Summary✨
- The government announced ‘national commitments’ draft for digital transformation across key sectors like education, health, and agriculture.
- Students will learn coding and AI at school, while the IT sector will be prioritized as a national strategic industry.
- Nepal aims to develop as an AI and computation hub, promoting competitive IT firms and attracting multinational companies.
- Plans include creating Nepal’s own satellite for telecom services and enhancing digital literacy up to grade 12.
- The government emphasizes effective implementation of these commitments to benefit digitally skilled youth and improve public services.
The government of Nepal has announced a ‘national commitments’ draft aiming for the country’s progressive transformation. As in the previous plans, the new sharing includes various plans to incorporate digital technologies for the digital transformation of the country and improvement of education, health, agriculture, and other key sectors concerning the public.
The Balen Shah-led government released the national plans that include some of the missing plans from its previously published 100 public service delivery promises. This post guides you through key areas revolving around technology that the current government has envisioned for improved efficiency and transformation of respective sectors.
The document consists of plans from the ruling party, Rastrya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s manifesto and commitments put forward by six nationally recognized political parties in the House of Representatives after the Falgun 21 elections.
The government’s National Commitment plans
Coding at the school level
The government has shared its plan that students from the school level will be taught coding, data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. These topics will be included in the curriculum at the school level. Also, employment-oriented IT programs will be coordinated with universities, CTEVT, and the private sector. The Earn While You Learn model will be developed so that students will be able to generate income while also pursuing education.
The government will also use the skills and experience of Nepalese living abroad, calling it “brain gain.” The plan is also to improve the curriculum and teaching system to make STEM education more practical, research-oriented, and employment-oriented from school to university level.
The target is to transition from traditional teaching practice to a modern, practical-based system where students can utilize their skills and knowledge for employment.
Electronic good governance and technology
The information technology sector will be declared as a national strategic industry, and an IT Promotion Board will be formed. The digital economy will be developed as a key sector for economic growth, high productivity, and quality employment creation.
To build an overall digital economy, priority will be given to investment in communication and public infrastructure, data centers, cloud services, cyber security, privacy, and security of personal information, and high-speed connectivity. The government will improve public procurement policies to encourage the development of software and applications required for government and public purposes in Nepal.
Nepal as an AI and computational power hub
Another key ambition is to develop Nepal as an IT and computation efficiency hub to export ICT services in the next five years. The government aims to connect Nepal to the global economy by building domestic industries for data centers, AI computing, and digital services. Nepal’s increasingly connected populace and digitally skilled youth will particularly benefit from it.
A campaign-oriented program, From Nepal to the World, will be inaugurated to make Nepali IT companies competitive in the global market. Digital infrastructure will be developed to comply with international standards.
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Encourage multinational firms for development and innovation
The government shares that multinational companies (MNCs) will be attracted to establish development and innovation centers. They will receive tax incentives for encouragement. Likewise, the public procurement system will be made transparent and accountable to ensure participation and partnership of local IT companies in the government-led digital projects.
Nepal’s own satellite
In another hallmark plan, a program will be implemented to develop Nepal’s own satellite, which will be used to ensure basic telecom services and digital connectivity in rural and remote areas. A Sovereign Large Language Model will be developed and used with priority to innovation based on AI and generative AI.
The Digital Nepal Framework will be revised in a timely manner, and the Nagarik App will be developed as a super app. More investment in digital skills will be poured. Digital literacy, AI, and content moderation, etc., will be made mandatory up to grade 12.
Investment in digital skills will be increased, and digital literacy, including artificial intelligence and content moderation, will be made mandatory up to grade 12.
Empower youth for data science, AI, renewable energy, and other new innovations
The government will launch a national program to hone youth skills in emerging technologies such as AI, data science, cybersecurity, biotech, and renewable energy. IT parks will be used to promote digital entrepreneurship. Special incubation centers and an Innovation Fund will be established for monitoring.
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Health insurance and telemedicine improvements
The government has also shared its plans to improve health services. It says that the health insurance program will be expanded into a better model with quality and accessibility for every citizen. “One citizen, one digital health profile” will be implemented. It will remove the need to update the public’s health profile each time they need a service.
The government will also robustly enforce telemedicine to expand quality health services in rural and remote areas. At least on MDGP, doctor, nurse, laboratory, and pharmacy services will be provided in the primary health care center.
The government’s National Commitments comprise plans to improve various sectors with the aim to delivery effiicent publi serivces. The government says that it will implement these plans in the upcoming fiscal year, FY 2083/84, and beyond. So, the upcoming fiscal budget will incorporate these policies. As for implementation, monitoring, and inter-agency coordination will be carried out by the Secretary in charge of Development Management in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Thoughts on the government’s National Commitments
The national commitments of the Balen Shah-led government are promising. They range on eductaion, health, the IT sector, agriculture, etc. It also has a mention of developing Nepal’s own satellite to expand telecom services in rural areas. It’s also exciting to see that Nagarik App will have more features for better public service delivery in the coming days.
But the question is on effective implementation. The policies require proper and timely enforcement so that the beneficiaries can bear the fruit of these commitments. Especially for the digitally skilled youth of the country, the prospects are very high. In 2022, Nepali youths imported ICT services worth Rs 67 billion. So, the potential is extremely huge for them.
The Prime Minister’s Office has sought public comments and suggestions on this draft by Baisakh 10, 2083. The commitments will be finalized after including feedback and suggestions later. They will go into implementation after the FY 2083/84 budget.
Let’s be hopeful about these commitments.
Have your say on these commitments by the government. Are they ambitious or reachable through effective implementation and continuous monitoring? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
