Digital penetration in Nepal’s geopolitics

As a landlocked country, Nepal depends on India for most of its broadband connection.

In his book The India Way , S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India, writes, “What defines power and determines national standing is no longer the same. Technology, connectivity and trade are at the heart of new contestations”. The prescient statement is apposite for all countries in this digital 21st century. All three factors—technology, connectivity and trade—are intertwined and serve as enablers for a country's progress. The Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal travelled to India on an official visit from May 31 to June 3. During the visit, a slew of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) was exchanged between the two countries. In addition, six projects covering trade, energy, physical infrastructure, technology and connectivity were launched. However, the swelling role that technology and the digital economy is to have soon will compel the government of Nepal to accentuate and familiarise itself with the fast-paced advancement of technologies.