Development of IT in Nepal

The National Information Technology Center (NITC) was established in the year 2002 in line with IT Policy 2000 under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). NITC has the main objective to build knowledge based society by supporting knowledge based institutions and industries as well as promote and develop Information Technology (IT) by making it accessible to the general public. Executive director of NITC has the primary responsibility to implement or get implemented the policy and the plan on information science and information technology, monitor and supervise the same and regulate the activities carried out by the private sector

IT POLICY 2057(2000)
Vision
To place Nepal on the Global map of Information Technology within the next five years.
Objectives
1. To make Information Technology accessible to the general public and increase employment through this means.
2. To build a knowledge-based society.
3. To establish knowledge-based industries.
Strategies
· High Priority to R & D
· Development of Competent IT Manpower
· Encourage Domestic and Foreign Investment
· Promotion of e-commerce
· IT, a tool to e-governance
· Promotion of IT industry
· Computer Education Curriculum starting from the school level
· IT Network extension to rural areas.
· Export of IT services worth Rs. 10 billion within next 5 years

Focus Areas
· GIDC(Government Integrated Data Center)
· eGovernment
· Tele-Center
· Data Bank
· Human Resorce Development
· Research and Development
· Consultancy and Advisory Services
Advances in Information and Communications Technologies are transforming the world economy and presenting new challenges to all countries. The challenge for developing country like Nepal is to compete effectively in an emerging information-based economy and reduce the poverty level.Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be one of the biggest enabler of socio-economic advancement of marginalized segment of Nepal. NITC in close collaboration with other government agencies, non governmental organization and bilateral organization will carry out various programs related to Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) so as to make ICT a developmental tool of modern Nepal.