CNI urges president to open market

Kathmandu, Sept. 13

The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged President Bidya Devi Bhandari to support in opening the businesses and markets.

It has urged the president to allow the businesses to run even in the COVID-19 situation with the application of health safety measures by enhancing the confidence of the workers and staff.

It has recommended to run the business with required precautions rather than shutting all enterprises and implementing lockdowns or restrictions.

According to a statement issued by the CNI, in a meeting with President Bhandari the other day, it has urged her to establish well-facilitated treatment centres, quarantines and isolation centres.

It has asked the president to make an environment to include the health institutions, hospitals and hotels run by the private sector in COVID-19 treatment, quarantine and isolation.

The discussion was primarily was focused on the impact of coronavirus pandemic on business and industry, the challenges faced by the private sector and the possible ways forward.

Likewise, the CNI demanded with the president to open the tourism sector including the hotels and tourist destinations in a well-managed manner.

"The 14-day quarantine provision should be reduced to three days for the tourists and the sector should be opened. The tourists should be asked to undergo PCR test after three days and should be allowed to move freely if the report shows negative," read the statement.

The CNI believes that it would be a great relief to tourism which is the most hit sector in the pandemic.

Similarly, it asked to extend the tax payment date by a month from the earlier announced deadline. "It will be a relief to the business community," CNI said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 September 2020.