Pandeya vies for FNCCI, VP

Kathmandu, Mar. 19: Incumbent chairman of the Bank, Finance and Insurance Committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Shankar Prasad Pandeya has announced his candidacy for the post of vice-president (Commodity) for upcoming executive committee of the largest private sector business association in the country.

At a programme organised by the Nepal Pasmina Industry Association (NPIA) Saturday evening, Pandeya announced that he was fighting the election from the Kishor Pradhan panel.

Kishor Pradhan is vying for the post of the senior vice-president.

As the Special AGM of the FNCCI held in January made decision that the senior vice-president would automatically succeed the outgoing president and there would be election only to choose the senior VP, incumbent senior VP Bhawani Rana will be the next president of the business body.

Pandeya said that he was fighting the election to complete the projects that he has started so far and to further improve the image of the private sector.

He has risen from the cashmere (pashmina) business, and worked as vice-president, acting president and president in the NPIA. His business involvement includes export of pashmina and silk, agro business, banking, and tours and travels

Pandeya has been in the central executive committee of the FNCCI for the last 12 years.

“I will work in the interest of the private sector businesses, and to enhance collaboration and coordination among the businessmen. There are 99 commodity associations affiliated to the FNCCI and many more are yet to join it. I vow to create an environment to facilitate all of them,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that he and his team, if elected, would work as a bridge between the small and medium scale industries and large industries.

He said that the country would only progress when entrepreneurs won respect and got facilitation for their endeavour.

Immediate past president of FNCCI Suraj Vaidya mentioned the achievements of the former presidents and said that the business body had become weak in the recent years.

“We don’t believe in ‘bhagbanda’ (share and divide). But ‘bhagbanda’ culture has taken the FNCCI in its grip. My appeal to all businessmen is to fight against it,” he said.

Former president Kush Kumar Joshi mentioned that Pandeya had played a key role in branding Nepali pashmina products as ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ in the international markets.

President of NPIA Durga Thapa claimed that out of 99 commodity associations 67 had expressed their support to Pandeya.

Former president of FNCCI Binod Bahadur Shrestha, former vice president Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar and president of Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) Santosh Shrestha were also present on the occasion.