Information and communication technology entered a new chapter in 2001 when the government of Nepal built the National Information Technology Center (NITC) and Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC). Although it was primarily designed to store data for government agencies, departments, and offices, it swiftly evolved into a gateway for growing and expanding ICT infrastructure.
The creation of local job possibilities is one of Nepal’s top priorities since it offers alternatives to the young migration to other countries for employment. The government has designated IT and business process outsourcing as key export services industries under the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy because of the sector’s substantial employment potential. Recent years have witnessed a rise in the development of the IT industry due to the expansion of internet connectivity, generating a thriving job prospect. In order to place Nepal on the global IT map by 2005, the IT sector has developed quickly both within and outside of Kathmandu. As a result of Nepal’s increased technological sophistication, the IT sector and tech aficionados have a bright future, which will eventually help Nepal’s economy.
Despite the epidemic, the Nepal Rastra Bank reports that the share of IT services in the nation’s overall exports climbed by 17.1% in the fiscal year 2020–21. As more firms transitioned to remote work and online operations, there was a rise in demand for online services and IT-related professions. According to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FNCCI) Investment Memorandum report for FY 2020–2021, Nepal’s e-commerce is now growing by over 40% annually as a result of the country’s rapid IT development.
establishing a new brand in a specialized market
The broad usage of technology in the modern period has changed business structures and increased reliance on it by society. As a consequence, market dynamics have changed, creating a large number of employment possibilities in the IT industry as a result of ongoing development. Policymakers in Nepal have developed strategies and programs to incorporate the worldwide trend of technology advancement into the nation’s development agenda. Nepal is thus progressively becoming as a center for IT outsourcing services.
Around 100 nationalities, with a majority of Chinese nationals, are represented among the laborers working on different projects in Nepal, according to the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety. There are also sizable populations of workers from the UK, the USA, South Korea, India, and Japan. More than 7,500 Chinese citizens have been granted work visas for Nepal since 2017, including 2,594 extensions. According to the Department, foreign employees often work in technical fields such project engineering, tunnel and hydro-engineering, maintenance engineering, and mechanical engineering.
In Nepal, the IT industry has become the second most innovative area for employment. There are presently over 500 IT services firms in Nepal, some of which have more than 300 workers apiece to serve the country’s new IT elites, according to the Investment Board Nepal Report. Nepal is a fantastic offshore outsourcing site for businesses from Europe and America thanks to new legislation, talented young people, and training. It also provides the possibility of cheaper development costs and access to a large tech talent pool. Many IT businesses have combined their operations in Nepal, enabling them to establish a specialized market for their goods and forge a new identity in the IT sector.One of Nepal’s fastest-growing industries is the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, which has enormous potential for future expansion. The following sub-sectors and services make up the ICT sector: Communications Services (Internet, telephone, mobile communication), IT Services (IT Enabled Services (ITES), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
Verisk Information Technologies, Deerwalk, Javra Software, Leapfrog, F1Soft, Incessant Rain Animation, and Cloud Factory are a few of the well-known businesses that provide BPO services in Nepal. Numerous businesses in Nepal provide their services to counterparts in Asia, Europe, America, and Australia. Similar to Nepal’s neighbors Vietnam, the Philippines, and India, IT-BPO may help Nepal create tech-based jobs while expanding the services industry.
The start-up industry in Nepal can empower the app ecosystem with better IT infrastructure, and when paired with mobile devices, they can open up a whole new sector of employment. With 2.9 employment being generated in direct, indirect, and induced forms for every job in the app economy, the effect on the labor market has been significant.
We all do our job and conduct business online utilizing smartphone applications, from placing food orders, requesting citizenship, paying power bills, and scheduling appointments with medical professionals. The digital payment, e-commerce, and app economies are growing quickly as a result. Numerous applications exist, including Khalti, e-Sewa, HamroKrishi, and Daraz. Additionally, even financial organizations have their own customized applications to maintain data accuracy, facilitate transactions, and provide access to all of their clients. The need for candidates with knowledge of and interest in complex programming languages or expertise with digital tools and techniques has directly risen in response to the dependency’s ever-increasing demand for the creation of such apps, ultimately enabling creative youths to find employment as app developers.
empowering young people in Nepal
In the next years, there will likely be a high need for qualified IT experts due to Nepal’s expanding IT industry’s viability. IT education may assist people in developing technical and problem-solving abilities, and IT workers in Nepal often make greater incomes than those in other professions. People can keep learning and developing since the IT sector is always changing.
Software developers, web developers, digital marketers, data scientists, startup founders, experts in AI and machine learning, information technology directors, project managers, DevOps engineers, database administrators, VFX artists, computer programmers, and IT officers/network administrators are just a few of the many career paths available in Nepal’s IT industry.
“Nepal’s IT industry has opened up high-paying work possibilities in fields like software development, data analysis, IT project management, and cybersecurity for Nepali experts. It fosters remote employment, enabling Nepalis the chance to work for multinational corporations from the convenience of their homes, and it promotes entrepreneurship by creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the growth of digital businesses. The retention of local talent and overall economic development are both impacted by this, according to Urisha Bajracharya, project manager at Technorio Inc.
