Nepal 2043 : Road to Prosperity | Book Review
Nepal 2043 : The Road to Prosperity
Nepal is
poised as never before to embark on an incredible future. The past two decades
has seen unprecedented economic growth despite the challenges propped up by
frequent changes in government, tumultuous political transitions, earthquakes,
floods, blockades and to top it all, the pandemic. There is little written
about this change as negative narratives cloud contemporary writings on Nepal.
Moreover,
there's something uniquely exciting about where Nepal can go from here on.
Drawing from practical experiences and academic insights, this book presents a
compelling vision for Nepal's future, exploring key areas such as hydropower,
agriculture, tourism, migration and digital transformation. It argues that with
a sixfold increase in GDP over two decades, Nepal is actually poised to scale
even greater heights in the years to come. Positioned strategically between
China and India, and supported by a robust diaspora, this not-so-small country
has the potential to transform into a high-income country by 2043. There is
change brewing among its youth who are ready to play a more active role in
transforming the country's politics and economy. It is, therefore, only a
matter of time before all this untapped potential is leveraged. While this book
is about Nepal’s potential, it is also a playbook for emerging economies.
Come, join
the journey to reimagine and reintroduce Nepal to the global stage.
Book #140 of
2025
Non-Fiction
#70
For me and many
of us across the world, Nepal brings to mind Mt. Everest and the majestic
Himalayan range, alongside places like Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, and
the Pashupatinath temple. More recently, Nepal has appeared in headlines for
political uprisings and rapid social shifts, adding many layers to how we see
the country today.
This book
offered me a deeper understanding of Nepal’s future. Blending practical
knowledge with an academic perspective, the author presents a roadmap for the
nation. He explores Nepal’s strongest growth areas like hydropower,
agriculture, tourism, migration, and digital transformation and shows how a
sixfold GDP rise in the next 20 years could position the country for remarkable
progress.
Nepal’s
strategic placement between India and China, along with the strength of its
global diaspora, gives it a real advantage in its journey toward becoming a
high-income nation by 2043. The rising ambition among young Nepalis adds
further to the momentum.
Though
centred on Nepal, many of the ideas in this book could easily guide other
emerging economies. As the chapters unfold, the author’s clarity and
evidence-driven thinking transform from feeling not just possible, but
achievable. His insights come from years of field experience through Beed
Management and his work with the Nepal Economic Forum. The strategies he
proposes draw on globally proven models while also highlighting Nepal’s own
strengths, such as successful community forestry initiatives and disaster-response
frameworks.
What stood
out to me was the author’s honesty. He does not shy away from Nepal’s
weaknesses, like the political instability, governance issues, corruption, and
the push-pull between old values and modern change. Yet, despite these
challenges, the book never loses its tone of optimism or its focus on
opportunity.
Nepal
2043 takes us
through 2,500 years of cultural and historical richness, reminding us of a
resilient nation often overshadowed by its larger neighbours. It is not a book
about crisis, but it is a book about possibility. It urges readers to look
ahead with confidence and imagine a Nepal built on growth, innovation, and
collective hope.
Anyone connected to Nepal, whether it’s through travel, heritage, curiosity, or regional interest, will find this book enlightening. It also invites readers to recognise how closely our futures are connected, and how progress in one nation can echo across borders. Do pick it up. It's worth the read.
SUJEEV SHAKYA is a thought leader who traverses many worlds. He earned the title of Nepal's CEO, 'chief eternal optimist', for the optimism he projected in his book, Unleashing Nepal (2009). He writes and speaks extensively on business, development, economy and leadership.
In 2008, after spending two decades in one of Nepal's leading business groups, he founded Beed Management, an international management consulting and advisory firm based in Kathmandu, Nepal. He is also founder and chair of the Nepal Economic Forum. A chartered accountant, he has a diploma in international marketing from Boston University and a certification in coaching from Columbia University. He was awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship by the US State Department in 2002.
He writes a regular column for the Kathmandu Post and his
world can be viewed through www.sujeevshakya.com.
Until the next post...
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