An Act made to provide for matters relating to foreign investment and technology transfer

Published in Nepal Gazette 12 November 1992 (049/7127)

First Amendment Published in Nepal Gazette 24 January 1996 (052/10/10)

Preamble:

Whereas, in the process of industrialization of the country, ~it is expedient to promote foreign investment and technology transfer for making the economy viable, dynamic and competitive through the maximum mobilization of the limited capital, human and the other natural resources,

Be it enacted by Parliament in the twenty first year of the reign of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

1. Short Title and Commencement:

   This Act may be called "The Foreign Investment And Technology Transfer Act, 1992.

   It shall come into force at once.
   
   
2. Definitions:

   Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act : 

   1. "Industry" means any industry as referred to in Section 3 of the Industrial Enterprises Act, 1992.
   2. "Foreign Investment" means the following investment made by a foreign investor in any industry:
   1. Investment in share (Equity),
   2. Reinvestment of the earnings derived from the investment as referred to in sub-section (l) above,
   3. Investment made in the form of loan or 10an facilities.
   
   
   3. "Technology Transfer" means any transfer of technology to be made under an agreement between an industry and a foreign investor on the following matters:1. Use of any technological right, specialization; formula, process, patent or technical know how of foreign origin. 2 Use of any trademark of foreign ownership. 3. Acquiring any foreign technical, consultancy, management and marketing service.
   4. "Foreign Investor" means any foreign individual, firm, company or corporate body involved in foreign investment or technology transfer including foreign government or international agency.
   5. "Board" means the Industrial Promotion Board constituted under Section 12 of the Industrial Enterprises Act, 1992.
   6. "Department" means the Department of Industries or Department of Cottage and Small Industries of His Majesty's Government or any other department, omce or agency as specified by His Majesty's Government.
   7. "Prescribed" or "As prescribed " means prescribed or as prescribed in rules made under this Act or in an order issued by His Majesty's Government by notification published in the Nepal Gazette.
   
   
3. Permission to be Obtained:
   1. Permission of the Department shall be required to be obtained for foreign investment or technology transfer.
   2. A person desiring to avail the foreign investment or technology transfer shall be required to make an application to the Department in the prescribed form along with the prescribed particulars for obtaining permission in that behalf.
   3. * If an application is made pursuant to sub-section (2) above, the Department shall~ in the case of an industry with fixed assets up to five hundred million rupees, itself, and in the case of an industry with fixed assets in excess "hereof, in accordance with the decision of the Board, grant permission within thiny days from the date of application. The Department shall communicate the decision made in regard to such permission to the applicant.
   4. * Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2) above, no permission shall be granted for making foreign investment in the industries set forth in the Annex.

      Provided that permission may be granted for the transfer of technology in such industries.

4. #
5. Facilities and Concessions:
   1. ** No income tax shall be imposed to a foreign investor on the interest income earned from foreign loan.

      * 1 a) A foreign investor shall be levied income tax at a rate of fifteen percent only, on the income earned from foreign technical as well as management service fees and royalty.

   2. A foreign investor making investment in foreign currency shall be entitled to repatriate the following amount outside the Kingdom of Nepal:
      1. The amount received by the sale of the share of foreign investment as a whole or any part thereof,
      2. The amount received as profit or dividend in lieu of the foreign investment,
      3. The amount received as the payment of the principal of, and interest on, any foreign loan.
   3. A foreign investor shall be entitled to repatriate outside the Kingdom of Nepal the amount received under an agreement for the transfer of technology in such currency as set forth in the concerned agreement.
   
   
6. Provisions Relating to Visa:
   1. A foreign national visiting the Kingdom of Nepal in connection with undertaking any study or carrying out any research with the objective of making investment in the Kingdom of Nepal shall be provided a non tourist visa for up to six months.
   2. ** A foreign investor or dependent family or authorized representative of such a foreign investor, and dependent family of such authorized representative shall for the purpose of stay in the Kingdom of Nepal be provided a business visa until the foreign investment is retained.

      Provided that a foreign investor who, at a time, makes investment in an amount no fees than one hundred thousand United States dollar or in convertible foreign currency equivalent "hereto, and his dependent family shall be granted a residential visa until such investment is retained.

7. Settlement of Disputes:
   1. If any dispute arises between a foreign investor, national investor or the concerned industry, the concerned parties shall be required to settle the dispute by mutual consultations in the presence of the Department.
   2. If the dispute could not be settled in the manner as referred to in sub-section ( I ) above, it shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the prevailing arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
   3. The arbitration shall be held in Kathmandu. The laws of Nepal shall be applicable in the arbitration.
   4. * Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) above, disputes arising in regard to foreign investment made in the industries with investment as prescribed may be settled as mentioned in the foreign investment agreement.
   
   
8. Power to Frame Rules:

   His Majesty's Government may frame necessary rules for carrying out the objectives of this Act.

9. This Act to Prevail:

   Notwithstanding anything contained in the existing laws, matters stipulated under this Act and rules made "hereunder shall be dealt accordingly.

   *9A. Power to Make Alteration or Amendment in Annex:

   His Majesty's Government may, by notification in the Nepal Gazette, make necessary alterations or amendments in Part (B) of the Annex.

10. Repeal and Savings:
    1. The Foreign Investment and Technology Act, 1981 is hereby repealed.
    2. All acts performed or actions taken under the Foreign Investment and Technology Act, 1981 shall be deemed to have been performed or taken under this Act.
    
    

    **Amended by the First Amendment

    #Repealed by the First Amendment

    * Inserted by the First Amendment

Annex

Relating to sub-section (4) of Section (3)]Industries not to be granted permission for making foreign investment

Part (A)

1. Cottage Industries
2. Personal Service Business (Business such as Hair Cutting, Beauty Parlor, Tailoring, Driving Training, etc.).
3. Arms and Ammunition Industries.
4. Explosives, Gunpowder
5. Industries related to Radioactive Materials
6. Real Estate Business (Excluding Construction Industries).
7. Modon Pictures Business (Produced in national languages and the language of the pation).
8. Security Printing.
9. Currencies and Coinage Business.

Part (B)

1. Retail Business.
2. Travel Agency.
3. Trekking Agency.
4. Water Rafting.
5. Pony Trekking.
6. Horse Riding.
7. Cigarette, Bidi (Tobacco), Alcohol (excluding those exporting more than 90%).
8. Internal Courier Service.
9. Atomic Energy.
10. Tourist Lodging.
11. Poultry Farming.
12. Fisheries.
13. Bee-keeping.
14. Consultancy Services such as Management, Accounting, Engineering and Legal Services.

Source: Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Suppies, Export Promotion Board