IT freelance job permits a flexible work schedule, which is advantageous for young people looking to combine their personal and professional lives. With an internet connection, working from home or anywhere is possible, and one may choose their own hours. It offers the chance to deal with international clientele and exposes one to other cultures, working methods, and viewpoints, which helps you build abilities and widen your horizons.
“People who choose to work from home for reputable firms may live comfortably in Nepal while earning a respectable income. According to Rojal Bati, a 28-year-old Software QA Automation Engineer at Plerion, “This has helped retain talented professionals in the country and reduce brain drain while also contributing to the growth and development of the IT sector in Nepal.” The COVID-19 epidemic significantly affected Nepal’s labor market by causing several companies to close or reduce their personnel. However, the IT industry and online freelancing have turned out to be a silver lining, giving Nepali professionals who were experiencing unemployment new career prospects.
Particularly during the epidemic, there was a large surge in demand for IT employment on online markets like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. Nepal was one of the fastest-growing nations on the platform, with a 166 percent growth in the number of freelancers registered compared to the previous year, according to Upwork’s Q4 2020 report. This trend may be linked to the rise of Nepali experts working remotely for customers in different IT-related fields, such as software development, web design, and digital marketing, for clients all over the globe.
Jobs for IT, computer, software, and electronics engineers have been made possible by the emergence of IT and telecom firms in Nepal. People who have passed academic requirements in similar fields like web design, programming, or application development but are not IT degrees might nevertheless find strong career possibilities as professionals. During the COVID-19 epidemic, this was essential in keeping Nepal’s internet workforce operational.
challenges everywhere
The lack of proper IT literacy is a serious problem in Nepal’s rural regions, creating a digital gap and restricting prospects for individuals who have never used computers or IT. Many government schools lack the infrastructure required to provide IT education, which causes a big gap in the students’ knowledge and abilities. A shortage of knowledge in the Nepali language and low digital literacy, particularly among rural impoverished people, have also grown to be major issues.
According to Bajracharya, the progress of the IT industry may be hampered by both physical and digital infrastructure, such as access to technology, internet connection, and electrical supply. Despite the fact that Banepa’s Information Technology (IT) Park was built in 2003 with the intention of developing information technology and services, political unrest has stopped it from operating effectively.
Although Nepal’s IT industry is expanding, there are still certain obstacles to be solved. For instance, there are communication and skill gaps, little room for innovation, and a focus on serving others alone. Additionally, there are issues with obtaining cross-border payments, a lack of government incentives and assistance, a paucity of software engineering talents, and no official organization for IT workers.
PrakashDahal, a 26-year-old software engineer at Cotiviti, claims that we are still falling behind in terms of security and emerging technologies like IoT and robots. “Since we lack high-quality hardware resources, we must import them. The fact that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are prohibited illustrates how unfriendly government regulations are to technology. Because we get sufficient compensation from outsourcing projects, we have a backward attitude and do not concentrate on developing new goods for ourselves or the rest of the world. I’m saying that we could develop goods similar to Facebook and Amazon. To have a big impact on the international IT market, Nepal must create a comprehensive national plan. This has to include particular initiatives, regulations, and organizations that work to develop markets and talents. While complete independence may not be possible, it is essential to have a strong understanding of local requirements in order to avoid becoming a dumping ground for outmoded foreign technology. To guarantee that technology is appropriate for Nepal’s particular setting, the government should require that it be examined from a Nepali viewpoint. The government may provide incentives and make investments in digital infrastructure in order to help and assist IT workers and businesses. Additionally, reducing the high taxes paid by IT businesses operating in Nepal may increase their competitiveness in the area. To collaborate and assist one another, IT workers might also create an organization.
Organizing fairs and exhibits and permitting reciprocal visits by top software and IT businesses to attend symposiums and seminars held by Nepali authorities are two ways to promote Nepali IT goods. In order to create subcontracting prospects and connections to their markets, close linkages should be created with the key suppliers in the surrounding nations. The telecom and e-commerce industries are early employment enablers, according to the Digital Nepal Framework study. The e-commerce market in Nepal is estimated to be worth close to $30 million and is expanding by more than 40% annually. By 2023, it is anticipated that Nepal’s e-commerce would generate over $192 million in yearly sales. The telecom industry is another significant employer, and the need for qualified labor for technical work, installation, and maintenance has the potential to expand Nepal’s employment market. A bigger IT-BPO industry in Nepal will be made possible by expansion across internet and ICT-based sectors, with the potential to grow by an additional US$4.0 billion in the fifth year of implementation.
The growth of the IT industry has been aided by the Infodevelopers ICT awards, Computer Associations of Nepal (CAN), Nepal Association of Software & IT Services Companies (NASIT), boot camps, and training initiatives. The industry is drawing in foreign customers, increasing the nation’s exports of IT goods and services. This opens up new employment prospects in international commerce, export management, and business. The growth of the IT industry is fostering innovation and digital transformation in a number of industries, including banking, tourism, healthcare, and education. This opens up new job prospects for those with IT knowledge and experience in these fields. Overall, Nepal’s expanding IT industry is generating a wide range of job possibilities, encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship, and boosting the nation’s overall economic development. The IT sector in Nepal is well-positioned to generate future employment opportunities in fields such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, computer security, automation, computing, Internet of Things (IoT), software development, IT infrastructure, digital marketing, data analysis, and cybersecurity with the right investments in infrastructure, education, and training.