Finance Minister Wagle Says Current Government Is Nepal’s Most Private Sector-Friendly and Reform-Oriented

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has claimed that the current government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is proving to be one of the most private-sector-friendly and reform-oriented governments in Nepal’s history. He made the remarks while addressing a workshop on “Legal Reforms for Investment and Development related to Nepal Infrastructure Conference 2026” organized by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on Friday. Wagle said the mandate received by the RSP was not merely a result of dissatisfaction with the practices of traditional political parties but also reflected expectations for the country’s future. He said the government has set a target of achieving an average 7% real economic growth over the next decade and expanding the size of Nepal’s economy to US$100 billion within a few years. The Finance Minister said Nepal cannot achieve sustained economic growth simply by replicating development models used in the past. Instead, he stressed the need to focus on emerging economic opportunities of the 21st century. Given Nepal’s geographical circumstances, he identified the digital economy, international trade in services and technology-based sectors as potential drivers of future economic growth. He also emphasized that the expansion of digital technology has made it easier to deliver services to international markets, creating opportunities for Nepal to benefit from the global services economy. Wagle further said achieving the government’s 7% growth target would require stronger cooperation and increased investment from both the government and the private sector. The government has also been pursuing legal and policy reforms aimed at improving the investment environment and supporting private-sector activity.