Govt-jewellers talks end inconclusive

KATHMANDU, JUN 19 -

Talks between the government and agitating jewellers ended inconclusive ly on Tuesday. During the talks, Department of Commerce and Supply Management Director General Narayan Prasad Bidari asked the traders to withdraw their protests. Since the new commerce secretary is yet to assume his office, jewellers sat for the talks with the Commerce Department. “Our talks ended without reaching a conclusion after the jewellers put forth their demands unreasonably and refused to withdraw their protests,” said Hari Narayan Belbase, director of the department. He said the jewellers’ demand that no action be taken to their fellow jewellers found involved in cheating customers held no grounds.

Jewellery shops across the country have remained closed since last Wednesday. Two organisations of gold and silver dealers — the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Associations and the Federation of Nepal Gold, Silver, Gem and Jewellery Associations — have been demanding the government not take action on jewellers found guilty and introduce monitoring and jewellery trading directive. The draft of directive on jewellery trading and market monitoring has been sent to the Commerce Ministry for endorsement. Once the Commence Ministry approves the draft, it will be sent to the Cabinet for final approval and implementation.

Source: The Kathmandu Post