Kathmandu, April 18 -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments to Nepal increased 92.65 percent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, which ended in mid-April. This significant rise is attributed to the growing effectiveness of the automatic route, a simplified process for foreign investors.

According to data from the Department of Industry, Nepal received investment pledges worth Rs57.97 billion for 480 projects during the review period. These commitments are expected to generate employment for 12,435 people.

Prashant Bohara, director of the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Division at the Department of Industry, said the sharp rise in FDI commitments may be credited primarily to investors using the automat...