New Delhi, 22 February 2026 — The three-day Indo–Nepal Trade Festival 2026 concluded in New Delhi with a renewed commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation across trade, energy, digital economy, tourism, education, and innovation. Organized by the Everest Chamber of Commerce (ECCI) under the theme “Connecting People, Enhancing Bilateral Trade,” the event was supported by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trade and Export Promotion Centre. Held at PHD House in Hauz Khas, it featured over 50 stalls and attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

Addressing the inaugural session, Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, stressed the need to diversify exports beyond soybean and palm oil and enhance Nepal’s participation in Indian trade fairs. Chief Guest Munu Mahawar highlighted India’s logistical support for Nepal’s upcoming general elections and noted that 40 Nepali entrepreneurs received training at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras under the India–Nepal Startup Partnership.

Energy cooperation emerged as a key theme, with discussions on hydropower expansion and the proposed “Himalayan Compute Corridor,” positioning Nepal as a potential hub for clean-energy-powered data centers. Experts emphasized strengthening domestic energy systems before expanding exports.

Sessions on banking and FinTech focused on QR payment interoperability, cross-border remittances, and regulatory coordination. Tourism discussions underscored promoting Ramayana and Buddhist circuits, adventure tourism, and destination weddings through better branding and border management.

Deliberations on media responsibility, youth engagement, education, health, AI, and startups reflected a broader shift in Nepal–India relations toward an integrated partnership model. Organizers concluded that stable policies, infrastructure development, and strong people-to-people ties are essential to achieving shared prosperity.