Nepal UK
Photo : London Nepal News
The Britain Nepal Chamber of Commerce (BNCC) hosted Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Khadka Raj Poudel, and Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Manish Jha at a dinner-style interaction in west London on Tuesday 3 November, bringing Nepali entrepreneurs, investors and professionals into direct conversation with visiting officials about trade and investment.
The event took place at Monty's Restaurant in Ealing Broadway. It was chaired by BNCC Chairman Biraj Bhatta and hosted by Vice Chairman Indra Giri. According to a report published on 4 November, those present included Nepali business people and investors based in the UK, technology and other professionals, and community representatives, among them former BNCC Chair Rajan Kandel.
Mr Poudel is in London leading a Nepali delegation to the World Travel Market, which runs from 3 to 5 November at ExCeL London. Mr Jha, who chairs the Nepal–UK Parliamentary Group, is also visiting the UK.
The discussion focused on widening trade and business ties between Nepal and the UK, promoting business collaboration and finding ways to channel foreign investment into Nepal, particularly through Nepali entrepreneurs and investors living in Britain. Both visitors set out their views, and guests put questions and suggestions to them. No specific commitments, investment figures or policy announcements from the session have been published, and BNCC had not released a formal statement at the time of writing.
The programme is not confined to the dinner. The visit is also reported to include meetings with British MPs and politicians and a separate interaction with the wider Nepali community. A welcome reception was scheduled for Wednesday 4 November at the Nepali Embassy in London, with Mr Poudel and Mr Jha expected to attend. Mr Poudel is due to return to Nepal on 6 November.
The timing gives the occasion extra weight for the diaspora business community. Tourism is one of the sectors where Nepal's government is most visibly seeking overseas partners, and British business owners with Nepali roots are often among the first to be asked to invest, advise or open doors. Whether the meeting leads to concrete projects will depend on follow-up from both the chamber and the Nepali government; for now, the session is best understood as an opening exchange rather than a deal-making forum.