businesses to trade with and invest in Nepal. U.S. companies are already successfully working in Nepal, and the number is growing. Many sectors offer opportunities for U.S. companies, including hydropower, solar energy, infrastructure, agribusiness, information technology, tourism, and civil aviation to name just a few.

We stand ready to help U.S. companies export goods and services to Nepal, and identify investment opportunities. This page includes detailed information about Nepal’s business climate. The Government of Nepal is current reviewing many of its trade and investment policies, so we would encourage you to revisit this site – and the links provided – to obtain additional information. The Embassy officers noted or of on this page are also happy to provide information to assist your company.

Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to helping you do business in Nepal!

Nepal is small, but a potential market for US exports of goods and services, government supplies, and investment into various infrastructure sectors. However, there are challenges in doing business in Nepal. The decision making process by the government, the banking system, the foreign exchange regime, and labor issues often pose greater challenges to foreign exporters and investors. The Economic/Commercial Office of the US Embassy, Kathmandu helps US businesses with any information on doing business and investment in Nepal. US businesses are always urged to contact the Econ./Com. officers in the Embassy before they launch on their business project in Nepal. The Investment Climate Statement and the Country Commercial Guide, Nepal, annually updated by the US Embassy, Kathmandu, are great sources of key and useful business related information. Both these documents are available online on the business page of the US Embassy, Kathmandu.

Use of a local business attorney is advisable to help navigate through, the often cumbersome, bureaucratic and legal process of setting up a business, and investing or signing contracts with government or private business entity in Nepal. A strong local partner is also important and useful for US businesses new to Nepal’s market, in some cases mandatory.

In early 2018, Embassy Kathmandu became a “Partner Post” of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in New Delhi. A number of business services/programs, some fee-based, are provided under this Partner Post arrangement, including connecting U.S. businesses to local companies of interest. Requests for these services can be directed to one of our U.S. Export Assistance Centers (www.export.gov/usoffices) or to the FCS New Delhi office (email:office.newdelhi@trade.gov.
web: https://2016.export.gov/india/contactus/index.asp)

Nepali Export Guide (PDF 1MB)
Country Commercial Guide (CCG)

Doing Business in Nepal

Getting Started with U.S. Commercial Service Getting Started with the Department of Agriculture Country Commercial Guide Investment Climate Statement Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

Getting Started with U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Commercial Service (CS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, offers companies a full range of expertise in international trade. Companies can find assistance locally in more than 100 U.S. Commercial Service offices nationwide and in more than 70 international offices.

Getting Started with the Department of Agriculture

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security. In addition to its Washington, D.C. staff, FAS has a global network of 98 offices covering 177 countries. These offices are staffed by agricultural attachés and locally hired agricultural experts who are the eyes, ears, and voice for U.S. agriculture around the world. FAS staff identify problems, provide practical solutions, and work to advance opportunities for U.S. agriculture and support U.S. foreign policy around the globe.

Learn more about the USDA

Country Commercial Guide

These reports on market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business customs prepared at U.S. Embassies worldwide by the Department of Commerce Department, Department of State, and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.

Read Nepal's Commercial Guide

Investment Climate Statement

The U.S. Department of State’s Investment Climate Statements provide country-specific information on the business climates of more than 170 countries and economies. They are prepared by economic officers stationed in embassies and posts around the world and analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses of all sizes.

Read the Statement for [Country]

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

In 1985, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a joint venture between the Department of State and the U.S. private sector, created by then Secretary of State George P. Shultz under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to interact on overseas security problems of mutual concern. Objectives of this joint venture are: to establish a continuing liaison between security officials in both the private and public sector; to provide for regular exchanges of information concerning developments in the overseas security environment; recommend methods for planning and implementation of security programs abroad; and recommend methods to mitigate risks to American private sector interests worldwide. These objectives remain in the current OSAC Charter.

Doing Business in the U.S.

Getting Started

Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than $78 billion in investment, creating and/or retaining over 95,000 U.S. jobs. In fiscal year 2019 alone, SelectUSA facilitated more than $18.5 billion in investment. We work with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and entities across government to facilitate job-creating business investment into the United States and raise awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy.

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