Kathmandu, Mar. 26:A delegation led by president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (fncci) Pradip Kumar Shrestha met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s residence at Baluwatar today.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala described the private sector as the foundation of the country’s economic development and stressed the need for cooperation between the government and the private sector in the resolution of any problems and the country’s development.

Calling for substantial suggestions from fncci for building a congenial environment for economic development, Prime Minister Koirala said the government will take necessary initiative to implement the suggestions and overcome the slackness facing the industry and trade sector.

At the meeting, fncci president Shrestha apprised the Prime Minister of the present economic, industrial and trade situation in the country, the problems facing the private sector and the programmes and activities of the Federation.

The fncci president highlighted the slackness in the country’s economic and trade sector, weak implementation aspect of the policies, other problems emanating from among other things the vat and collection of taxes at local level.

The one-door committee has not yet been effective, he said adding the imposition of special additional tax by India on the Nepalese products has discouraged export of Nepalese goods into India. He also asked the government to pay serious attention to this state of affairs.

According to the fncci, the delegation presented a set of demands to the Prime Minister. The demands included among other things formation of Trade Council and a permanent revenue board under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, fixation of workers’ minimum wage in view of the slackness facing the industrial sector, special attention to economic agenda, representation of the private sector in Nepal Rastra Bank and proper initiative to resume Indian Airlines flight.

Minister for Industry and Commerce Ram Krishna Tamrakar, fncci senior member Padma Jyoti, vice presidents Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, Diwakar Golchha, Binod Bahadur Shrestha and Rajendra Kumar Khetan and the fncci council and committee chairmen were present on the occasion.