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IT companies call for tax concessions to develop Nepal as a Global Tech Hub

Kathmandu: Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies (NAS IT) has called upon the Nepal government to announce a tax incentive policy for 10 years including zero percent corporate tax and eight percent export credit facilities.

Addressing a press meet in the capital for the budget for the fiscal year 2024/25, NAS IT provided various suggestions to be included in the next fiscal year’s budget so as to develop Nepal as a global tech hub.

NAS IT urged the government to provide loans to enhance financial access for IT startups and entrepreneurs, introduce insurance policies for IT companies with 90 percent of the premium costs subsidized for five years, operate IT parks and IT hubs, prioritize local companies when purchasing software, participate in international IT exhibitions, allowing IT companies to establish their branch offices abroad, and establish an IT Board.

To promote Nepali IT companies, products, and industries, NAS IT has suggested collaborating with Nepali embassies abroad, treating large software projects as infrastructure projects, promoting the PPP model, and improving the procurement process.

“ If the government could make these arrangements, the Nepali IT industry could be developed into a 700 billion NPR export industry in the next 10 years and Nepal could be developed as a global tech hub,” the Association said.

The Association also demanded to establish an IT Board as an autonomous body under a separate law for the development and promotion of technology sector in the country.

The  NAS IT suggested the government to rent buildings ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 square feet in different cities and provide facilities available in IT parks, transforming them into small IT parks.

NAS IT is a non-profit umbrella organization of IT companies established with the vision of developing Nepal as a global tech hub.

Since its establishment, the organization has been working on innovation, empowerment, collaboration, capacity building, and policy advocacy to advance Nepal’s IT sector.