Auto Show starts off in high gear
KATHMANDU, SEP 08 -
The sixth edition of the NADA Auto Show started on a grand note at Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Wednesday. Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun inaugurated the country’s only auto show amid a programme.
Jointly organised by the Nepal Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Global Exposition and Management Services, the auto show features 43 companies, including 28 automobile dealers. With the aim of creating awareness and educating the general public about road safety, this year’s show has been given the theme ‘Auto Show for Road Safety’. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, NADA president Saurav Jyoti highlighted the challenges being faced by the auto business. “The automobile sector, the highest revenue contributor to the government, is going through a slump. But the government has not shown any concern,” said Jyoti. “While the auto sector generated Rs 44 billion in revenue in fiscal 2009-10, the figure dropped to Rs 32 billion in 2010-11.”
According to Jyoti, the sector provides employment to more than 600,000 people and has been creating 25,000 new jobs annually. Jyoti was critical of the government’s policy of slapping high taxes on motor vehicles. “In a country like Nepal where there is no alternative to road transportation, the duty structure set by the government is unfair,” he said.
Finance Minister Pun promised that the government would look for every possible way to give a boost to the sector which is passing through a severe downturn. With the country’s big players participating in the Auto Show, dealers have spent much money to make their stalls look attractive. The opening day of the show saw the launching of four cars and four motorcycles. High-end bikes were the scene stealers on day one with most of the visitors thronging the stalls of companies like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki.
The five-day event will also have daily activities like quiz contests, concept car drawing competitions, two-wheeler safety seminars and seminars on traffic management and transportation policy. The organisers have expected more than 50,000 visitors during the five days of the show which ends Sunday. Tickets are priced at Rs 100 for general visitors and Rs 50 for students.
Source: Kantipur
The sixth edition of the NADA Auto Show started on a grand note at Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Wednesday. Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun inaugurated the country’s only auto show amid a programme.
Jointly organised by the Nepal Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Global Exposition and Management Services, the auto show features 43 companies, including 28 automobile dealers. With the aim of creating awareness and educating the general public about road safety, this year’s show has been given the theme ‘Auto Show for Road Safety’. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, NADA president Saurav Jyoti highlighted the challenges being faced by the auto business. “The automobile sector, the highest revenue contributor to the government, is going through a slump. But the government has not shown any concern,” said Jyoti. “While the auto sector generated Rs 44 billion in revenue in fiscal 2009-10, the figure dropped to Rs 32 billion in 2010-11.”
According to Jyoti, the sector provides employment to more than 600,000 people and has been creating 25,000 new jobs annually. Jyoti was critical of the government’s policy of slapping high taxes on motor vehicles. “In a country like Nepal where there is no alternative to road transportation, the duty structure set by the government is unfair,” he said.
Finance Minister Pun promised that the government would look for every possible way to give a boost to the sector which is passing through a severe downturn. With the country’s big players participating in the Auto Show, dealers have spent much money to make their stalls look attractive. The opening day of the show saw the launching of four cars and four motorcycles. High-end bikes were the scene stealers on day one with most of the visitors thronging the stalls of companies like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki.
The five-day event will also have daily activities like quiz contests, concept car drawing competitions, two-wheeler safety seminars and seminars on traffic management and transportation policy. The organisers have expected more than 50,000 visitors during the five days of the show which ends Sunday. Tickets are priced at Rs 100 for general visitors and Rs 50 for students.
Source: Kantipur
