Finance Minister Pun «Khabarhub

Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun/File

LALITPUR: Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun has stated that the government has given priority to policy stability and infrastructure progress to develop and expand information technology (IT).

Addressing the ‘National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 2081’ organized by the Digital Media Foundation today, Minister Pun said the government has introduced an ambitious plan to significantly develop information technology under the new budget.

“The government announced a decade of investment in IT, emphasizing its importance. This sector has the potential to create 1.5 million new jobs and generate exports worth Rs 30 billion in the next ten years,” he noted, assuring that the government would maintain a consistent tax policy for the next five years.

He also mentioned that each province will have an IT park, and there will be ten such facilities in the Kathmandu Valley alone.

Companies operating in these IT parks will not charge fees for the first three years.

Furthermore, Minister Pun acknowledged that while artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant challenges to human civilization, it can also be seen as a new phase of the industrial revolution.

“There are widespread concerns about artificial intelligence. The challenge is to ensure that humanity benefits from this technology,” he said, adding: “But technology is crucial to human convenience and progress.”

He warned that Nepal will be left behind if it does not adopt modern information technologies, including artificial intelligence.

At the same event, artificial intelligence expert Dr. Bibek Poudel highlighted the important role that IT and artificial intelligence can play in implementing government policies.

He explained: “Artificial intelligence can be used in infrastructure construction, agriculture, service delivery, healthcare and education to achieve significant results. Moreover, artificial intelligence is essential for economic growth and job creation.”

Prabesh Subedi, CEO of Digital Media Foundation, expressed concern over the poor state of IT development in Nepal.

He emphasized the need to create an environment conducive to international competition in IT.

The AI-powered platform, ChatGPT, welcomed participants and provided an overview of the program’s objectives.

The platform also welcomed the Minister of Finance and other guests of the event.

Mass communication researcher Dr. Bhanubhakta Acharya noted that the use of artificial intelligence can enhance human capabilities.

Similarly, Shiva Gaunle, former president of the Nepal Federation of Journalists, discussed the potential of using artificial intelligence in journalism, including fact-checking.

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