KATHMANDU: A webinar was organized on Strategy for the Development of Nepal to acquire information and views from diaspora and professionals on the issue.
Jointly organized by the Center for Diplomacy and Development (CDD), Nepal Policy Institute (NPI), Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), and Nepal Migrant Unity Network (NeMUN), experts and professors suggested areas that Nepal should focus to ensure the country’s development.
Founder President of CDD, Mohan Krishna Shrestha said the webinar organized on the subject of topical importance with the motive to contribute on the socio economic progress of the development was highly beneficial.
Shrestha said the progress made by Nepal in not up to the mark suggesting that Nepal can achieve more provided that there is a good governance in the country.
Taking part in the webinar, Dr. Krishna Hamal from Australia said Nepal despite being rich in natural resources has not been able to grab the opportunity due to its geographical location.
“Nepal can develop education as most of the Nepali students go abroad for further studies,” he said suggesting that Nepal needs to have quality education to compete in the international market.
He pointed out the bureaucratic hurdles in addressing the investment-friendly economic growth, and suggested that Nepal needs to focus on export.
Likewise, Ganesh Gurung from Brazil emphasized that Nepal needs to focus on promotion of tourism, and develop relations with Brazil through football.
The government, Gurung suggested, should focus on building relations and developing business with Brazil by implementing certain policies.
According to him, Nepal government should try to bring in tourists from Brazil since tourism can be a great source of income in Nepal.
He also added that Brazil’s efficient technology can be used to develop hydro power here in the country.
The government of Nepal should focus on this factor by implementing certain policies to develop business, Gurung suggested.
Taking part in the webinar, Professor Tulsi Dharel from Canada said Nepal cannot progress without international support.
He suggested that Nepal should focus on what promoting tourism, national parks, and market the beautiful Himalayas.
Professor Dharel said Nepal government should be able to formulate policies to invite foreign investors, focus on natural resources, and take diaspora issues into consideration.
Saying that in Nepal, the government and public enterprises have been collapsed because of weak management, lack of management practices, and failing to preserve policies, Dharel said it his high time that Nepal protected public industries.
According to him, the government should not allow foreign countries intervene the Nepalese industries.
Likewise, Dr. Bhanu Neupane from France said Nepal should adapt economy doctrine like France.
He suggested Nepal should think about changing its course of development and also should focusing on artificial intelligence.
In the context of social development, he suggested Nepal government can introduce Adhar Card like in India for its citizens.
“Nepal could promote policies that will provide incentives to people importing fossil fuels based cars,” he suggested.
Dr. Balaram Shrestha from Japan said Nepal needs to open Technical and Vocational Schools to provide skills to the people to make a student efficient and also to make others efficient.
He said Nepal lacks practical education since it has focused on job-based system of education.
Likewise, Hikmat Thapa from Nigeria said the government of Nepal needs to increase its investment by motivating the investors.
He also suggested that the government should improve infrastructure such as electricity, roads and others.
Thapa said the government should implement policies and legal provision on investment, and make the best use of its herbs, tea, coffee, yak cheese, waters, among others.
He said that Nepal needs to focus on economic diplomacy, and promote domestic products to reach out to the international market.
According to him, the government must ensure conducive environment for foreign investment.
Similarly, Dr. Nalini Subba Chettri from Thailand suggested that Nepal should make strategic investment on the people through quality education.
According to her, the government should focus on education, health and employment, and also associate agriculture with entrepreneurship.
“Emptying villages has been a major problem in Nepal,” she said adding that young people should be attracted in agriculture,” she said adding that the country should value the dignity of labor.
Likewise, Professor Shiva Gautam from USA said Nepal needs to conserve natural resources for the future generation.
Professor Gautam said Nepal should create meaningful jobs, fix the financial system, and reduce inequality.
Stating that corruption has been a major setback in the country’s development, he said Nepal needs to focus on exports rather than imports.
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