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3rd NRN Global Conference kicks off

The 3rd Global NRN (Non-resident Nepali) Conference kicked off in Kathmandu Monday.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 3rd Global ...

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated the three-day conference at the Birendra International Convention Centre in Baneshwor.

Addressing the conference, PM Koirala assured of his support to the issues raised by NRNs and urged the NRN community to increase investment in Nepal in coordination with the local business community.

“NRNs have a good scope for investment in Nepal. They should be able to exploit this scope,” he said. The Prime Minister further said he was supportive of the NRNs’ demand for dual citizenship.

Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan told the conference that the government was ready to provide all kinds of support necessary for facilitating NRN investment in business and service sector in Nepal.

Some 500 NRN representatives from over 40 countries are participating in the conference, which will formulate new NRN policies and elect a new leadership of the Non-resident Nepali Association (NRNA).

Key demands of the NRNs include dual citizenship, voting right in proposed constituent assembly elections and laws that would facilitate NRN investment in Nepal.

On Sunday, speaking at a press conference organised at the foreign ministry, foreign secretary Gyan Chandra Achayra said the government would bring out the NRN Regulations by December.

Foreign secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya, foreign minister Sahana...

Speaking at the occasion, Foreign Minister Pradhan said the government was willing to work in close cooperation with the NRNs for socio-economic development of the country and stressed the need for constructive role of NRNs in making the current political transformation a success.

President of the NRNA ICC Dr Upendra Mahato urged the government to review the NRN act which he said is incomplete. Mahato also asked the government to formulate regulations in order to get NRN-Association registered within this year.

According to Mahato, NRNs have already invested an estimated of $300 million in health, education, hydropower, banking, IT and others. nepalnews.com mk/ia Oct 15 07