KATHMANDU, Jan. 18 -- Foreign companies have pledged to invest Rs 22.33 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year.

According to the Department of Industry (DoI), a total of 226 foreign firms expressed their commitment to inject the aforementioned amount in Nepal. The amount is 29 percent more than the investment committed by the foreign firms in the same period last year. During mid-July and mid-January of the fiscal year 2022/23, Nepal received commitment for foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 17.30 billion.

The pledged amount this year was however lower than the amount in the review period of the fiscal year 2021/22 when investors pledged FDI worth Rs 30.56 billion.

In one month between mid-December and mid-January t...