Kathmandu: The government is preparing to place five key areas at the centre of Nepal’s upcoming national budget, ranging from private sector expansion to a broader restructuring of the economy.
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle is set to present the principles and priorities of the next fiscal year’s budget in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, with the framework largely built around five major themes.
Speaking at a meeting of Parliament’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, Wagle said the government’s top priority in the upcoming budget would be ensuring that the public directly benefits from improved governance.
He said the budget would also focus on restructuring the economy, strengthening connectivity from digital systems to commodity markets, and expanding the role of the private sector.
The minister further stated that the government plans to promote the expansion of the middle class by improving access to social and financial services, while also leveraging Nepal’s “soft power” as part of its broader economic strategy.
According to Wagle, the government is preparing to allocate more than Rs 100 billion toward social sector development, financial inclusion and middle-class expansion in the next fiscal year’s budget.
The finance minister said the upcoming budget would be guided by five core themes.
The first is the “dividend of good governance.” Wagle said the government recognizes that poor governance in the past has imposed high costs on the country, and the new budget will aim to ensure citizens directly experience the benefits of improved governance. The government plans to prioritize anti-corruption measures, reduce unnecessary expenditure and expand the use of digital systems in public service delivery.
The second theme is economic restructuring. Wagle stressed that an economy dependent largely on remittance inflows cannot ensure sustainable long-term development. The government, therefore, intends to shift toward a production-oriented economy while modernizing the digital economy and service sectors.
The third priority focuses on integrated infrastructure and connectivity. Roads, energy systems, aviation safety and digital grids will no longer be treated as separate sectors but as part of an integrated infrastructure strategy. The government also plans to encourage greater private sector participation in infrastructure development through modern financing tools such as hybrid annuity models.
The fourth pillar centres on social advancement and middle-class expansion. Education, healthcare and nutrition will be viewed not merely as social sectors but as long-term social investments. The budget will aim to expand the middle class, strengthen purchasing power and further enhance social protection programs.
The fifth and final theme is the expansion of Nepal’s soft power. The government plans to position tourism, culture and the Nepali diaspora as key drivers of economic prosperity. Wagle said the budget would also promote economic diplomacy and include plans for international investment roadshows aimed at attracting foreign investment into Nepal.
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