Minister Thapa denies CNI representation in Industrial Promotion Board

KATHMANDU, July 4:

Minister for Industry Karna Bahadur Thapa has removed Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) from the Industrial Promotion Board (IPB), where the latter has long been involved in policy formulation regarding industry and investment.

In place of CNI, Industry Minister Thapa appointed representatives from industrial associations close to his party CPN-UML. Uddhab KC, Ganesh Prasad Latha, Phungdel Wangchung and Lata Pyakural have recently been appointed as IPB members.

It is said that Latha is from the tourism industry and Pyakurel former president of the Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI). Along with the representation of the former president of FNCSI, the board has also appointed another representative from FNCSI.

An industrialist requesting anonymity accused minister Thapa of appointing his near and dear ones as IPB members. “How can the industry minister sideline the manufacturing industry to embrace the tourism industry?” he questioned.

CNI representatives said the government can´t formulate industrial development and investment related policies by avoiding them. “We don´t know why we have been denied representation in the board,” Hari Bhakta Sharma senior vice president of the CNI told Republica, adding “The Industrial Enterprise Act has ensured representation of the industrial sector in the board, but the government has denied CNI representation in the board.”

The board was formed as per the provision of Industrial Enterprise Act, 1992 and from the very beginning of its establishment it has ensured representation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and FNCSI. CNI since its establishment is also being represented in the board.

The Industrial Enterprise Act is in the process of amendment, which assures permanent representation of the private sector and leading Industrialists in the board. Now members of the board are being changed every 2-3 years, according to officials at the Ministry of Industry.

The board headed by industry minister comprises 21 members from the government and private sector, including industry secretary, commerce secretary, finance secretary, energy secretary, environment secretary, labor secretary, forest secretary, Nepal Rastra Bank governor, other government officials and private sector representatives.

The director-general at the Department of Industry is the member-secretary of the board.

Minister Thapa couldn´t be reached for the comments.

Source: Republica