By Nepal News Correspondent
KATHMANDU, Jan. 1: The year 2003 is being celebrated as an export year by organising various programmes with an objective of making positive contributions in the country’s economy by making it sustainable, reliable and more organised.
Giving a message of felicitation on the occasion, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said that His Majesty’s Government has a policy of reaching the returns of export trade to the people under the poverty line by orienting the country’s economy to a new direction.
In the message, Prime Minister Chand said in view of the deteriorating state of export trade over the past few years, the year 2003 is being observed as an export year by adopting various ways for export promotion and expressed the hope that it will make the export trade easier.
The role of the private and commercial sector is important for making the year a success, Chand said, adding that the year will be made meaningful and a great support in the export trade of the country by running programmes including identification of export goods, flow of business information and participation in the international fairs.
Giving a message on the same occasion, Finance Minister Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha said the year will encourage the industrialists and entrepreneurs to take benefit from trade liberalisation by facing the challenges of the present at a time when we are preparing to join WTO.
On the same occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Mahesh Lal Pradhan said the celebration is timely at the present age of globalised trade and liberalisation.
Assistant Minister for Industry Commerce and Supplies Jagat Bahadur Gurung said the organising 2003 as an export year will inspire all the entrepreneurs to be committed to increase sustainable export.
Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Laba Kumar Devkota said congenial atmosphere should be created for the international market by increasing the qualities of goods and services by the entrepreneurs in the year 2003.
In a message, acting president of FNCCI Binod Bahadur Shrestha said the export year will help reduce the balance of payment to through export promotion in the year.
NCC president Rajesh Kaji Shrestha said it is indispensable to encourage export for the economic development of the country at a time when countries have made the impact of their economy on various countries.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries Basu Dev Giri said the export year will be timely, important based on reality.