Kathmandu: The Embassy of Nepal organized a conference on ‘Nepal-UK Collaboration: Prospects of Investment and Accounting Outsourcing’ at its premises in London on May 15. The event brought together chartered accountants, business persons, investors, government officials, and representatives of Nepali diaspora in the UK to discuss emerging opportunities in the investment and outsourcing sectors.
Welcoming the participants, Charge d’Affaires Bipin Duwadi emphasized the rapidly changing landscapes of the global economy, demography, and technology in recent years and the growing prospects of outsourcing from the UK to Nepal. He referenced the ‘Global Outsourcing Talent Index 2026’ which ranked Nepal on 19th out of 193 UN member states and highlighted Nepal’s growing recognition as a hub for businesses seeking cost-effective and efficient outsourcing destinations. He also underscored Nepal’s low labour costs, youths having English language proficiency, talent availability, digital infrastructure, and business, legal, and political stability. He further highlighted that the Government of Nepal has initiated a ‘New Phase of Economic Reform Series’, among other key initiatives, with comprehensive legal and institutional reforms to encourage start-ups and investment from the Nepali diaspora and investors from around the world and for them to connect with investors and business communities to invest in and outsource services in Nepal.
Nil Saru, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN), addressed the gathering and reflected on Nepal’s strengths in accounting and outsourcing services, including its quality human resources, strong work ethic, and favourable time zone. Referring to ICAN’s GAIN initiative, he stressed the importance of international collaboration and called for greater investment to promote Nepal’s professional talent globally and expand the country’s outsourcing sector.
Chandra Kanta Bhandari, Assistant Auditor General at the Office of the Auditor General addressed the conference virtually and emphasized the importance of professional standards, institutional readiness, and predictable policies of Nepal government in supporting Nepal’s outsourcing and financial services sectors.
The Conference was also addressed by Indy Singh, Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland; Shaz Khan, Council Members of Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW); Biraj Bhatta, Chairman of the Britain Nepal Chamber of Commerce (BNCC); Roshan Rathi, President of the Nepal Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI); and Sashidhar Nepal, President of Nepalese Accountant Association in UK (NAA UK).
The speakers highlighted the growing contribution of Nepali accounting professionals in international markets and underscored Nepal’s potential as a trusted destination of outsourcing services, including in the accounting sector. They emphasized that Nepal’s young and skilled talent pool, strong work ethic, language competency, favourable time zone, and cost competitiveness position the country as an emerging and lucrative destination for outsourcing services. They also called for stronger trade ties, professional collaboration, and business partnerships to further modernize Nepal-UK economic relations.
As part of the conference sessions, ICAN Vice President, Anand Wagle, delivered a presentation on ICAN’s GAIN Initiative and its role in enhancing international engagement and professional development. Saroj Sapkota of NAA UK delivered a presentation focused on the prospects for expanding accounting and outsourcing services from Nepal to international markets.
Following the presentations, a panel discussion was organized on the theme of ‘Nepal as an Emerging Global Outsourcing Hub: Opportunities and Bottlenecks.’ The session was moderated by Krishna Dahal. Panelists covered a wide range of topics focusing on workforce competitiveness, technology adoption, policy support, investment climate, and practical challenges in positioning Nepal as a reliable outsourcing destination. The Panelists underscored the importance of developing specialized outsourcing services, strengthening global partnerships, and establishing secure digital infrastructure and robust data protection frameworks to support the sector’s growth. They also emphasized the need for a predictable and business-friendly regulatory environment.
In his closing remarks, Bimal Dangol, Executive Director of ICAN, acknowledged the valuable contributions of the speakers and participants, and reaffirmed ICAN’s commitment to supporting cross-border professional engagement and upholding high professional standards. He also highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration among professional bodies, business persons, and policymakers to strengthen Nepal’s presence in the international outsourcing sector and further deepen Nepal-UK economic cooperation. The conference was attended by more than 80 participants, including chartered accountants, entrepreneurs, investors, and media representatives.
