Kathmandu, Oct 01: In an effort to attract investment from Nepalese living abroad, the Nepalese government and federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising the first ever conference of the non-resident Nepalese commencing next week. About 250 delegates from NRN and PNO (people of Nepalese origin) communities from 30 countries are expected to participate in the conference slated to be held from October 11-14, said coordinator of the event Bhim Udas. Around 1.2 million Non-Resident Nepalese are involved in various types of works in 40 countries around the world excluding the SAARC countries. India alone houses nearly nine million non-resident Nepalese.

According to an estimate Nepalese residing outside the country have contributed around one billion us dollar in the global economy. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa would open the conference at Birendra International Convention Centre in Kathmandu on October 11. "If we can motivate NRN and PNO to be an active participants in the economic activities of Nepal, we can bring economic transformation in the country," acting president of FNCCI Chandi Raj Dhakal told newspersons here.

The main objective of the conference is to explore possibilities of promoting Nepal's export and import business, tourism, hydropower and investment internationally, he said.

So far 176 participants from 30 countries around the world have confirmed their participation despite the ongoing insurgency in the country, he said. Bureau Report