Urge for unconditional debt cancellation of LDCs

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KATHMANDU, March 26 - Leader of main opposition CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has demanded for the unconditional debt cancellation of least devolved countries (LDCs).

"The debt cancellation under the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) will not be in favor of the LDCs," Nepal said while inaugurating a regional workshop on LDCs, Monday. Debt cancellation for the LDCs is a fundamental issue of international economic order, Nepal said, adding that the long standing debt of the LDCs has posed barrier to their development effort.

Inaugurating the two-day "NGOs’ Asia Regional Consultation Workshop on LDCs III" jointly organised by Rural Reconstructon Nepal (RRN) and Internaitonal Steering Commitee of NGOs’ Forum on LDCs, Asia Region, MK Nepal stressed upon the issue of governance, enhancement of productivity through human capacity building, equitable economic development, financial resources mobilization and some pertinent issues of globallisation.

"The LDCs with their existing capacity cannot compete in the race of the globalisaion with its present pace. Because of this, they are further losing their resources and are being more marginalised" he added.

If the globalisaiton does not serve the LDCs in terms of special provisions of tariff and free market, the globalisaiton further deteoriates the economy of the LDCs, Nepal said. "This will again benefit the rich and industrialized countries".

Highlighting the past development efforts of Nepal, Dr Shankar Sharma, member of National Planning Commission, emphasized upon the need of international community support on poverty alleviation program as well as various other development efforts.

"We support the demand of the global community that includes unrestricted access to markets in developed countries, increased official development assistance (ODA), debt relief, increased techinical assistance, to develop infrastructure and assistance to bridge the digital divide." Sharma said.

Explaining about the role of NGOs in the development process in Nepal, Sharma said the governmnt is commited to foster the environment for the growth and expansion of the NGOs and their activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Gauri Pradhan, president of NGO federation of Nepal spoke about the necessities of an approach and modality to address the problems of the LDCs in the new econmic order.

Referring to a WB report saying LDCs spending as much as one fifth of their annual budgets on debt servicing , Arjun Kumar Karki, regional representative of International Streering Commitee on NGO Forum on LDCs, demanded the immediate cancellation of the debt of all LDCs.

Likewise, executive director of the RRN Sabra Raj Khadka, regional co-ordinator of English speaking LDCs’ NGO Forum Florennce Kohenen, Glossy Chakma from Bangaladesh and representive from Focus on the Global South Nicola Bullard spoke about the the role of NGO forum in the forthcoming UN convention on the LDCs and various issues confronted by the LDCs at present.

The United Nations is organising the third UN Conference for the LDCs from 14-20 May in Brussels, with an objective of eradicating poverty in the LDCs through their progressive integration into the world economy with the support of international community.

There are 48 LDCs worldwide and nine in Asia alone. In these countries, over half of the total population has an average daily earning less than US$ 1.

Army now active in Nepalgunj Customs

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BANKE, March 26 - In the latest attempt to curb the cross-border smuggling with the mobilization of Royal Nepal Army (RNA), the army personnel have started patrolling Nepalgunj Customs, the main customs point of western region of the country from Monday.

The government, last month decided to deploy the RNA at the main customs points with India and China after realizing that the role of police became ineffective in controlling widespread cross-border smuggling, which is seen as the main cause for the leakage of government revenues worth billions of rupees.

"Since the police and customs administration have failed to control the rampant smuggling through the international border, the army personnel will patrol border until the formation and deployment of proposed revenue police," an officer of the customs informed The Kathmandu Post.

Initially, a platoon of 30 armed army personnel will guard the board customs, under the direction of customs chief based there.

"The army has not come here with a separate order or directive, they are under the direct control of chief of the customs and will act under his direction," said Surya Sedhai, an officer of the Nepaljung customs.

With the deployment of army, the smugglers, who have been conducting their illegal business unchecked in accomplishment with police and customs officials are now worried.

The immediate effects of the army deployment have started to be seen. The illegal Indian duty unpaid vehicles, which were widely seen on the local streets, have started disappearing.

Concerned authorities seem hopeful that large quantity of Indian goods, particularly construction materials, which used to enter Nepal with illegal clearance, would be controlled to a large extent.

Copper, textile materials, cement and hardware materials are some of the common Indian goods, famous among the smugglers for illegal trade. Sources said that hardware businessman have been freely importing cement in the name of cement’s raw materials.

When asked about the possible increase in he revenue collection after the army mobilization, officer Sedhai said that it is difficult to pin point the rise, however he was confident about the positive impact on the customs revenue collection.

Sugar mill improves living standard

DHANGADHI, March 26 (RSS) - Basuling DSM Sugar Mill is gradually developing as a centre of activity for improving the living standards of the people of Kailali, Kanchanpur and Bardiya districts.

Established in 1996 in Chuha village development committee (VDC) of Kailali district on the initiatives of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) as per the new industrial policy, the factory provides employment to 1,400 persons during peak season.

Some 7,000 sugarcane farmers of Kailali, Kanchanpur and Bardiya districts are directly benefiting from the sugar mill.

The mill, being one of the nine biggest sugar mills in the country, offers loans to farmers through the ADB for growing sugarcane. It also buys sugarcane from farmers through procurement points set up at 34 different places for the convenience of the farmers.

The opening of the sugar mill has encouraged the local farmers to embark on sugarcane cultivation. They have also drastically improved their living standards by selling sugarcane.

Apart from this, the industry has created direct or indirect jobs to the local youth who would otherwise have travelled to India for employment.

New settlements have also sprung up around the Mills area, which has leaded to the booming of real estate business there.

The sugar mill with a capacity of crushing 2,5000 to 3,500 tonnes of sugarcane daily, meets 10 per cent of the demand in the domestic market, according to Achyut Krishna Wagle, chief of the administration and public relations section at the industry.