Nepal has taken the initiative to export bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to Nepal. At a time when Qatar and other Gulf countries are facing severe shortages of drinking water, Nepal, with its abundant water resources, is exploring the possibility of exporting water to the oil-rich nation. Data from the Trade and Export Promotion Center indicates that Nepal has already been exporting bottled water to India and Japan in some quantity. Rupak Sapkota, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s International Affairs Adviser, informed New Business Age that formal discussions regarding water export to Qatar took place for the first time at the prime minister's level during the bilateral talks. 

"Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself proposed opening the door for water export to Qatar, highlighting Nepal's ample source of pure drinking water," Sapkota stated, adding, "There is significant potential for water export from Nepal, and the government has received a 'green signal' for exporting water to Qatar.” According to the World Research Institute, Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar are among the most water-scarce countries globally. The institute's recent report highlights increasing demand for water in domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors in these countries, coupled with low supply and resulting shortages. Mukti Shree Pvt Ltd is currently exporting water from Nepal to foreign countries, including the USA, Japan, and Korea, with a daily export volume exceeding 120,000 bottles. "We are gearing up for water export to Middle Eastern countries by expanding our production facilities. Production will be ramped up in the coming days," stated Arunraj Sumargi, the director of the company. Sumargi emphasized the challenges of maintaining international production and export standards for water, noting that Nepal exported water to India and Japan in the current fiscal year. In the fiscal year 2078/79, Nepal exported 18,403 liters of water to Qatar, generating revenue of Rs 2.5 million. However, no water was exported to Qatar in subsequent years.