PM Assures to resolve Nepal-India trade issues

Kathmandu, Aug. 4: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has assured the business community that the constraints in Nepal-India trade would be resolved immediately.

“To resolve the misunderstandings and constraints in the trade between the two countries, the government is sending a delegation led by a joint-secretary of the Ministry Industry, Commerce and Supplies to India to discuss about them and find solutions,” he said during an interaction with the Udhyog Sangathan Morang at PM’s Residence, Baluwatar.

He said that the problem will also be discussed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the side meeting during the BIMSTEC Summit – held in Kathmandu on 30 and 31 of August this year.

The government has been preparing to discuss the issue at the common forum and bilateral meetings during the summit.

According to PM Oli, the entrepreneurs and government have to put joint efforts to change the identity of the country.

“There is a need to convert Nepal’s identity from the importer to exporter, poor to prosperous, backward to modern and developed, and unemployed to employed. The government needs your support in this campaign. We are ready to support your plan and programmes that aim at changing the current pathetic image of the country,” he said.

PM said that the country need to work on reduce trade deficit, create trade balance and change the overall economic situation of the country but the country has so far failed to find the way for the economic prosperity.

Therefore, we should put joint efforts for the same, and try to connect agriculture to it, he said.

PM Oli expressed concerns over the growing consumerism in Nepali people.

“We are adopting the latest fashion trends and using the foreign products but we are less considerate to produce such fashion products and food items on our own. This consumer culture has contributed in growing trade deficit,” he added.

He promised the entrepreneurs that the government would happily provide the required facilities and incentives for the establishment and operation of industries.

According to him, there will not be double taxation.

President of Sangathan, Bhim Ghimire presented a paper on immediate and long-term actions needed to do in order to create trade balance.

He said that the government should immediately curb the double taxation, control ever increasing bank’s interest rate and maintain consistency in energy supply to the industries.

“Prime Minister is very positive in addressing our demands. He has directed the line ministries and concerned departments to work to facilitate the industrial development,” said Ghimire.

The industrialists also urged the PM to review the minimum wages for the workers and said that it should be varied according to the geographical diversification and rural-urban setup of industries.

Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that the issues faced by the businessmen would be taken seriously.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 August 2018.