The Paradox of Plenty: Record Reserves vs. Empty Kitchens

The latest Nepal Rastra Bank reports show a staggering USD 22 billion in foreign exchange reserves—enough to cover 18 months of imports. On paper, Nepal is “rich.” Yet, look at our departure gates: over 2,200 Nepalis leave daily for foreign employment. While remittance fuels our banking vaults, the domestic manufacturing sector has shrunk to just 5% of our GDP. We are a nation built on the sweat of those who had to leave because they couldn’t find dignity or a paycheck at home.

The “Bichar” (Opinion): It is time to stop celebrating high remittance as a success and start seeing it as a symptom of a deeper failure. 2026 must be the year we pivot from a “Consumer Economy” to a “Producer Economy.” With record-low interest rates and high liquidity in banks, the government must stop hoarding reserves and start incentivizing domestic startups and agricultural mechanization. If we don’t convert this “financial cushion” into local jobs now, the next generation will not just be protesting on the streets—they will be queuing at the airport for a one-way ticket.