India remains Nepal's largest source foreign direct investment (FDI) with 35 percent of the total FDI stock, reflecting the long-standing confidence of Indian businesses in Nepal’s market and economic potential. The state of West Bengal remains one of the most significant source of India FDI in Nepal. Among the most renowned and successful companies operating in Nepal are investments with roots in West Bengal, including, Surya Nepal, Asian Paints Nepal, and Berger Paints Nepal. These businesses entered Nepal before 2000 and have grown as household names and significantly contributed to the economic growth of Nepal.

However, despite the success of these early investments, there is a gap in major Indian investments in Nepal. In a positive light, in 2025, Obeetee Carpets expanded into Nepal, signaling renewed confidence in Nepal’s investment climate and demonstrating that Nepal continues to hold strong untapped economic potential.

This development presents a renewed hope and also highlights the need to build greater trust, policy consistency, and long-term economic cooperation between Nepal and India. Nepal offers significant opportunities across sectors such as tourism, hydropower and energy, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and cross-border trade. To unlock these opportunities, sustained dialogue between policymakers, investors, experts, and the business community is essential.

About the Dialogue

The Siliguri Dialogue is envisioned as a high-level platform to strengthen Nepal–India economic engagement by bringing together policymakers, investors and business leaders, and experts from both countries.

Positioned at the intersection of India's Northeast, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and in close proximity to China, the Siliguri corridor carries immense geopolitical, economic, and strategic significance. The region is in recent years being reimagined as a dynamic hub for regional cooperation, connectivity, and sustainable development. The Siliguri Dialogue seeks to reposition the corridor from a space of strategic fragility to one of opportunity, emphasizing economic collaboration between Nepal and India. The Dialogue aims to foster trust-based partnerships and encourage greater Indian investment in Nepal while addressing existing policy and structural challenges.

The dialogue is ointly organized by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and CII North Bengal Zonal Council in Siliguri India.