The 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) kicked off in the capital on Wednesday.
The AGM will elect new leadership of the FNCCI for the next coming three years. The sitting president Chandi Raj Dhakal and second vice president Kush Kumar Joshi are in the election fray.
Inaugurating the AGM, Finance Minister called on the business community to help conduct the Constituent Assembly (CA) election successfully.
He assured the business community that no force in the country can go beyond what he called as some vital democratic elements including pluralism, rule of law and human rights.
"The problems of business sector are the national problems," he said, adding that economy must be given top priority for the development of the country.
"Even amid instability our macro economic indicators including inflation, deficit, are all in stable condition. Our revenue has grown handsomely to help us cater to the rising election expenses and oil deficit. If there had been total peace, I am sure, the country would have witnessed 7 to 8 percent of growth," he said.
Addressing the AGM, Dhakal said, "The private business sector is also geared for nation building. We are also now preparing on provincial system of economy as the nation has decided to go for federalism."
Dhakal called on the government to ensure business environment by creating the situation of security. "We must first be able to come out of the house and conduct business activities," he said.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of its AGM, the FNCCI also, posthumously, honoured four prominent businesspersons - Gopal Rajbhandari, Mohan Gopal Khetan, Hulas Chand Golchha and Raj Bahadur Chipalu.
Following the inaugural session, the FNCCI held closed session. The federation is expected to hold election for the new leadership on Wednesday evening. nepalnews.com sd Mar 26 08
