Kathmandu, Dec. 7
Finance Minister
Rameshore Khanal has said that attacks on the private sector are not
appropriate.
“The structures and
assets created by the private sector also belong to the Nepali people. The
private sector will eventually leave them behind after a certain period. Owners
of businesses might change over the years, but they will continue to contribute
to society and the economy,” he said while speaking at the 16th
Annual General Assembly programme of the Nepal Association of Financial
Journalists (NAFIJ) held in Kathmandu on Sunday.
He urged all to work
together to protect the private sector.
According to him, the
central issue of the Gen Z movement is economic prosperity, adding that the
youths taking to the streets are demanding an end to corruption and a guarantee
of good governance.
Minister Khanal said
that elections will be held on time with the consensus of all parties and the
general public. He stressed the need to build an environment, both domestically
and internationally, of conducting timely elections in a safe, fearless and
fair manner as part of the democratic process.
As Nepal has been
receiving positive evaluations internationally, he said the government must
continue enhancing reforms in the days ahead.
NRB working to lift
business morale
Speaking at the
programme, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr. Biswo Poudel said that the central
bank has amended various policies to stimulate economic activities. “In the
first quarterly review of the Monetary Policy of Fiscal Year 2025/26, we have
made provisions easier to help financial institutions increase their profits.
We have also opened the way for many bank branches in metropolitan areas to be
closed,” he said.
He added that the
central bank is working to support economic momentum by ensuring good profits
and investments for banks and promoting digital transactions. Noting that
morale is currently low, Dr. Poudel said it needs to be lifted. “Our economic
policies are strong, but morale is weak. To raise it, we must focus on positive
aspects. For example, we should promote successful export sectors such as
cardamom. We can move in the right direction if we prioritise what is needed.”
He also stated that
Nepal Rastra Bank is studying the provisions related to blacklisting.
Likewise, Investment
Board Nepal CEO Sushil Gyewali said that although some foreign investors are in
‘wait and see’ mode, none have stated that they will not invest in Nepal or
withdraw their existing investments. He said investors are still enthusiastic
about investing in Nepal.
“We have projects
worth Rs. 1,700 billion in the pipeline. Some investors are observing the
situation. But none of those interested in investing have said they will pull
out. On the contrary, they say that Nepal’s investment environment is improving
and they are eager to move ahead swiftly,” Gyewali said.
Secretary of the
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Radhika Aryal, said that
the value and credibility of news have been diminishing due to AI. “The
journalism sector as a whole is at a critical juncture. AI has increased
uncertainty about where journalism is headed. AI has eroded the value and
credibility of news content,” she said.
Public-private
cooperation stressed
Representatives of the
private sector said that Nepal’s economy can only improve if the government and
private sector move ahead together. They said that the economy will regain
momentum only when both sides work hand in hand.
President of the
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra
Prasad Dhakal, said the economy cannot gain momentum unless the government and
the private sector progress together. “It has already been proven that unless
the government and the private sector work side by side, Nepal’s economy cannot
move forward,” he said.
Likewise, President of
the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Kamalesh Agrawal, said economic activities
cannot be strengthened without the private sector. He argued that, as the
private sector is the backbone of the economy, economic expansion cannot take
place unless this sector itself is strengthened.
Saying that Nepal’s
economy is currently in a state of transition, he pointed out the lack of
investable capital in the private sector. He noted that high liquidity in the
banking sector and the challenge of managing declining interest rates have
contributed to uncertainty in the investment environment.
Similarly, President
of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Birendra Raj Pandey, said
the biggest challenge at present is the stagnation of investable funds within
the financial system.
“The domestic economy
is under pressure. Banks have sufficient investable funds. Even though interest
rates are in single digits, overall market demand has not grown,” he said. “The
biggest challenge today is that investable funds remain idle in the system.
Idle money is never good for the economy.”
Journalists awarded
On the occasion, NAFIJ
awarded journalists for best economic reporting. Rabin Poudel of Clickmandu
received the Sharada–Dhundiraj NAFEJ Economic Journalism Award 2082, carrying a
purse of Rs. 100,000.
Kamala Bhandari of
Capital Nepal received the Rs. 50,000 CBFIN–NAFIJ Banking Journalism Award, and
Ambika Sharma of Taksar received the Rs. 50,000 CBFIN–NAFIJ Economic Journalism
Award.
In addition, the Shrawan
Kumar Agrawal–NAFIJ Fellowship was awarded to Yam Bam of Naya Patrika Daily.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 December 2025.
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