17-18 February, 2019

Beginning of a new era

Tapping into millions of people with the help of extensive presence of verticals and also coinciding with the 25 years of Kantipur Media Group, can help advocate and levitate it to the next level.

Global event from Nepal’s Largest Media Group

Kantipur Publications in its 25 years would like to recalibrate the discourse space by first of its annual event the ‘Kantipur Conclave’.

Each session will be curated with the conglomeration of one international, one regional, one Nepali speaker. Women speakers and youth speakers will not be viewed from tokenism but as the people who will set the future discourse.

KP Sharma Oli

Inaugural Keynote Speaker
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Nepal

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough

Country Director for Maldives, Nepal
and Sri Lanka, World Bank

Sandip Ghose

Executive President, Sales, Marketing
and Logistics, Birla Corporation

Hon. PRADEEP KUMAR GYAWALI

Minister for Foreign Affair, Nepal

Hon. Dr. YUBRAJ KHATIWADA

Finance Minister of Nepal

Day 1: Opening Ceremony

Day 2: Hall A

Day 2: Hall B

Plenary Opening Ceremony

17 February, 2019

1:30 pm	Conclave Registration
2:15 pm	Everyone is seated
3:00 - 3:10 pm	Welcome and Opening Remarks Mr. Kailash Sirohiya, Chairman, Kantipur Media Group
3:10 - 3:30 pm	Keynote Speech Ms. Idah P. Riddihough, Country Director for Maldives, nepal and Sri Lanka, World Bank
3:30 - 3:50 pm	Keynote Speech Mr. Sandip Ghose, Executive Director, MP Birla Cement
3:50 - 4:20 pm	Keynote Speech Rt. Hon. Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli
4:20 - 4:50 pm	Tea Break
4:50 - 5:50 pm	Key Session: Youth for Nepal This session will bring together youths who will share stories of their achievements in diverse sectors. Besides inspiring the audience with their success stories, their optimistic take on the changing business prospects and insights on the untapped opportunities in Nepal will rouse other Nepali youths too. Speakers: Lex Limbu, Founder, Tracing Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Miss Nepal World 2018 Sixit Bhatta, Co-founder & CEO, Tootle Sumnima Udas, Founder& Director, Museum of Buddhism & Sacred Spaces Moderator: Leena Dahal, Opinions Editor, The Kathmandu Post

Parallel Session: English

18 February, 2019

8:00 am	Conclave Registration
8:30 am	Everyone is seated
8:45 - 9:45 am	Session - Towards 2030 Even with Nepal facing social uncertainties amid its transitional phase, harboring a hope for its bright future and its target of becoming middle-income nation is not that far-fetched. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of people actively contributing towards nation-building, there is also a strong potential for sectors to work towards a common goal-by recognizing cross-cutting agendas and common targets. This session will discuss the varying dimensions of social and economic development that employ a comprehensive and balanced approach and ensures progress and long-term accountability. Speakers: Constantino Xavier, Fellow, Brookings India Lei Lei Song, Regional Economic Advisor, Asian Development Bank, New Delhi Songqiao Yao, Founder, WildBound Swarnim Wagle, Economist Moderator: Amish Raj Mulmi, Writer
9:45 - 10:45 am	Tourism - From Product to Experience Nepal has long been a destination for travellers seeking adventure and spirituality. On average, the tourism sector contributes up to 5 percent of the nation's total foreign exchange reserves annually, and it is the largest service industry in Nepal. In the current climate of increasing demand for quality and affordable services, emerging ventures have revolutionised travel experience, while also contributing to local economies. This session will discuss the untapped prospects of tourism in Nepal and the unexplored benefits of including local communities in tourism ventures. Speakers: Anil Goel, Chief Technology Officer, OYO Hotels and Homes Monika Schaffner, Integrative Geographer, connecting spaces Rene Vijay Shrestha Einhaus, Executive Director, Dwarika’s Group of Hotels & Resorts Shradha Shrestha, Manager, Branding & Corporate Partnership, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Moderator: Chandan Sapkota, Senior Fellow, Nepal Economic Forum
10:45 - 11:00 am	Break
11:00 - 12:00 pm	Where is the money? Jim Rogers, a prominent American investor, once said, "If you were smart in 1807, you moved to London, if you were smart in 1907, you moved to New York, and if you are smart in 2007, you move to Asia." Investments in small Asian frontier markets have proven to have a promising future. Nepal has become one such hub--as a result of its rapid urbanisation and development; and it promises large investment opportunities. The speakers in this session, which will revolve around chasing investments, will shed light on Nepal's untapped business areas and on how they can contribute to the nation's growth. Speakers: Abhishek Kumar, Managing Partner, Rainforest Venture Network Aditi Shrestha, Investment Officer for Nepal, International Finance Corporation Bhoj Raj Poudel, Economist Faris Hadad Zervos, Country Manager, World Bank, Nepal Moderator: Siddhant Pandey, Chairman & CEO, Business Oxygen Pvt. Ltd.
12:00 - 12:30 pm	Nepal in the Global Stage In conversation with the Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Speakers: Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, Finance Minister of Nepal Moderator: Sujeev Shakya, Founder & CEO, beed management
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch Break
1:30 - 2:45 pm	मुख्य मन्त्रीहरुसँग मुखामुख Amid the confusion in the power distribution, implementation of federalism has also inflicted conflict between the center and province. Further, the situation could prolong without the proper legal provision. Although there have been few bilateral dialogues between the chief ministers and the prime minister, the discourse is yet to be held in a public forum. This session will be a platform to dwell upon the problems, concerns and potentials of the states as well as the chief ministers. In conversation with Provincial Chief Ministers Speakers: Sherdhan Rai, Chief Minister, Province 1 Mohammad Lalbabu Rawat, Chief Minister, Province 2 Dormani Poudel, Chief Minister, Province 3 Prithivi Subba Gurung, Chief Minister, Gandaki Province Shankar Pokhrel, Chief Minister, Province 5 Mahendra Bahadur Shai, Chief Minister, Karnali Province Trilochan Bhatta, Chief Minister, Sudur Paschim Province Moderator: Narayan Wagle, Editor- in- chief, Kantipur Daily
2:45 pm	Closing Remarks Mr. Rajnish Rikhy, Business Director, Kantipur Media Group

