-Mr. Eussen, US Embassy, Kathmandu

Kathmandu: The Economic/Commercial Officer at the United States Embassy in Kathmandu, Mr. Matthew Eussen, last Friday made a lecture on the Economic diplomacy being pursued by the United States in the recent years.

He was speaking to a group of Nepali media men at the premises of the American center at Gyaneshwar.

Highlighting the aims and the objectives of the United States Economic diplomacy, Mr. Eussen divulged that the United States aimed at achieving the following among others included; To expand free market trade; Expand opportunities for US business; Resolve issues that impeded to foster trade; Reduce and eliminate foreign trade barriers, increase transparency and strengthen rule of law; Develop international rules and standards; and expand and promote US interests in the WTO; regional trade organizations and multilateral organizations.

“By helping other countries to develop, we help ourselves”, revealed Mr. Eussen. In the course of his lecture, Mr. Eussen also made it clear that his country was in favor of the elimination of all tarrifs on all manufactured goods by 2015.

“We have already forwarded this proposal at the concerned place”, added Mr. Eussen.

He however, did not mince words in exposing the unnecessary hurdles that a normal business man has to undergo at time of getting a licensee at the Nepal’s ministries.

“Nepal’s laws and bureaucracy doesn’t encourage the foreign investment”, revealed the US officer.

According to him, Nepal lacked transparency in its dealing with the investors; and that it was very difficult, if not impossible, for a foreign investor to get non-tourist visa and that there were visible variations in tax levies and so on and so forth.

Concluding his remarks, the US diplomat, however, opined that Nepal would benefit immensely from its accession to the WTO regime.