FNCCI appoints director general

KATHMANDU:

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), which always talks about reforms, transparency, free competition and merit-based society, has set a bad example for entire private sector by handpicking director general (DG) for its secretariat.

An executive committee meeting of the largest private sector umbrella body today decided to appoint Dharanidhar Khatiwada as the DG of FNCCI Secretariat with effect from Baisakh 1 (April 14). The appointment was made by breaching the norms of free competition, under which a public notice must be issued calling for applications from interested candidates for the vacant post.

As per the FNCCI statute, the executive committee can appoint the DG for its secretariat. “The statute is silent about the process but this doesn’t mean we appoint staff without competition,” one of the past presidents of FNCCI requesting anonymity told

The Himalayan Times. “The process lacks transparency and is merely an authoritative decision of the executives or someone influential there.”

Economists also said this decision has raised a question on the morality of the entire private sector. “Even private firms publish a notice while recruiting any employee,” said economist Keshab Acharya, adding, “Such practices weaken the reputation of the private sector in society. How can FNCCI now talk about transparency, free competition and reforms with the government and development partners with whom it has been working?”

Acharya commented that FNCCI had failed to maintain transparency and bring in necessary reforms in its own institution.

The DG’s appointment has raised some serious questions regarding transparency and valued practices of recruitment, opined Suraj Vaidya, immediate past president of FNCCI. “The issue is not about the capacity of the newly appointed DG, but of the whole selection process. How did FNCCI select a director general without any competition?” he questioned.

The post of director general was vacant for two months, but FNCCI executives did not consider free competition as a necessary condition to recruit DG.

“Free competition is a must for quality manpower. However, individual institutions can follow their statute,” said Rameshore Prasad Khanal, former finance secretary.

Source: THT