Government Promised Support, Now Ignores Us: FNCCI Chief at NADA Auto Show

Anjan Shrestha, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), stated that the government has failed to provide adequate support to the country's automobile industry.

Speaking at the inauguration of the NADA Auto Show 2026, Shrestha recalled how previous finance ministers urged business leaders to set up local manufacturing plants with promises of tax benefits and incentives instead of lowering import duties. However, he pointed out that now that several assembly and production plants are operational, the government has largely neglected their ongoing challenges and survival.

Shrestha cautioned policymakers against focusing solely on reviving old state-owned factories while ignoring active, operating businesses. He warned that trying to fix long-defunct operations while neglecting running enterprises could damage the broader industrial landscape.

Highlighting current economic conditions, Shrestha described general market demand as severely low and business confidence at its weakest point in decades. He noted that operating a business has grown increasingly difficult and urged the government to build a secure investment environment, emphasizing that economic growth remains unattainable without strong private-sector support.