President urges NRNs to contribute to mega campaign of making Nepal prosperous

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called on the non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) to actively contribute to the mega campaign of making Nepal prosperous.

Inaugurating the Ninth Global Conference and International General Assembly of the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) here today, the President also urged the NRNs to invest in Nepal without any qualms as appropriate environment for the same existed both nationally and internationally.

The international conference is convening under the joint aegis of the Government of Nepal, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and NRNA.

She stressed on the need of utilising the knowledge, skills, experience and entrepreneurship learned from across the globe in the present conducive and suitable situation that has been developing in Nepal, urging the NRNs to participate in the mega campaign of making Nepal prosperous through individual and collective investment.

"Infrastructure development, modernization and commercialization of agriculture, industrialization and economic prosperity are our common priorities. The government's overall efforts, policies and programmes are focused towards fulfilling the common national aspiration – 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. This journey of development and prosperity is moving ahead as a campaign," the Head-of-the-State said, adding that the government has made various policy arrangements for further encouraging and facilitating the investment of the NRNs in Nepal.

Stating that Nepal has now already entered the epochal phase of economic and social development with the practice of federal democratic republic, the President said political stability, sustainable peace and stability has been maintained.

President Bhandari said the Constitution of Nepal has made provisions for providing non-resident citizenships entitling the NRNs to use and exercise the economic, social and cultural rights. She added that the process of amending the new Act Related to NRNs and the Citizenship Act has reached the final stages for translating this constitutional provision into practice. The President believed that the amendment would provide further support to the NRNs to bring in knowledge, skills and capital into Nepal in the coming days.

Lauding the active role of NRNA, established with an objective of contributing in Nepal's development and prosperity, she urged its further support in development of the country in days ahead.

President Bhandari also stressed on continuous support of NRNA in infrastructure development, education, energy and tourism sectors. "We Nepalis, living inside or outside the country, are members of a single family and the conference taking place in every two years is also the family reunion."

President Bhandari said, "Patriotism towards the nation and devotion towards the motherland is not limited within geographical boundary. Feelings of nationality give inspiration to achieve common national aspiration and goals by making people organised in higher (emotional) level rather than individual, family and society."
She laid emphasis on continuous contact, cooperation and collaboration among all Nepalis living in and outside the country. The President stressed that the role of NRNs should not be limited only for Nepal and Nepalis identity and prosperity, it should also link Nepal and the world in brotherhood and goodwill.

Saying the NRNs should strongly follow the message of tolerance and compassion, President Bhandari said that they should present themselves in the world as the goodwill ambassador.

The Head of the nation also urged not to forget their responsibility to younger generation paying attention to the protection and preservation of language, literature, art and culture along with physical and economic prosperity.

She also stressed that the NRNs, from their respective places, should play effective role for the promotion of clean and healthy environment as climate change has put the human existence itself into crisis and urged NRNA to play effective role to make Visit Nepal 2020 a success.

On the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said the role of NRNs would be significant in making the Investment Summit organised by the government to purse nation's development and the Visit Nepal Year 2020 successful and urged the community to contribute for making these campaigns more effective in the days ahead.

President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Ms Bhawani Rana pledged to support the government in its efforts for economic development through cooperation with NRNs.

Association former President Shesh Ghale assured of a proactive role on part of the Association to help the government's 'prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali' resolution get realised.

Association President Bhawan Bhatta pledged their best to make the Nepal Visit Year 2020 successful and invest in Nepal's infrastructure, energy and tourism sectors.

A total of 2,500 representatives from 81 countries are taking part in the two-day Conference kicked off with the theme of "I, My NRNA and My Nepal." It will conclude electing a new leadership for the Association. Kumar Panta and Kul Acharya have filed their candidacies for the post of president. It will see an election to choose the new leadership on Wednesday.