Government Approves IPO of NRN Nepal Development Fund; Rs. 10 Arba Investment Projects to Move Ahead

The NRN Nepal Development Fund has received approval to issue its Initial Public Offering (IPO), with the move clearing the way for the fund to proceed with its proposed Rs. 10 Arba investment plan. The fund’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anal Raj Bhattarai, said the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) completed the required legal and procedural approvals on Tuesday, allowing the fund to move ahead with the public offering. According to Bhattarai, the fund had already completed the necessary legal and procedural preparations for the IPO. Under the proposed structure, 85% of the shares will be offered through the IPO to Nepalis living abroad. The fund had earlier received approval to allocate up to 51% of its shares through the IPO. The latest approval has increased the permitted allocation to 85%, enabling the fund to proceed with its revised share distribution plan. Following the approval, the fund can now advance both its IPO process and the proposed Rs. 10 Arba investment projects. The initiative has been developed as a dedicated platform to channel capital from the Nepali diaspora into investment opportunities in Nepal. The fund aims to mobilize overseas Nepali capital, knowledge, and expertise toward the country's economic development, infrastructure, productive sectors, and capital market. Former NRNA President Kumar Pant described the approval as the result of seven years of continuous efforts. He said the approval of the legal amendments related to the fund marks a historic milestone in bringing diaspora investment into Nepal. Meanwhile, NRNA President Dr. Hem Raj Sharma had recently expressed his commitment to accelerating the fund's activities during the NRNA Europe Regional Conference. The NRN Nepal Development Fund is envisioned as a national initiative connecting Nepalis living around the world with investment opportunities in Nepal. The fund is expected to provide a structured mechanism for mobilizing diaspora investment while contributing to sustainable economic development and expanding investment in infrastructure, productive industries, and the capital market. The IPO approval is therefore expected to strengthen efforts to bring overseas Nepali capital into the domestic economy and increase diaspora participation in Nepal's investment landscape.