KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the present government is working seriously towards reducing the trade imbalance.
Addressing a program held to mark the 55th annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Industry and Commerce Day in Kathmandu on Saturday, he said although significant success has not been achieved in reducing the trade imbalance, there has been a gradual improvement.
PM Oli said there are no labor-related problems, the general shutdowns and strikes were a thing of the past and that the country was moving forward with resolute commitment towards the country’s economic and social development.
He urged the industrialists and businessmen to confidently engage in the industrial development as there was a friendly environment for industry, trade and businesses in the country at present. “Industrial development is possible with the establishment of cordial relations amongst the government, the business community, employers and laborer’s, and the present government is committed to resolving the problems if any,” the Prime Minister reiterated.
He shared on the occasion that the government has fixed the limitation on the minimum foreign investment with the objective of bringing in big amount in the form of foreign direct investment, stating it would be hard to meet the goal of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’ from small scale investments.
He opined the goal of economic development could be achieved only through enterprises that are economically and technically strong, stressing on the need of people from every trade and vocation to forge ahead in order for the country to move towards the path of development.
According to the Prime Minister, the government is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations and it was necessary to have double-digit economic growth rate for this to happen. The present government is proceeding towards this with a clear view and a roadmap.
The Prime Minister reiterated on the occasion that any Act, laws and regulations found to be an impediment to the country’s industrial development would be revised and amended and called upon the industrialists and business community to come together with common resolve of nation building.
He urged the investors, industrialists and businessmen to work keeping job creation, and production and productivity growth at the center. “It is necessary to go towards simplification of the procedural complexities. We will make the one-door system more effective and also end the administrative complications,” PM Oli said, in response to the difficulties faced by the industrialists and businessmen that FNCCI president Shekhar Golchha outlined in his welcome statement.
PM Oli launched the book ‘Rastriya Aarthik Rupantaran (National Economic Transformation)- 2030’ published by FNCCI on the occasion. He also honored entrepreneurs making contribution to the export trade, tourism, construction, production sectors.
FNCCI president Golchha said the private sector, which has a contribution of around 70 per cent in the national economy, was supporting the government’s goal of fulfilling the national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ in every way it can. He stressed that the government also should extend cooperation in the implementation of programs of economic transformation.
The FNCCI president said the private sector expected the government’s support in resolving the problems faced by the small and medium scale industries that were making 22 per cent contribution to the economy and providing employment to two million people.
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