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| Kathmandu, Thursday December 26, 2002 Paush 11, 2059. |
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Change
the attitude
The call made by the
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on the government to
simplify export procedures is not without some solid foundation. Official bridles at every
step in the past had discouraged productive and constructive initiatives taken by Nepalese
entrepreneurs. There were appearances that made it look as though officialdom were
displeased when Nepalese exporters made profits. Too many rules and regulations relating
to exports as in other areas tend to create chaos and discourage the very business that
government leaders proclaim from every house-top to encourage. This is one of the reasons
why businessmen and government officials are hand in glove in circumventing the rules that
lead to corruption at every level. But this only helps a handful and the majority of
exporters and potential exporters are left in the lurch. The alarming rate of fall of
exports is a living testimony to the archaic and needless rules that are still in force.
The practice of too many rules and regulations had prevailed during the Panchayat era and
gained even greater sway during the past 12 years. This is exactly the kind of attitude
that should have been discarded in a democratic setup. Rules and regulations are needed in
a civil society if only to ensure that there is no anarchy, but they should not be such
that they encourage red tape and corruption. Rules and regulations for businesses and
others should be kept to be the minimum so that every Nepalese gets an opportunity to try
his or her hand in one area or another without having to appease government officials.
The fall in production
of export-based goods is just one of the fallouts of the dramatic fall in Nepalese
exports. The government will go a long way in helping the business sector if it undertakes
to streamline the export process. The government’s presence, especially in monitoring
exports and the quality of goods, should be there. But the government’s role needs to
be minimal so that the Nepalese exports can be competitive in the international markets.
This means local and national taxes, which are necessary must be kept to the minimum and
in a manner that is simple to operate. The government should help exports and not merely
say so in words. As one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, Nepal
has a long way to go and the best help can only come from its own government, no matter
how liberal other governments are and how much preference they give to Nepalese goods. For
a country that is to catch up with the rest of the world, a liberal change in attitude is
the need of the hour. |
