Returning Nepal to the World: Deepak Sunuwar Leads a Shared Vision for Code-Based Skilled Trades and Nation-Building

Exclusive | Kathmandu / Denver, CO — In a compelling example of diaspora leadership driving national transformation, Mr. Deepak Sunuwar, a globally recognized expert in code-based professional standards in plumbing and skilled trades, is returning to Nepal with a mission to serve his motherland and train Nepali youth to globally competitive standards.

Mr. Sunuwar is Nepal’s first and only U.S. Colorado–Licensed Master Plumber, a rare achievement earned through more than 9,800 hours (five years) of verified, government-regulated hands-on experience, combined with rigorous theoretical mastery aligned with IPC/UPC international plumbing codes. To date, he remains the only Nepali to hold this exceptional combination of U.S. master licensing, international certification, and field-proven professional expertise.

Like many immigrants, Mr. Sunuwar arrived in the United States with a singular purpose—to support his family. What began as a journey of survival evolved into a lifelong mission of excellence and service. Through discipline, persistence, and mastery of his trade, he founded Namaste Plumbing, Inc., now recognized as one of Colorado’s most trusted and customer-preferred plumbing companies. His professional education was forged through real-world problem solving—designing, installing, and maintaining systems that protect public health and serve communities—creating a rare balance between technical knowledge and practical skill.

Despite building a successful career abroad, Mr. Sunuwar’s commitment to Nepal never wavered. Inspired by reform-oriented leadership and the growing national demand for integrity, accountability, and opportunity—particularly through the movement of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)—he felt a strong calling to contribute directly to nation-building. He currently serves as President of RSP USA Prawas Bibhaag, representing the Nepali American diaspora. His contribution, however, extends far beyond politics, focusing instead on long-term systemic change through skills development, professional standards, and education reform.

At the heart of Mr. Sunuwar’s vision lies a critical national opportunity. While Nepal sends more than 170,000 workers abroad each year, most leave without formal skills or internationally recognized certifications—limiting their earnings and exposing them to unsafe working conditions. By introducing code-based, international-standard plumbing and skilled-trades education, Nepal can significantly raise household incomes, enhance worker safety and dignity, improve remittance quality, and modernize domestic infrastructure.

To bring this vision into practice, Mr. Sunuwar is spearheading the establishment of the Nepal International Plumbing Training Center (NIPTC)—a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to producing globally certified, code-compliant plumbers ready for employment in Nepal, Australia, Canada, the Gulf countries, and beyond. The center will feature advanced training curricula, simulation-based laboratories, internationally recognized certifications, and a train-the-trainer model to ensure sustainability through the development of future Nepali instructors.

Looking ahead, Mr. Sunuwar is also advocating for a comprehensive national framework, including the creation of a Government Regulatory Body for Plumbing and Construction Trades. Such an institution would adapt international codes to Nepal’s context, enforce inspections, promote green plumbing solutions, address water scarcity, and generate thousands of skilled jobs—transforming outcomes in public health, infrastructure resilience, and environmental sustainability.

A member of the world’s leading professional organizations—including the World Plumbing Council (WPC), IAPMO, ASPE, AWWA, ASSE International, ICC, and IWA—Mr. Sunuwar remains at the forefront of global innovation and professional standards. These institutions have expressed strong enthusiasm for his Nepal-focused initiatives, offering technical guidance, curriculum development support, and institutional collaboration.

Mr. Deepak Sunuwar’s journey powerfully demonstrates how global expertise, diaspora leadership, and code-based professional skills can converge to build a safer, more prosperous, and globally competitive Nepal—connecting Nepal to the world, and the world back to Nepal.