APG’s collaborates with Nepal to fast-track efforts to be removed from the ICRG list

The APG conducted a three-day ICRG Support Visit to Nepal from 18–20 May 2026. The visit included a series of high-level meetings and technical level workshops to further support the Nepal government’s efforts to make the necessary reforms and operational progress to complete its ICRG action plan. 

A clear outcome from the visit is that Nepal’s leaders and technical staff demonstrate refreshed commitment and targeted strategies to drive forward urgent actions to meet the ICRG action plan. The prioritisation of AML/CFT complements the government’s wide-ranging agenda of good governance and wider reforms to underpin economic growth and financial integrity. 

The APG visit included engagement with government, the private sector and development partners to ensure that all stakeholders have a common understanding of the path forward through the ICRG process. APG sessions considered the serious consequences of continued ICRG listing, opportunities to fast-track actions and initiatives to ensure removal from the ICRG grey list. In addition to Nepal’s actions to deepen the risk-based approach to focus efforts where the risks are higher, the visit identified opportunities to lighten controls where there are proven low risks to further support financial inclusion and ensure optimum resource allocation. 

Meetings with Ministers and other leaders across government confirmed political commitment to treat ICRG related reforms as a national priority and to ensure enduring AML/CFT capacity and financial integrity going well beyond the end of the ICRG process. Key to this is Nepal’s commitment to further enhance interagency cooperation, strategic workforce development and retention, and better-targeted technical assistance. 

The leader of the APG delegation visiting Nepal, APG Deputy Executive Secretary Mr David Shannon, said

 “Nepal’s leaders have clearly expressed their political commitment to fast-track the necessary AML/CFT reforms to meet the FATF ICRG 
action plan. Across the leadership, the new government was firm in its commitment to ensure strong leadership of agencies and programs and to develop and support key personnel to deliver on Nepal’s critical AML/CFT reforms.”

The participation of the APG delegation, which included representatives from the World Bank, was supported through a generous voluntary contribution to the APG from Canada.