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| Kathmandu, Saturday December 21, 2002 Paush 06, 2059. |
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PM assures of restoring peace
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 20 : When most of the Nepali
industries are in adverse state largely due to gloomy business environment resultant of
deepening violence, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has assured that the government
is committed to restoring peace as soon as possible.
"The government is well aware that the
ultimate way to revive business-friendly environment is only through extension of proper
security arrangement to the business community," he added.
Speaking at the Twelfth Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Central Carpet Industries Association of Nepal (CCIAN), Prime Minister Chand
suggested the carpet entrepreneurs to slash down their cost of production by using the
domestic raw materials rather than procuring expensive foreign primary products.
"The low cost of production would provide
high leverage to Nepali carpet entrepreneurs to survive in the highly competitive
international market," added PM Chand.
He also appreciated the role of carpet
entrepreneurs in reducing poverty by offering various employment opportunities to the
common people. "Qualitative Nepali carpets have also helped in establishing identity
of the country in the international arena," he added.
However, pointing towards the general reluctance
shown by the entrepreneurs on paying tax, PM Chand asked the entrepreneurs to respond to
their liability. "You need to pay to the government when you earn by virtue of the
resources from the state," he added.
Similarly, Assistant Minister for Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ravi Bhakta Shrestha pointed out the need of empowering the
industrial sector of the country in order to catch the pace of development. "Our
industries badly need to develop themselves as strong competitors in the present context
of globalisation, liberalisation and open market," he added.
Earlier to this, AG Sherpa, President of the
association lambasted the government for regularly increasing the hassles for the carpet
entrepreneurs in the name of several taxes. "While other nations support their
industrialists to export their products, our government keeps on adding several
taxes", he said. Claiming the recently imposed excise duty on export of carpets as
baseless, Sherpa demanded the government to work out for long-term plan for revenue
mobilisation.
"The government also needs to review its
labour policy," Sherpa said adding, that the carpet export has been expensive in
recent times due to the hike on transportation cost.
He also suggested that the diplomatic mission
abroad should play an active role in promoting the export of carpets and other products.
"We direly need strong participation of our envoys in boosting our exports," he
said.
However, he expressed his optimism that with the
end of political instability in the country, the carpet industries could farewell in the
days ahead.
Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, President of Nepal Chamber
of Commerce requested the government to immediately initiate economic diplomacy for the
industrial growth of the country. Similarly, Acting President of the Federation of
Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries Binod Bahadur Shrestha demanded with the
government to promote labour intensive industries.
Harihar Subedi, Naresh Chandra Lamichhane,
Pushpa Raj Shrestha, Purna Man Shakya, Ang Babu Sherpa, Suraj Vaidya, Jaffar Ahamad were
given letter of appreciation for their contribution to the carpet industry. Paramount
Carpet Industries and Tashi Palten Handicraft were also felicitated. PM Chand also
released a book entitled ‘Nepalese Carpet’ on the occasion.
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