Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has appointed Rathnija Arandara as its new Resident Representative for Nepal.
Issuing a statement on Tuesday, IFC said Arandara will spearhead efforts to expand IFC’s investment portfolio, develop new advisory and investment opportunities, and strengthen the organization’s impact across the country.
A Sri Lankan national, Arandara has been with IFC since 2011, bringing extensive experience from her roles within the World Bank Group. Most recently, she served on IFC’s Country Advisory and Economics team in South Asia, where she advanced financial inclusion, strengthened agribusiness, and improved the investment climate across diverse regions and sectors.
In her new role, Arandara will drive IFC’s business development, deepen stakeholder partnerships, and expand upstream engagement to significantly grow investment and advisory activities for sustainable development in Nepal. “Nepal has immense untapped potential, and IFC is committed to collaborating with partners to unlock opportunities in critical sectors like infrastructure, digital services, tourism, and finance,” Arandara said, while taking up the new role. “In alignment with the World Bank Group’s strategy, I look forward to working with public and private sector partners to foster inclusive and sustainable growth.”
Over the past five years, IFC has committed nearly $700 million, including mobilized funds, to support Nepal’s clean energy, private equity, financial and hospitality sectors. These investments have bolstered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), advanced the green energy transition, and promoted financial and gender inclusion.
