Industrial enterprise act: Business leaders seek immediate introduction
KATHMANDU, OCT 26 -
A delegation including business leaders from various business umbrella organisations on Friday asked the government to immediately introduce the Industrial Enterprise Act through an ordinance.
At a meeting with Industry Minister Shankhar Prasad Koirala, they stressed on the need for introducing the Act in order to revive the ailing industrial sector and tackle the issues of trade unions. They demanded the act contain easier provisions for closing down sick industries.
The delegation included top leadership of the Federation Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) and Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN). The meeting came at a time when the government has been delaying the introduction of the Act despite its pledge to bring it much earlier.
The government is preparing to introduce the new Act as an umbrella Act which would help in implementing the provision of industrial policy. Besides the provisions of several facilities, this Act will also have provisions on the special economic zones.
At the meeting, FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya said the tradition of preventing industries from becoming sick should be set instead of helping sick industries revive. CNI President Narendra Basnet asked the government to do additional homework to include the voices of all sectors in the Act.
In response Koirala assured the business leaders that the Act will include the voices of the business community and will be beneficial for the private sector. “The Act will be promulgated through an ordinance soon and the government has done adequate homework for the same,” he said, assuring the stakeholders to deliver their grievances in time so that the government can include their suggestions.
Krishna Gyanwali, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, urged all the stakeholders to take the ownership of the Act since it will benefit the whole industrial sector.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
