Kathmandu. Senior Vice President of CAN Federation, Chiranjibi Adhikari, has submitted comprehensive policy recommendations on the draft E-Commerce Directives 2082 to the FNCCI ICT Development Committee, aiming to shape a secure, entrepreneur-friendly, and innovation-driven digital economy in Nepal.
Adhikari emphasized that Nepal’s e-commerce regulatory framework should rest on three non-negotiable pillars: Security, Simplicity, and Sovereignty. “Encryption is not just a checkbox; it is a shield that builds consumer trust,” he said.
Key Recommendations:
Security: The government should define a National Minimum Security Standard (NMSS) rather than merely mandating data protection. A “Trust Seal” is proposed for verified Nepalese platforms to encourage consumers to adopt digital payments over Cash-on-Delivery.
Simplicity: Business registration should be streamlined through a Unified API-driven system, automatically syncing PAN, VAT, and OCR details to minimize bureaucratic hurdles.
Sovereignty: Tax incentives should be provided for companies hosting data in local Tier-3 data centers, ensuring citizen data remains within Nepal.
Adhikari also proposed a Safe Harbor provision to balance platform liability with innovation, a fee holiday for small digital transactions, and a 90-day technical assistance window to help SMEs comply with e-invoicing and data standards. Additionally, he recommended removing imprisonment for platform failures and replacing it with categorized financial penalties, ensuring regulatory compliance without creating fear.
The policy recommendations further stress enabling cross-border digital payments, which are critical for Nepalese businesses to scale internationally. Adhikari suggested establishing a multi-stakeholder inter-agency working group including MoICS, NRB, CAN Federation, npCERT, CSRI Nepal, and private sector associations to develop a secure and compliant framework for international digital transactions.
FNCCI ICT Development Committee Chair, Shakti Kumar Begani, lauded the initiative: “These recommendations reflect a strong understanding of Nepal’s digital economy. CAN Federation and Mr. Chiranjibi Adhikari have consolidated stakeholder voices and presented practical, forward-looking policy suggestions essential for a secure and inclusive e-commerce ecosystem.”
The Co-Chair of the Committee added: “We highly appreciate the leadership and policy initiative taken by CAN Federation Senior VP Chiranjibi Adhikari.
Contributions from CAN Federation, including IPP Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Poddar, will significantly support the government in formulating progressive and business-friendly ICT and e-commerce policies.”
Adhikari concluded: “Our goal is not just to regulate trade, but to build a digital future where every Nepalese entrepreneur has the security to innovate and the platform to reach the world.”
