The 2-day ‘Digital Karnali Conclave 2024’ was completed by issuing a 14-point commitment letter

The Digital Karnali Conclave 2024 which was organized on the 18th and 19th of February at Birendra Nagar in Surkhet has been completed. The Digital Karnali Conclave 2024, which was conducted for 2 days, has been completed by issuing a 14-point commitment letter. More than 700 people participated in the conclave which focused on the theme of ‘Harmonizing Digitization and Development for Digital Karnali’.

In the 2-day program held jointly by the Government of Karnali Province and ICT Foundation Nepal, there was a wide discussion on the digital development and ecosystem of the province of Karnali. More than 50 experts and stakeholders from Kathmandu participated as speakers at the conference.

In the Karnali Conclave inaugurated by Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma, Home Affairs and Law Ministers and Secretaries from other 4 provinces were also present. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ while sending a message of greetings at the event said that the Nepalese government is committed to the digital development of Karnali.

At the conference, more than 700 people were present in the program, including all ministers of the province, provincial parliament, committee chairmen, party leaders, chief district officers, mayors and presidents of the municipality, IT officers and stakeholders. Four keynotes 7 lightning presentations and 6 panel sessions were conducted in the conclave.

Addressing the program, the Chief Guest of the Conclave and Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Rajkumar Sharma said that the 2-day Digital Karnali Conclave has created a foundation for development and investment in Karnali.

‘Digital Karnali Conclave has also given important suggestions for the second five-year plan of Karnali Province,’ Chief Minister Sharma said, ‘Now we cannot move forward by running away from technology. We should make a prosperous Karnali by making good use of technology.’

In the conclave, a power session was held between two former Chief Ministers Jeevan Bahadur Shahi and Mahendra Shahi on the thought leadership of Digital Karnali. ICT expert Manohar Kumar Bhattarai, Planning Commission Vice Chairman Yogendra Shahi, Investment Board Chairman Sushil Bhatt, Rashtra Bank spokesperson Dr. Gunakar Bhatt, CEO of Electronic Governance Commission Dipesh Bishta and other keynotes and presentations were conducted with intensive panel sessions on 6 different topics.

In the conclave, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of the Government of Karnali Province, Krishna Bahadur GC, issued a 14-point commitment letter with the tasks to be done immediately for the Digital Province. A commitment has been made to help promote startups and innovation by developing a foundation for digital transformation.

On the last day of the conclave, issuing a 14-point commitment letter, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Karnali Province Krishna Bahadur GC informed that the public commitments for the construction of Digital Karnali will be effectively implemented.

The commitment is to prepare and implement the master plan of Digital Karnali, to provide digital data of the province through a single website, to coordinate with related agencies to expand access to electricity and internet, to initiate the establishment of an IT college, to develop digital infrastructure in at least one community or government school in each district for technology-friendly teaching and learning. Emphasis is included.

Apart from this, the government of Karnali province has promised to encourage the establishment and operation of IT companies in the province, to bring a special program to support startups and innovation every year, to provide scholarships to study IT, and to include the suggestions received from the conclave in the second five-year plan and annual development program.

Similarly, ICT Foundation Nepal President Rajan Lamsal thanked everyone who helped to make the program grand and said that the intensive and extensive discussions held at the Digital Karnali Conclave for 2 days will help to take the campaign of Digital Karnali to new heights. Chairman Lamsal said that this program has also helped in making ICT policy and digital roadmap along with digital literacy.

Former Minister Ganesh Shah, Former Minister of Economic Affairs of Karnali Province Vedaraj Singh, Minister of Bagmati Province Ganga Narayan Shrestha, Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Shivraj Bhatt also expressed their views regarding digitalization and development of Karnali Province.

On the first day of the program, Yogendra Shahi, vice president of Karnali Province Planning Commission, and ICT expert Manohar Kumar Bhattarai gave a keynote presentation on the digital transformation of Karnali and the ecosystem.

On the first day itself, there was a panel discussion and lightning presentation on the thought leadership of Digital Karnali, Foundation of Digital Karnali, data, disaster and digital development. On the second day, there was a panel discussion and a light presentation on the topics of digital economy and investment for Karnali, building of digital leadership and compatibility of digitization and development for digital Karnali. Likewise, there was a presentation and dialogue on digital leadership for Digital Karnali.

Ideas and initiatives related to digital Karnali were also presented in the conclave. In this, Kataho, Digital Transformation Package for Adolescent, SMS based Monitoring System Mid Day Meal, Smart Education, Geo Agriculture – Agritech, Use of Satellite Connectivity in remote areas of Karnali, Digital Insurance and Two Way Model CCTM ideas and initiatives were presented.

Likewise, 3 organizations signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Karnali Province in the conclave to support the digital development of Karnali. Kataho signed a memorandum of understanding regarding creating a school website free of charge, Dynamic Technosoft regarding providing free dynamic ERP to 3 government schools and digital number plate address preparation for all local levels in Karnali.

Digital Karnali Conclave 2024 was also supported by UNDP, the World Food Program, UNICEF, The Asia Foundation and other development partnerships. The program had the support and cooperation of Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Nepal Telecom, CAN Federation Karnali Pradesh, Himalayan Everest Insurance, GeoKrishi, IME Pay, Pacific Satellite and others.
As the initial event of Digital Nepal Conclave 2024, the conclave was organized by the ICT Foundation in collaboration with the provincial government targeting Karnali.