With the ailing condition of the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has floated the idea of starting a new airline company to meet the rising demands of Nepal visitors.
During the NRNA Asia Pacific meeting held in Singapore on July 14 and 15, the NRNA leaders decided they would start studying the prospect of an alternative for NAC if its services does not improve.
The meeting also seriously raised the issue of the government’s denial to register it as an organisation in Nepal and delay in adoption of the NRN bill, which is still under discussion in the interim parliament.
The NRN leaders have asked the government to pass the NRN law before the third convention of the NRNA scheduled for October 15-17.
NRNA demanded that registration of the NRNA must be through a political decision as the existing laws do not permit registering an organization by foreign citizens.
The meeting also decided to restructure the NRNA with provision of regional entity and take initiative to improve coordination and cooperation between the International Coordination Committee and the National Coordination Committees.
Further, the NRNA has announced its intention to construct its own office building in Nepal.
The organization said NRNs must be given the franchise rights to vote in the upcoming constituent assembly elections and inclusion of NRN representatives in the CA. NRNs have expressed interest in investing in two major areas in Nepal, hydropower and tourism.
Intensifying investment in Nepal’s social sector, promoting NRN media and working for rights and security of the Nepali workers abroad were some other important decisions that the Singapore meeting finalised.
Over 100 NRNs from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia including NRNA ICC president Dr Upendra Mahato, vice president (Asia Pacific) Devman Hirachan, vice president of the Federation of Nepali Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCC) Kush Kumar Joshi attended the conference.