From Sydney to Nepal: Why the Nepali Diaspora Must Think Beyond Remittances

COMMUNITY

8/1/20263 min read

Returning to Nepal after more than two decades in Australia has given me a different perspective on what it means to be part of the Nepali diaspora.

For years, many of us have contributed to Nepal through remittances, family support and philanthropy. But I believe the next chapter of the Nepali diaspora should be about something bigger: investment, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer and long-term economic partnership with Nepal.

This was one of the central themes I had the opportunity to explore recently at the International Youth Entrepreneurs Summit (I-YES) 2026 in Sydney, organised by FINYE Australia.

Held at the Sofitel Sydney on 24–25 July, I-YES brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and business leaders from Nepal and the global Nepali diaspora. The summit focused on innovation, inclusion and impact, with discussions around entrepreneurship, investment, technology and the future of Nepali businesses.

From Welcome Speech to a Bigger Conversation. I had the privilege of delivering the welcome speech at the summit and later moderating the panel discussion on “Investing in Nepal.”

For me, moderating that conversation was more than simply asking questions on a stage.

It was an opportunity to bring together different perspectives and ask a question that I believe every Nepali entrepreneur living abroad should consider:

How can we turn our global experience, networks and capital into meaningful opportunities in Nepal?

The answer is not simply to send money home. It is about building businesses. It is about investing in ideas. It is about creating jobs.

It is about bringing international standards, technology, management practices and networks into the Nepali market. And most importantly, it is about creating businesses that can grow beyond Nepal.

Nepal Has Opportunity — But We Need to Think Differently

Nepal certainly has challenges. Anyone doing business here knows that. But challenges should not blind us to the opportunities.

Nepal has a young population, growing digital adoption, talented entrepreneurs and increasing interest from the global Nepali community. The I-YES 2026 programme itself reflected this changing landscape, with a strong focus on startups, fintech, AI, innovation and global networking.

The question is therefore not whether Nepal has opportunities. The question is whether we are prepared to build the systems, businesses and partnerships required to capture them.

As someone who spent more than 20 years building professional and business experience in Australia and is now based in Nepal, I see enormous potential in connecting these two worlds.

Australia can offer capital, technology, expertise, networks and international market access.

Nepal can offer talent, entrepreneurship, emerging markets and a generation hungry to build something meaningful.

The opportunity lies in connecting the two.

The Diaspora Can Be More Than a Source of Remittances. Our diaspora community has accumulated something incredibly valuable: experience.

There are Nepali professionals and entrepreneurs working across finance, technology, construction, healthcare, education, hospitality, agriculture and countless other industries around the world.

Imagine if even a small portion of that knowledge and experience was systematically connected to entrepreneurs in Nepal. Imagine Australian-based Nepali entrepreneurs partnering with startups in Kathmandu. Imagine investors from the diaspora funding scalable Nepali businesses. Imagine experienced professionals mentoring the next generation of founders.

That is the kind of ecosystem we should be building.

My message to young Nepali entrepreneurs is simple:

Don't wait for the perfect environment. Start with what you have, learn continuously and build for the market you want to serve.

And don't limit your ambition to Nepal. Think globally from day one. At the same time, don't overlook Nepal simply because the ecosystem is still developing.

Some of the biggest opportunities are created when you solve difficult problems in emerging markets.

As a business coach, investor and entrepreneur, I increasingly believe that our role is not simply to tell young people what to do. It is to help them develop the mindset, systems and confidence to build businesses that can survive, scale and create impact.

From Conversation to Action

I-YES was a powerful reminder that the Nepali diaspora has an extraordinary network of people, ideas and resources. But conferences should not end when the lights go off and the audience goes home.

The real measure of success is what happens afterwards. Who starts a business? Who invests? Who mentors a young entrepreneur? Who creates a partnership between Nepal and the international market? Who brings a new technology or business model to Nepal?

Those are the outcomes that matter.

My experience in Australia and my return to Nepal have reinforced one belief for me:

Nepal does not need the diaspora only to come back and give. Nepal needs the diaspora to come back, connect, invest, build and collaborate.

The next generation of Nepali entrepreneurs has the potential to take Nepal to the world.

Our responsibility is to help them get there.