Kathmandu.  Chiranjibi Adhikari has officially taken charge as the acting president of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation). This leadership change is keenly watched for the Nepali tech sector, which is awaiting rapid technological advancement and policy reform.

Stating that he has taken up his new responsibility with utmost humility and a great sense of responsibility, Acting Chairman Adhikari announced that his leadership will move forward with determination to take Nepal’s IT ecosystem to a new height and uplift the industry.

“Our journey has started from today. Let’s join hands with all stakeholders and make Nepal a global digital powerhouse in the field of technology,” said Adhikari.

5-point main agenda and commitment for digital transformation

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In order to overcome the existing problems in Nepal’s IT sector and to promote domestic innovation and technology business, CAN Federation has committed to prioritize the following 5 key policy agendas

1. Industry recognition and AI good governance for the IT sector

The information technology sector, which is expanding rapidly in Nepal and employing a large number of youths, is still not officially recognized as an industry by the state. The CAN Federation will make strong efforts to get this sector recognized as an industry. Furthermore, the country immediately needs a stronger AI governance policy for responsible and safe use of technology.

2. First priority to Nepali software

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Stating that domestic innovation is the real strength of the country, the federation will advocate for a policy arrangement to give first priority to the software, applications and systems made in Nepal by the private sector in the work of the government and private sector.

3. Promotion and development of startup ecosystem

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CAN Federation will play a leading role in creating an environment for technology startups to flourish smoothly by encouraging youth entrepreneurship. The federation will be active in creating an environment for innovative youths to get funding easily and to scale-up their companies.

4. The government should be a buyer of software, not a competitor{

The federation is of the view that the government should become a big buyer of technology for the development of the private sector but should not be a competitor to produce software on its own. The government has demanded that the government should trust the private sector and give work to the private sector as the development of software by the government bodies themselves would hinder healthy competition in the market and stop the growth of the private sector.

5. Unified IT Umbrella Act, Tax Exemptions and Digital Payments

The federation will exert pressure to repeal the old and incompatible rules and bring a unified IT umbrella act in accordance with the times. It also pledged to make IT businesses more competitive, ensure smooth international digital payments and make arrangements for special tax exemptions for the IT sector.