Banking News – The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has been conducting capital market-related training and awareness programs for a long time. As a result, the market that began from Viratnagar Jute Mills has reached its current state. However, training related to the market has not yet been provided in rural areas. Additionally, the “result” has not been significantly visible even in areas where training has been provided.

Currently, there are 8 million Demat accounts. There are more investors in rural areas compared to urban areas. Due to the provision of mandatorily providing 10 percent shares to locals in the hydropower sector, rural investors have many Demat accounts. But the reality is that shares provided to borrowers of Agriculture Development Bank are lying in drawers today.

Investors have not been able to receive dividends. In such a situation, if investors are informed and trained through 753 local governments, the market will certainly become effective. Arrangements should be made to train investors through community colleges and local radio. People in rural areas must be made to understand the market.

If people cannot be made to understand the market, the capital market will not develop. SEBON alone cannot develop the capital market. But when SEBON, the stock exchange, CDS, and others come together to provide training, the capital market develops. For this reason, financial literacy programs about the stock market should be conducted.

Investors are not capable on their own. Merely carrying a smartphone does not make all investors capable. We must be able to explain balance sheets to investors at the local level through local channels in local languages and through community colleges. Until investors can understand balance sheets, they cannot understand how to obtain returns and how to gain from the secondary market.

Providing training for two or four days is not enough to teach this. SEBON and the stock exchange must continuously provide training to investors. Investors must be made capable of at least reading financial statements. To present capital market concepts on YouTube and TikTok, arrangements must be made requiring a special license from the Securities Board.

When concepts are presented haphazardly without a license, large fluctuations occur in the capital market. Therefore, a license must be obtained to speak about the stock market. The capital market is an extremely sensitive subject. Negative news appearing on YouTube and TikTok greatly affects the capital market. Even officials of regulatory bodies must express their views only after understanding the market.

Additionally, those speaking about capital market issues from outside must also be allowed to speak only after obtaining a license. If this law is made soon, the capital market will develop. If this does not happen, investors will fall into false traps. Currently, there are many investors who invest based on YouTube videos. Many investors still do not invest with understanding. Those entering IPOs also think that money can be made by going to the secondary market after selling the IPO.

Recently, various associations and organizations related to the stock market have started opening. There are currently around a dozen organizations in the stock market. This is also fine. Because no one can be told not to open an organization. After opening an organization, they must work to develop the capital market. Such organizations must fight for the protection of small investors from the stock exchange office to the street.

(Edited excerpts of remarks made by Dhakal, Chairman of Nepal Investors Forum, at the second session titled “Informed Investors, Strong Capital Market” of the Nepal Capital Market Discourse 2026)