Kathmandu, April 28 -- Just as Nepal prepares to showcase business opportunities at the Nepal Investment Summit 2024 this week, the government seems to be doing its utmost to dissuade international stakeholders.

A combination of red tape, corruption and geopolitics is sending the wrong message at the wrong time to potential investors, industry sources say.

Several Chinese companies that had been waiting to develop energy projects in Nepal have been left hanging in limbo due to geopolitical pressure. The Chinese company Risen Energy was ready to sign a project development agreement (PDA) for Nepal's biggest solar electricity plant at the Summit this week, but the $190 million project is on hold for unspecified reasons.

The Investment Bo...