24th Developers Meet Pokhara Recap
The 24th Developers Meet Pokhara on 3rd May 2025 brought together tech enthusiasts for an eye-opening session on “Pokhara’s IT Future: Lessons from Shenzhen”, led by speaker Hari Bahadur Pahari. Here are the key takeaways from this insightful event:
Shenzhen’s Transformation: A Blueprint for Pokhara?
From Fishing Village to Tech Megacity in 40 Years
- 1980: A small town of ~30,000 people
- 2020: A global tech hub of 12.5 million
- Growth Formula:
- Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status (1980) → tax breaks, foreign investment
- Government-backed infrastructure & innovation policies
- Focus on technology + manufacturing ecosystem
Shenzhen’s Tech Titans
- BYD: World’s largest electric vehicle maker
- Huawei: Global leader in 5G & telecom
- Tencent: Creator of WeChat (1.3B+ users)
- DJI: Dominates 70% of global drone market
Key Discussions: What Pokhara Can Learn
1. Policy & Infrastructure
- How SEZ-like benefits could boost Pokhara’s IT sector
- Need for reliable internet/power and tech-friendly regulations
2. Education & Industry Gap
- Aligning IT curriculum with market demands
- Promoting coding bootcamps and skill development
3. Tourism + Technology (“2T Strategy”)
- Leveraging Pokhara’s natural beauty to attract:
- Digital nomads
- Remote tech workers
- International IT conferences
4. Community Building
- Importance of regular meetups (like this one!)
- Creating startup incubators and investor networks
Q&A Highlights
- Visiting Shenzhen: Visa process, costs, and key tech zones
- Remote Work: Global opportunities for Nepali developers
- Government Advocacy: How to push for IT-friendly policies
Event Snapshots
- 20+ participants engaged in lively discussions
- Networking session fostered new collaborations
- Cake-cutting celebrated the developer community’s growth
*(Note: This was the 2nd post-COVID meetup, continuing the legacy of pre-pandemic sessions.)*
What’s Next for Pokhara’s Tech Scene?
The group plans to:
✅ Organize more frequent tech meetups
✅ Develop concrete proposals for local IT infrastructure
✅ Explore partnerships with national/international tech hubs
Join the movement!
🌐 Tech Events in Pokhara: Explore Pokhara Tech Events
📱 Follow Developers Community Pokhara:
#PokharaTech #ShenzhenModel #NepalITFuture
Special thanks to speaker Hari Bahadur Pahari and the National Innovation Centre for supporting this event!
📊 Slides: View Presentation
Explore Hari Bahadur Pahari’s vision for Pokhara’s future in his article titled ‘पोखरालाई कस्तो शहर बनाउने?’ on his website: https://haripahari.com.np/2025/01/31/pokharacitydream2t/.
Awesome 👏
Wow !