Unified efforts needed for post-COVID revival: Golchha

Kathmandu, Dec. 28

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Shekhar Golchha, said that unified efforts were needed for the post-COVID revival of business and industry.

Welcoming the newly elected office bearers of the members of commodity associations at the FNCCI secretariat on Tuesday, he expressed confidence that the business would be revived and the private sector would contribute to the economic transformation of the country.

The business body has already formulated a policy document called 'National Economic Transformation 2030'.

"The time has come for the entire network of the federation to be mobilised for the revival of industry and business. Newly elected office bearers of the member commodity federations should be active to achieve this goal," said Golchha.

The FNCCI has honoured the members of Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), Nepal Corrugated Box Manufacturers Association (NCBMA), Nepal Courier Services Association (NCSA), Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal (FMAN), NADA Automobiles Association, Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association (NAMEA), and Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NFFA).

Speaking on the occasion, Sukrit Raj Parajuli, president of NCBMA, complained that although the country is self-reliant in packing boxes, producers are facing challenges due to imported box.

He recommended to stop the export of scrap papers – raw materials for corrugated box industry.

Chairman of NCSA, Devendra Khadka, demanded separate courier terminals at international airports and bus parks. He suggested that initiatives should be taken to solve the problem created by the traffic for courier van, and remove Value Added Tax on courier.

Naniraj Ghimire, President of FMAN, suggested establishing training centres to enhance the skills of the workers and create skilled manpower for the industries to address the shortage of skilled human resources.

He complained that there was a problem in exporting Nepali shoes due to high customs duty. He said that the government has made it mandatory to use indigenous products even though it is 15 percent expensive but the policy has not been implemented in practice.

Likewise, according to Dhruba Bahadur Thapa, President of NADA, policy of maintaining 50 per cent margin in the letter of credit (LC) has caused problems.

He suggested removing or amending impractical policies regarding customs reference price, black marketing, and annual fees and taxes.

Khoj Raj Katuwal, President of the NAMEA, suggested that the government should have a policy to promote Nepal-made products. Mulching plastics, pipes for drip irrigation and greenhouse structures made of iron and pipes are being produced and marketed in Nepal. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2021.