47th FNCCI AGM : Private sector demands passage of crucial bills
KATHMANDU, APR 11 -
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FNCCI ) has urged the government to endorse crucial bills related to business and economy, saying doing so will help make the country’s investment climate better. It also reiterated its demand for common economic agenda from the political parties.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 47th annual general meeting of the association, FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya demanded that the government endorse the crucial bills and policies related to electricity, banks and financial institutions, unified civil court, intellectual property, foreign investment, anti-dumping and industrial enterprises. “Endorsement of these bills, although through ordinance, is crucial for creating an investment-friendly environment,” said Vaidya.
Stating the FNCCI is working on garnering the common economic agenda, Vaidya said once it is in place, the changes of political parties in the government will not hamper the economy. “Let us agree to have a constitutional provision for getting a full budget on a stipulated date, whichever party maybe at the helm of the government,” added Vaidya.
Saying that the FNCCI has proposed formation of the Industrial Relation Forum, the FNCCI president said they are about to reach an agreement with the joint trade union coordination council on three major issues—instituting a permanent mechanism for consultation between unions and employers (Industrial Relations Forum), delinking the minimum wage from collective bargaining and collectively working for labour law reforms.
Addressing the AGM, Chairman of Interim Election Government Khil Raj Regmi said the government is committed to work towards achieving economic prosperity. “Although the present government has been formed to hold elections, I will try my best to help initiate the journey towards economic prosperity of the country,” said Regmi.
On the occasion, top leaders of six political parties accepted that they have not been able to create a favourable business climate.
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal said without creating conducive environment for the private sector, the country’s economic development cannot be achieved. “That’s why we’ve been stressing on the public-private partnership,” said Dahal.
CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said it has already been late to bring the common economic agenda.
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic Chairman Vijaya Kumar Gachhadar said the political parties politicised the sectors that would help economy grow. “We politicised agriculture, tourism and energy sector which in return hit the economy,” said Gachhadar.
The 47th AGM, whose main focus was on the energy sector, featured two technical sessions on the hydropower sector—’International Best Practices for Hydropower Development,’ and ‘Together for Hydropower Development in Nepal’.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
