Kathmandu Model College (KMC), in collaboration with the Global Leaders Foundation, hosted the Second India-Nepal Friendship Summit-2024 on Kartik 26, 2081. The summit centered around the theme "Globalization and Socioeconomic Development 2.0." Held at the KMC auditorium, it brought together academics, experts, and students from Nepal and India to discuss opportunities for bilateral cooperation in education, technology, and sustainable development.
The summit opened with a session hosted by former Miss Nepal Sadikshya Shrestha and inaugurated by Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung, Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology and Government Spokesperson. Mr. Ramesh Tripathi, Chairman of the Global Leaders Foundation, chaired the summit, and Mr. Surendra Subedi, Principal of KMC College, co-chaired it.
In his remarks, Minister Gurung stressed the urgent need for economic reforms in Nepal and the importance of empowering the youth through communication and information technology advances. He pointed to the existing challenge of Nepali students going abroad for higher education and emphasized the role of educational reforms in enabling Nepal to retain its talented youth. Prof. Dr. Biju Kumar Thapaliya, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University, expressed confidence in the summit’s potential to strengthen the relationship between India and Nepal, underlining that collaboration between the two nations could drive significant progress in education, social well-being, and economic development.
The summit showcased the insights of 25 experts from Nepal and India, who presented papers on globalization and socioeconomic growth topics. The discussions spanned five thematic groups, covering Arts and Humanities, Business and Commerce, Environment and Sustainable Development, Science and Technology, and the Promotion of Education, each led by prominent scholars in these fields. Together, the sessions addressed shared challenges and explored opportunities to deepen the cooperation between India and Nepal across these critical sectors.
Mr. Ramesh Tripathi highlighted the importance of collaboration in sustainable development and the education sector, advocating that ongoing efforts in these areas would benefit strong bilateral relations. Mr. Surendra Subedi expressed gratitude to all those involved in making the summit a success, recognizing the contributions of participants and organizers.
The event was graced by notable figures, including Ms. Shilu Bajracharya, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Open University; Prof. Dr. Dilli Raj Sharma, Dean of Tribhuvan University’s Management Faculty; Prof. Dr. Ishwar Koirala, Head of the Tribhuvan University Research Department; Prof. Dr. Ashish Semwal, Vice-Chancellor of Mayadevi University, Dehradun; Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, former Vice-Chancellor of NAST; Associate Prof. Niraj Dhital, Head of the University Grants Commission’s Research Department; and Mr. Rameshwar Aryal, Chairman of the KMC Education Network.
The summit served as a valuable platform for participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore avenues for strengthening ties between India and Nepal through education, technology, and sustainable development. It marked a significant step forward in the partnership between the two neighboring countries.
