Kathmandu, Nov. 24
Minister for Finance Janardan Sharma said that the
government was expecting private sector investment in infrastructure projects.
“The government is ready to join hands with the
private sector in infrastructure development through public-private partnership
model,” he said at a programme organised by the Nepalese Association of
Financial Journalists on Wednesday.
According to him, the government needs the private
sectors’ support in bringing the economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic back
on track and expedite the development and economic prosperity.
“We want your support to strengthen the economy and
create more opportunities. I am hopeful that we will together create an
environment for the collaboration to restore the economic activities,” he said.
However, he maintained that since the size of the
economy was small, there was the dearth of resources to raise each business
sector simultaneously. “The government is always ready to facilitate and
incentivise the private sector enterprises. We are planning to support the most
affected sectors through fresh programmes,” said Minister Sharma.
Meanwhile, he also said that it was not the shortage
of the resources that was obstructing the development and progress, but the
managerial skills needed to mobilise them.
Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad
Adhikari said that the central bank was vigilant about checking the financial
sector moving to the wrong direction and Capital to Deposit Ratio was an
instrument to make that happen.
“We have saved the banks and financial institutions
through the implementation of the CD ratio. The central bank should care about
the entire economy, not just a couple of groups,” he said.
According to him, clear policy, implementation of
plans and participation of private sector was imperative for the development of
the nation. “The government should support the private sector through better
policy provision and other instruments while the latter help in implementing economic
reforms and development,” said Adhikari.
Chief of the Department of Economics at the
Tribhuvan University Prof. Shiva Raj Adhikari said that for the development and
economic recovery, there is a need to fill the gap of misunderstanding between
the private sector and government.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the liquidity crisis has
discouraged investment from the private sector.
He stated that the private sector would join hands
with the government in infrastructure development as well. According to him,
the projects like Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal project should be
implemented as they could play a vital role in development.
President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra
Malla maintained that the central bank had tried to address the economic
challenges through its Monetary Policy of FY 2021/22.
“But there is liquidity crisis in the financial
system so the central bank should address the CD radio since many banks have it
above 90 per cent. They are not in the position to invest more money,” he said.
He pledged private sector’s support to the
government in development and business rehabilitation.
Acting President of Confederation of Nepalese
Industries Krishna Prasad Adhikari maintained that while the public-private
partnership was imperative in economic recovery, both the actors couldn’t
contribute more to the mission.
“Government facilitation to the private sector is
key to the early economic recovery,” he said.
NAFIJ facilitates Gautam
On the occasion, NAFIJ facilitated senior journalist
Keshav Gautam for his unfettered contribution to the growth of economic
journalism in the country in the past two and a half decades. FM Sharma
conferred shawl and appreciation letter to Gautam.
He, together with Governor Adhikari and private
sector representatives, launched ‘Arthachitra’ – an annual economic journal of
the association.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 November 2021.
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