Finance Minister Khanal holds talks with private sector leaders on economic reforms

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal held discussions with representatives of the private sector on current economic issues during a meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Chandra Prasad Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, president of the Nepal Chambers of Commerce; Birendra Raj Pandey, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries; and Khem Raj Bhandari, president of the Nepal Industry Commerce Federation, among others.

During the meeting, Minister Khanal expressed gratitude for the support and feedback provided by the private sector during his tenure.

He noted that restoring the business environment and boosting the morale of the private sector after the protests held on September 8 and 9 , 2025, was one of the initial challenges. However, he said that joint efforts have gradually helped improve the business climate.

According to Tanka Prasad Pandey, spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, the discussion focused on maintaining macroeconomic stability, creating an investment-friendly environment, promoting exports while protecting domestic industries, ensuring transparency in the capital market, and strengthening economic governance.

Minister Khanal said several issues raised by stakeholders had already been addressed, while some matters could not be resolved during his tenure due to policy complexities and would be handed over to the next finance minister.

During the interaction, representatives of the private sector thanked Khanal for his efforts to address business sector concerns. They also stressed that political stability is essential for the country’s development and prosperity, expressing optimism following the results of the recent elections.

Private sector representatives also urged the government to introduce a multi-rate system for value-added tax (VAT), maintain at least a two-tier gap between import duties on raw materials and finished goods, prioritize export promotion, evaluate the effectiveness of regulatory bodies, and reduce high excise tax rates.