President Bhandari calls for building self-reliant economy

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has stressed the need for all Nepalis to focus on building a self-reliant economy.

President Bhandari said so at a program organized at the Office of President- Sheetal Niwas – while honoring former administrator Suryanath Upadhyay with ‘Hem Bahadur Malla Honour’ on Sunday.

The honor includes a copper plaque and cash prize worth Rs 200,000.

Stating that modernization and commercialization of agriculture was inevitable to achieve socio-economic growth, Bhandari reiterated that economic prosperity could be achieved through optimum utilization of water resources and through electricity generation, irrigation system, tourism, promotion of exports and import replacement, among others.

Furthermore, she reminded that COVID-19 pandemic and Gorkha Earthquake in 2015 had impacted various dynamics of country economy, which, she argued, would be uplifted through quality and employment-oriented education. “The process of strengthening economy requires transparency, good governance and accountability. I call the attention of the concerned parties to work on zero-tolerance against corruption,” urged the Head of the State.

According to her, quality education and healthcare services were vital to build independent economy and to give impetus to development works that were marred by COVID-19 pandemic. The President praised the contributions of Upadhyay to the promotion of professional capacity carried out by working in different bodies of the state and urged the organizations like Public Administration Association of Nepal to effectively work in the good deeds to benefit the society.

On the occasion, Upadhyay was felicitated for his contributions to maintain the nation’s image high in the fields of public service delivery and management as well as in the promotion of good-governance. In the past, Upadhyay served as the Chief Commissioner of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Water Resource Secretary and secured other top posts.

The Salt Trading Corporation had established the honor in tribute to its founding Chief Executive Hem Bahadur Malla.

Prior to this, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Chandani Joshi, Dr Bhagawan Koirala, Dr Bimal Koirala, Mahabir Pun, Bhojraj Pokharel, Damannath Dhungana, Suresh Raj Sharma, Khilraj Regmi, Umesh Mainali, Damodar Gautam, Devendra Raj Panday, Kulman Ghising, Dr Sanduk Ruit and Dr Gaurishankar Lal Das were felicitated with the honor.