Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that the government and the private sector should forge a consensus to enhance the national economy.
“The government and I, as an individual, are ready to co-operate with the private sector in whatever way possible for the growth of commerce and industry,” Koirala said addressing a function organised to observe the first-ever Industry and Commerce Day (ICD) here this afternoon. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has started celebrating Chaitra 28 (April 10) as ICD this year onwards.
“I am sure of only one thing and that is the nation should prosper,” Koirala said and appealed to the private sector to come up with projects that would transformation social and economic fronts of the country.
Koirala conceded that the nation failed to achieve the desired level of economic growth during the last decade due to the lack of concrete development programmes, adding that it was presently witnessing a wave of economic revolution.
FNCCI should take initiatives to capitalise this opportunity, Koirala said.
Koirala said that the politicians as well as the civil servants should work so as to benefit people. “The government on its part will maintain law and order to create a development friendly atmosphere, reform the civil service to ensure good governance and take strong measures to contain corruption – our invisible enemy.”
Commerce and Industry Minister Ram Krishna Tamrakar said that the government had a vision of developing Nepal into an economically competitive nation, adding that private sector had to play a pro-active role to achieve this aim.
The government and the private sector are the two wheels of the same cart, Tamrakar said. “The nation will be unable to consolidate its economy unless both the parties fulfil their responsibility.”
Tamrakar said that the country’s natural and cultural resources could play a crucial role in national development and appealed to the private sector to tap these prospects.
Keynote speaker Dr. Mohan Man Sainju said that Nepal’s bio/geo-diversity was an asset, not a barrier to national development and stressed on the partnership between the government, the private sector and the civil society.
FNCCI President and ICD Celebration Committee Chairman Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that the Day was observed with a view to raise public awareness and interest towards industry and commerce and to disseminate the significance of business and industry amongst the wider public.
“The celebration will enhance the social status and prestige of the individuals involved in business and industry and will also provide them an opportunity to introspect their own responsibility to Nepal and Nepali.”
Stressing vision and commitment for economic progress and social uplift, Shrestha said the government and the private sector should join hands for the development of water resources, tourism, agriculture and service industry.
Asian Productivity’s General Secretary Takasi Tajima said Nepal held good prospects in eco-tourism and small and medium enterprises.
On the occasion, Premier Koirala also gave away token of felicitations to Anand Bhakta Rajbhandari, Siddhi Raj Shakya and Swiss citizen Peter Frenz for their outstanding contribution in the field of banking, handicraft development and carpet expert promotion respectively. He also gave away felicitation letters to FNCCI past Presidents, the international organisations assisting FNCCI. National Sports Council was felicitated for its contribution to make the 8th South Asian Federation Games a success.
FNCCI first Vice-president Rabi Bhakta Shrestha proposed the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the function.