Policy Dialogue on Nepalese Diaspora Successfully Held at Stanford University

The Global Nepali Professional Network (GNPN) successfully conducted a policy dialogue and workshop on the Nepalese diaspora at Stanford University. Dr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal emphasized the need for policy formulation to effectively harness the business potential and leadership skills of the diaspora for Nepal’s development. He revealed that only about 20 percent of the global Nepali community is meaningfully active, while 70 percent lack clear pathways to contribute.

On May 20th (7 Jestha), Kathmandu – The GNPN hosted a discussion on the Nepalese diaspora at the prestigious Stanford University in the United States. Dr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal, founder and president of the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI), was invited as the keynote speaker for the GNPN’s diaspora policy dialogue and workshop. The three-hour event saw participation from Nepali-origin professionals, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, technologists, students, journalists, representatives from the Nepal Consulate, and other stakeholders with interest in policy from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

The program featured an in-depth discussion on how Nepal can go beyond remittance-centered diaspora engagement, and instead structurally link the global Nepali community’s knowledge, skills, experience, professional networks, and talents with national development. GNPN Chairperson Nile Shrestha noted that since its establishment in 2006, the organization has contributed to Nepal’s development and policy formulation through such initiatives. During the event, Dr. Dhakal shared his perspective on mobilizing diaspora knowledge, skills, and talents. He stressed the need to build policies and mechanisms that systematically leverage not only the goodwill and emotional connection of the diaspora but also their business capabilities, institutional experience, research abilities, technological expertise, and leadership skills in Nepal’s development process.

“Nepal already has a deeply connected global Nepali community. The challenge now is not whether the diaspora loves Nepal or not, but whether Nepal can establish a credible and structured system to transform these global connections into sustainable national capacities,” he said. Dr. Dhakal pointed out that while there is a strong desire among the worldwide Nepali community to contribute to Nepal, only about 20 percent are meaningfully engaged, and nearly 70 percent want to contribute but lack clear pathways or mechanisms to do so.