Parallel Session: Nepali

18 February, 2019

8:00 am	Conclave Registration
8:30 am	Everyone is seated
8:45 - 9:45 am	Session- फर्केर के पाइन्छ ? In pursuit of a better future, millions of Nepalis have migrated to the Gulf and developing countries. Lately, many migrants are starting to return home to utilize their accumulated capital and skills to start new businesses—everything from poultry and livestock rearing to hospitality and Information Technology. This session will delve into why they are returning home and the benefits of doing so, and it will also feature dialogues and interactions with returnees. Speakers: Arnico Panday, Regional Program Manager, Atmosphere, ICIMOD Pradeep Poudel, Vice President, Citibank, Kuwait Prativa Pandey, Founder & CEO, Catalyst Technology Moderator: Sanjeev Satgainya, Head of News, The Kathmandu Post
9:45 - 10:45 am	महिला पुरुषको दाजोमा कहिले ? Around the world, although traditional norms still play a large role in perpetuating gender biases and stereotypes, more women are taking on leading roles and taking up decision-making positions. With global campaigns such as HeForShe, the role played by men in empowering women and in building a more just society is gradually being recognised too. This session will attempt to challenge the misconceptions regarding feminism and underscore the importance of the roles played by both men and women in establishing a pathway to reaching a gender-equal society. Speakers: Luna Ranjit, Co-founder, Adhikaar NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Co-founder, photo.circle Sanjeev Uprety, Author Moderator: Subina Shrestha, Journalist
10:45 - 11:00 am	Break
11:00 - 12:00 pm	पौरखी प्रवासी र मूलदेश How can the Nepali diaspora, who have excelled in the international platform through their diligence, skill and talent, contribute in the economic development and prosperity of Nepal? This session will engage with non-resident Nepalis, the Nepali diaspora and experts who have conducted insightful studies in their respective sectors. Speakers: Bishwa Poudel, Associate Professor, Kathmandu University Jiba Lamichhane, Business Entrepreneur Lex Limbu, Founder, Tracing Nepal Mallika Shakya, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, South Asian University Moderator: Basanta Basnet, Editor, Nepal Magazine
12:00 - 12:30 pm	Can Nepal Do IT? Information Technology has transformed our lives, owing to the ubiquity of its adoption by a wide range of sectors. But while the global market embarked on modernisation years ago, Nepal has been a late bloomer in the IT field. IT has penetrated every field, and businesses today have become increasingly dependent on IT to ensure growth. This session will thus dwell upon the IT sector’s emergence in Nepal, and the challenges the sector needs to overcome--for which it will need to come up with strategies informed by a long-term vision. Speakers: Akanksha Tyagi, Founder, Social Friendly Asheem Basnyat, Regional Director, Pathao Biswas Dhakal, President, F1 Soft Group Moderator: Suman Shakya, Founder, Tangent Waves
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch Break
1:30 - 2:45 pm	मुख्य मन्त्रीहरुसँग मुखामुख Amid the confusion in the power distribution, implementation of federalism has also inflicted conflict between the center and province. Further, the situation could prolong without the proper legal provision. Although there have been few bilateral dialogues between the chief ministers and the prime minister, the discourse is yet to be held in a public forum. This session will be a platform to dwell upon the problems, concerns and potentials of the states as well as the chief ministers. In conversation with Provincial Chief Ministers Speakers: Sherdhan Rai, Chief Minister, Province 1 Mohammad Lalbabu Rawat, Chief Minister, Province 2 Dormani Poudel, Chief Minister, Province 3 Prithivi Subba Gurung, Chief Minister, Gandaki Province Shankar Pokhrel, Chief Minister, Province 5 Mahendra Bahadur Shai, Chief Minister, Karnali Province Trilochan Bhatta, Chief Minister, Sudur Paschim Province Moderator: Narayan Wagle, Editor- in- chief, Kantipur Daily
2:45 pm	Closing Remarks Mr. Rajnish Rikhy, Business Director, Kantipur Media Group

Beginning of a new era

Global event from Nepal’s Largest Media Group

Panels and ideas

KP Sharma Oli

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough

Sandip Ghose

Hon. PRADEEP KUMAR GYAWALI

Hon. Dr. YUBRAJ KHATIWADA

Features

Speakers

Delegates

Thematic Areas

Sessions