Govt facing resource management challenge

Pre-Budget Discussion

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Tuesday said that the government was facing a severe resource management challenge for socio-economic development.

"The laws that we created have added pressure on us. It is a great challenge to manage resources to address the demands of fundamental rights mentioned in the constitution," Dr. Khatiwada said, while speaking at a Pre-Budget Discussion organised by Management Association of Nepal (MAN) in the Capital.

He stuck to his earlier stand to control import, and indicated that the government would announce some measures for the same in the budget of the next fiscal year, 2019/20.

The finance minister will present the budget of the next fiscal at the Parliament on May 29.

"The government will not allow indiscriminate import of luxury goods even though it will support achieving the revenue-target. I will not let this happen," he said.

He said that the capital expenditure remained low not because of the poor performance of the development projects but due to the delay in making the payments.

Dr. Khatiwada, a couple of days ago, had directed the secretaries of the ministries that mobilise a large part of the development budget to expedite the work and make timely payments.

He said that the figures of capital expenditure would register impressive growth by the end of the current FY.

Former Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said that the political philosophy of the ruling party should be reflected in the budget.

He criticised the government for the low capital expenditure and suggested finding measures for effective budget mobilisation.

President of the NADA Automobile Association Shambhu Prasad Dahal suggested the government should increase the tax on the Indian vehicles entering the country.

"The private Indian vehicles have affected our business here in Nepal therefore the government must double the charges they currently pay," he said.

He also recommended not allowing Indian vehicles for more than a month in Nepal.

Consumer rights activist Jyoti Baniya recommended slashing service charged in the restaurant.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industry (FNCSI) Shyam Prasad Giri recommended establishing industrial village for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

"It is a project that local units can implement. The federal government should facilitate some selected local governments in establishing industrial village for SMEs," he said.

He also suggested creating linkages between university and industry to address the human resource shortage.

President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Satish Kumar More suggested facilitating assembling industries in Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 April 2019.