Businessmen make appeal for vaccination with PM

Kathmandu, July 16

The private sector has demanded with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to accord top priority to vaccinate the private sector entrepreneurs and workers.

A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) led by its President Shekhar Golchha called on the PM and Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Thursday to congratulate them and apprise of the private sector’s demands about rehabilitating the economy and businesses.

The delegation congratulated PM Deuba and FM Sharma for their new responsibility as the head of the executive in the country and finance minister.

It said that to bring the economy and businesses battered by the COVID-19 pandemic back on track, the government must give priority to the private sector in vaccination, and effectively implement the programmes announced for the private sector through the budget of the next fiscal year 2021/22.

Golchha also emphasised on the need of immediate stimulus package for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and resolve the issue related with the trunk and dedicated line of electricity that has been lingering for the past many years.

He urged the PM and FM to support the private sector in rehabilitating the businesses and industries. “Entrepreneurs and workers are the front liners in the economic fight against the deadly pandemic so the government must provide vaccination to them. The main source of the government income is the income the private sector makes from their businesses,” he said.

Golchha expressed satisfaction over the inclusion of the FNCCI in the budget of the coming fiscal and expected effective implementation of budget provisions by the government, FNCCI said in a statement.

The delegation also comprising of Senior Vice-president Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Vice-presidents Dinesh Shrestha, Anjan Shrestha and Ram Chandra Sanghai said to the leaders that the FNCCI had published National Economic Transformation 2030 and it sought cooperation from the government in achieving the targets set by the document.

In response, PM Deuba pledged required government support in raising the status of entire business and economy and urged the private sector to work with full confidence.

Likewise, FM Sharma expressed his commitment of support to the private sector in providing vaccination facility and other necessary activities. “I would like to hold a wider discussion with the FNCCI and will support the businesses in regaining their confidence amidst the pandemic,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 July 2021.