Kathmandu hosted the first-ever Nepal Fintech Festival, organized by Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) and sponsored by UnionPay International. The event took place on Thursday and saw the participation of around 400 people, including representatives from banks, tech firms, regulatory bodies, and fintech industries from Nepal and abroad.
Putting Nepal on the Global Fintech Map
Sanjib Subba, founder of Kathmandu Fintech, introduced the festival with a clear vision—to position Nepal on the global fintech map. He shared that Nepal is now the second South Asian country after India to host a major national-level fintech event.
Focus on Digital Banking, AI, and QR Innovations
The festival featured several speakers discussing the future of fintech, digital banking, QR systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and strategies for partnership and innovation. The opening session included remarks from NCHL CEO Nileshman Singh Pradhan, Muktinath Bikas Bank CEO Pradyumna Pokharel, and Nepal Bankers’ Association Vice-President Surendra Raj Regmi.
Former NRB Governor Honored for Digital Contributions
Former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, was honored for his contributions to digital payments in Nepal. Neil Cross, former Head of Innovation at DBS Bank Singapore, shared his experience in leading digital transformation. Binghan Hu, Head of UnionPay South Asia, also announced upcoming plans to launch card services in partnership with Nepal Investment Mega Bank.
Insights from Leading Banking Experts
Deepak Sharma shared insights into India’s digital banking journey. CEOs from various banks, including Govinda Ghimire from NMB Bank, Manoj Ghimire from Nabil Bank, Pradyumna Pokharel from Muktinath Bikas Bank, and Suman Pokharel from Global IME Bank also spoke at the event.
Tech Exhibitions and Networking Opportunities
The festival featured technology exhibitions, live demos of new innovations, and networking sessions. These sessions allowed attendees to connect with one another and explore possible collaborations in the fintech industry.
