NFFA elects new leadership

 Kathmandu, Dec. 25

Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA) has unanimously elected a new leadership in the chairmanship of Dinesh Agrawal.

The 23^rd general assembly and convention of the association held in the capital on Saturday, 17 members were unanimously elected, in a 21-member committee, for a 2-year term.

The assembly unanimously elected Manish Aggarwal as the senior vice president of the association, Arun Kumar Chaudhary as the first vice president, Arjun Ghimire as the second vice president and Sanjay Lama as the general secretary. Similarly, Ramita Kasaju Shrestha is elected as treasurer, Kedar Nath Bastakoti and Damru Ballav Parajuli as secretary. Likewise, Dil Bikram Shrestha, Bhola Man Yonjan, Rishi Kishore Agarwal, Samyak Man Singh, Mukesh Agarwal, Geeta Achhami, Ranju Shrestha, Nikunj Agarwal and Tek Bahadur Karki were elected members of the working committee, unopposed.

The working committee will nominate three members while Immediate Past President Shubendra Joshi also remain as the member of the committee.

Addressing the general assembly of the association, Sunita Dangol, Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, informed that due to widespread complaints regarding house rents, they are going to make legal provisions to make it easier for the houseowners and the tenants.

The speakers of the programme pointed out to Deputy Mayor Dangol that there was a problem in the transportation of furniture products due to the restrictions on the transportation of goods in the valley. They said that although the plans put forward by the metropolis are good, managerial problems have arisen due to lack of discussion with the business community.

Shubendra Joshi drew attention to the fact that the furniture businesses were barred from participating in the tender for wood cutting. He said that furniture industries will face problems due to lack of raw materials while woods will be wasted in forests.

Dinesh Agarwal said that due to the high bank interest rates, the furniture traders are being displaced. He said in lack of timely amendment of the existing laws, it is difficult to advance the furniture business and the forest produce is not being properly utilised.

There are 12,000 furniture entrepreneurs in the country. This business is providing direct employment to more than 200,000 people. About Rs. 30 billion is invested in the furniture business and the annual turnover is above Rs. 40 billion. According to the entrepreneurs, of the total furniture demand, about 60 per cent is met by the imported goods. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 December 2022.