Biz conclave to kick off Sunday
KATHMANDU, MAR 22 -
Former Malaysian President Mahathir Mohamad, credited for engineering Malaysia’s transformation from an agricultural to an industrialised country, will address the Nepal Business Conclave - 2014 scheduled to kick off on Sunday in the Capital.
In a press meet here on Friday, Suraj Vaidya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), confirmed the participation of Mahathir.
Nepal Business Conclave-2014, hosted jointly by the FNCCI and the Nepal Government, is being organised with a motive to let investors know about the investment potential in Nepal and attract domestic as well as foreign investors. “A few members of Mahathir’s team have already arrived,” said Vaidya, adding the former Malaysian prime minister will address the conclave on Sunday as a keynote speaker.
According to Vaidya, Mahathir steered Malaysia towards prosperity from a political situation similar to Nepal’s and that his remarks would hold a big significance. “From a nation like ours to a country providing employment to around 500,000 Nepalis, Malaysia has come along a long way over the past 30 years, and we have many things to learn from the country,” said Vaidya.
During his stay in Nepal, Mahathir will meet senior political leaders, young politicians and business leaders. FNCCI said Mahathir is likely to have a brief visit to the Everest and the tourist city Pokhara.
The conclave , to be chaired by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, will also witness participation of LI Jiheng, governor of China’s Hunan Province.
A 35-member Malaysian delegation led by President of Perbadanan Putrajaya, Tan Sri Dato Aseh Bin Che Mat; 33 investors from China; eight companies from the United Kingdom; and seven companies from Canada are also participating in the event.
FNCCI has identified 52 potential investment projects to showcase in the event. According to Vaidya, 12 projects are infrastructure-based, 10 agro-based, 10 hydropower projects, eight tourism-based, seven service-based, five manufacturing-based and one based on mine and minerals. “Roughly, these projects amo-unt to Rs 215 billion,” he said.
FNCCI has said it is likely to sign six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with foreign investors during the event. The projects under education, tourism and agriculture sectors will be joint-venture in between Nepali and foreign investors.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
