The ICT Foundation Nepal successfully concluded the two-day Huawei MNC Digital Nepal Conclave 2023 with great enthusiasm. The conclave, which aimed to foster a digitally empowered Nepal, featured over 15 sessions covering six themes. The event took place on Friday and Saturday at The Soaltee Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' graced the Friday session as the chief guest, while Communication and Information Technology Minister Rekha Sharma attended as a special guest. The closing event had the honor of hosting Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat as a special guest.
The two-day program witnessed the presence of parliamentarians, ministers, high-ranking government officials from Nepal, representatives of partner organizations, private sector representatives, national and international speakers, subject experts, and prominent individuals engaged in the field of information and communication technology.
Razan Lamsal, the Chairman of the program and President of ICT Foundation Nepal, emphasized that the two-day conclave was organized with the aim of assessing digital competence for driving digital transformation. The event extensively explored different aspects of digital competence and is expected to contribute to government policy-making processes as well.
Likewise, during his speech at the opening session of the conclave, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of prioritizing infrastructure and security to enhance digital capabilities. In the Fireside Power Samvad of the inaugural session, Minister Sharma, also emphasized the evolving significance of information technology, stating that it is not only crucial for entertainment but also for production and the digital economy.
Similarly, while delivering his speech at the concluding session, Minister Mahat conveyed that the knowledge acquired from the Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave 2023 would hold immense value for the government. He affirmed, "Information technology possesses the potential to make a substantial impact on Nepal's economy. The government is assuming a leading role in fostering the growth of the ICT sector, and we are fully prepared to collaborate with all stakeholders in this endeavor."
Prakash Rayamajhi, the IT expert of the Prime Minister, highlighted the extensive discussions on digital competence during the two-day program and emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and the private sector to enhance digital competence.
Jim Wang, the CEO of Huawei Nepal, expressed Huawei's commitment to assist in attaining the objectives of digital Nepal and sustainable development.
Concluding the program, Ganesh Shah, former Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized that achieving a digital Nepal is only possible through the development of digital capabilities.
The event witnessed keynote presentations from notable individuals including Dilip Agrawal, the President of World link, Dr. Chang Hak Choi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Seoul Digital Foundation in South Korea, Lee Yun Seng, Senior Industry Solutions Expert at Huawei Asia Pacific Region, Krishna Bahadur Raut, Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Sameer Singh Jaini, Founder of India's The Digital Fifth, Sameer Maskey, Founder of Fuse Machines, and Professor Hill H. Kobayashi from Tokyo University, Japan.
Over the course of two days, there were in-depth discussions covering various aspects of digital transformation such as digital infrastructure, digital adoption, digital governance, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, digital skills and capabilities, digital economy, fintech, data governance, digital security, digital leadership, and digital empowerment.
On the opening day of the conclave, a panel discussion focused on topics including the importance of supporting infrastructure for digital capabilities, the significance of digital identity as a foundational anchor, and the efforts and practices of municipalities and states in the realm of digital governance.
Likewise, during the second day, a significant panel discussion took place, covering a wide range of topics including digital innovation and entrepreneurial capacity, the importance of a basic tech stack and digital capacity building, the role of the digital economy and financial technology in enhancing capacity, the significance of data governance and digital security in fostering digital capacity, and the overall vision of a digitally enabled Nepal.
Prior to the panel discussion, subject experts presented their papers, adding further insights to the proceedings. The conclave saw the active participation of over 70 resource persons throughout the two-day event. Strong emphasis was also placed on Nepal's potential for digital transformation, highlighting the crucial need for policy formulation and effective implementation to realize this vision.
The Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave, organized by ICT Foundation Nepal, marked its second edition this year. As a pre-event to the conclave, the foundation conducted the 'Digital Pradesh Samvad' program across all seven provinces, leading up to the grand event held in Kathmandu.
During the conclave, the second edition of the 'Digital Pradesh Paridrishya' book was unveiled. This comprehensive publication provides valuable insights into the digital landscape and capabilities of each of the seven provinces.
In addition to the conclave, Huawei, the primary sponsor, arranged the Mobile Nepal Congress, a mini-version of the Mobile World Congress, held in a separate hall. Participants in the Mobile Nepal Congress were updated on emerging technologies, including 5G, AI, and Green Data Centers.
The Digital Nepal Conclave 2023, presented in partnership with Huawei and supported by Yarsa and connected by Nepal Telecom, garnered extensive support from a range of esteemed partners. IME Pay played a significant role as the Digital Payment Partner, while Sasto Ticket contributed as the Ticketing Partner. Broadway Infosys served as the IT Training Partner, and Check Point fulfilled the role of the Security Partner, among others.
Additionally, the conclave received valuable support from prominent entities including the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Department of Information Technology, Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Federation of Nepal Industry and Commerce, Nepal Rastra Bank, and various others.
