Wanted: NRNs
BE it in developed or developing countries,
governments make conscious efforts to attract the attention of their diasporas for
inviting them to contribute to the development of their motherlands. Some succeed in their
endeavour, some do not. One of the countries that have managed to a large extent to rope
in the contributions of their non-resident sons and daughters is China where large-scale
investments are made by the people of Chinese origin living far and wide. The government
goes all out to lure rich businessmen to chip in with their money and skills. Nepal’s
another neighbour, India, too, especially since it liberalised its economy, has been
coming up with attractive incentive packages to catch the eyes of non-resident Indians.
Nepal too seems to have realised the importance of calling attention of non-resident
Nepalese (NRNs) to come forward to help their country of origin in its developmental
endeavours. Some time ago, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, when he was in the
United States, appealed to the Nepalese there to contribute their mite to Nepal’s
development. Following up on that, Minister for Commerce Ramkrishna Tamrakar in a
statement on Friday appealed to all the non-resident Nepalese living and working in
different countries of the world to do something for their motherland with their skills
and resources. Citing stable government and the existence of a favourable environment for
investment, he called on Nepalese expatriates to return to Nepal and invest in the field
of industry, commerce, hydropower and other sectors.
Going by the experience of other countries,
non-resident nationals could immensely help a country’s economy. It could be an
important source of resources—skills, technology or money. But again, taking a leaf
from other countries, also involve striving to do what they have done viz. putting in
place a set of incentives, not necessarily related to investment facilities like surety of
repatriating profits. Those incentives could be in any form that gives the non-residents a
sense of satisfaction that their contributions are being recognised well and truly. Such
an approach is essential. For, however right and proper it may look like to tug at the
heartstrings of the non-residents with mentions of how important it is to help out their
motherland in a self-less manner, it is only practical that the sentiments of those
willing to return and assist are correctly respected and nurtured through sincere ways of
encouragement. So, it follows that the latest announcement should be followed by a package
of incentives for the NRNs to "do something for their motherland".
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