Chamber honours its past presidents

Kathmandu, Mar. 15

Nepal Chamber of Commerce has facilitated its past presidents for their contributions to the growth and development of business, economy and chamber movement in the country.

At a special ceremony organised at the Sheetal Niwas on Monday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari offered the felicitations to the presidents and their families.

The programme was organised on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the oldest chamber body in the country.

Established in October 1949, some months before the fall of the Rana regime, the NCC is the first business organisation of the country. Past presidents Lok Nath Joshi, Judda Bahadur Shrestha, Bihari Lal Khetan, Gobarddan Lal Maskey, Rati Ram Agrawal, Janak Das Shrestha, Bal Krishna Shrestha, Indra Bhakta Shrestha, Raj Bahadur Chipalu, Banwari Lal Mittal and Ishwor Lal Shrestha were honoured posthumously. Their family members received the honour.

Late Lok Nath Joshi was the first president of the NCC.

Past presidents Mahesh Kumar Agrawal, Surendra Bir Malakar, Immediate Past President Suresh Kumar Basnet and incumbent President Rajesh Kazi Shrestha also received the honour.

Addressing the programme, President Bhandari said that the prosperity in the country could be achieved only from economic development so the business community had a special role to play in this regard.

“Organisations like the NCC have created an important base for development and expansion of domestic businesses and industries. Chamber has also contributed to Nepal’s foreign trade and promotion of Nepali goods in the international markets,” she said.

She urged the private sector to support in the national motion to reduce trade deficit and make the country self-reliant in industrial products.

Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel said that the government wanted further collaboration with the private sector to speed up the drive for prosperous Nepal. “The government is ready to listen to your grievances and offer solutions. Only a meaningful cooperation and partnership can bear good results,” he said.

NCC President Shrestha said that the Chamber wanted to create a culture of higher collaboration.

President Bhandari also launched a memorial book published on the occasion of the NCC’s 70^th anniversary.