Nepal just got a financial boost: remittance inflows jumped by 33.1 %, reaching Rs 352.08 billion in just the first two months of FY 2025/26. That’s not a small ripple, it’s a wave.
What Pushed the Surge
- In US dollar terms, the increase was 27.6 %, as more money flowed in from migrant workers abroad.
- In mid-August to mid-September alone, inflows accounted for Rs 174.67 billion, up from Rs 127.99 billion in the same span last year.
- The number of new foreign employment approvals is also up; more people leaving and renewing work permits than before.
Why It’s Bigger Than It Looks
- Better external balance
Thanks to remittances, Nepal’s current account recorded a surplus of Rs 130.69 billion. The balance of payments also showed strength. - Foreign reserves solidify
Reserves rose 7.6 % to Rs 2,881.35 billion, enough to cover about 19.7 months of goods imports. - Vulnerability buffer
In a time when local investment is uncertain, and domestic credit is weak, this influx gives Nepal a cushion against shocks.
What to Watch Next
- Will this increase continue, or is it a temporary bounce?
- Can remittances help turn the growth conversation inward, into industry, innovation, and jobs?
- As inflows rise, pressure grows on systems that manage, regulate, and channel these funds productively.
E-Buzz Takeaway
Money sent home isn’t just support, it’s confidence in Nepal from around the globe.
For young Nepalis, especially those in diaspora, remittances are a quiet power: they sustain families, stabilize macroeconomics, and remind us that our connections can fund resilience.
Sources: The Himalayan Times, Nepal Rastra Bank report
