National strategy on poverty discussed

Biratnagar, Oct 1 (RSS):National Planning Commission (NPC) recently organised a two-day talk programme to hold discussions on formulating the national strategy for poverty alleviation.

Altogether 45 women members of the social organizations, DDCs, VDCs and local units of Morang, Sunsari, Siraha, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Udaipur, Saptari and Ilam districts are taking part in the talk programme.

Initiating the talk programme, NPC member Jagadish Chandra Pokherel threw light on the poverty alleviation programme of the Ninth Plan.

Mr Pokherel said that poverty cannot be reduced until national production is increased in the country.

He said that contribution could be made to increase national income only by increasing national production through proper investment in the agriculture, water resources and tourism sectors.

Chief district officer Binod Gyawali expressed by the view that contributions could be made to poverty alleviation only by reducing the growth of population and making the people literate.

Speaking from the chair NPC member-secretary Sriman Shrestha said that social mobilization, decentralization and women's empowerment was necessary to attain the goals of poverty alleviation.

Earlier joint secretary Mahendra Raj Pandey threw light on the objectives and usefulness of the talk programme.

'Nepal has advntages in tea, coffee, aromatic plants'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct 1:Nepal Lever Ltd, a subsidiary of Hindustan Lever Limited, may be taken as an example of Nepal's growing image to foreign investors. The company witnessed an annual turnover of Rs. 1.72 billion and an after tax profit of Rs. 120.6 million in the last fiscal year.

Nepal Lever is a joint-venture company of Hindustan Lever, which hold 80 per cent of the share, and Nepalese investors, who own the remaining 20 per cent share.

The company produces consumer goods such as Liril and Lux soaps, toothpaste, Fair & Lovely facial cream, OK and wheel detergents and exports a majority of its products mainly to India. All 75-gram Liril soap sold in India comes from its manufacturing unit in Hetauda.

The Fair & Lovely - Made in Nepal has been a major success story with it being recognized as of truly international quality even in the markets outside the country. Last year the company introduced several new brands like Lifebuoy, Pepsodent Advanced Germicheck toothpaste and entered the market with two new brands of shampoos and Brook Bond Red Label tea.

According to the company's press release, the fiscal year saw the company's domestic market grow by 30 per cent growth to reach Rs. 581 million and exports increased by 8.5 per cent to reach Rs. 1.15 billion. In fact, only about 33 per cent of the company's total sales comes from the domestic market, makes Nepal Lever as one of the biggest exporters in the country. The company also paid Rs. 140 million to the government exchequer.

The country's Board of Directors, which meet the other day, has recommended a dividend of Rs. 50 per share, increasing the pay out by 25 per cent over last year.

In fact, only about 33 per cent of the company's annual turnover comes from domestic sales.

According to Sandip Ghose, Mananging Director of Nepal Lever, the company has planned a massive expansion of the product range and distribution network. The company is doubling its toothpaste capacity in the current fiscal year, he said.

Gurdeep Singh, Co-chairman of Nepal Lever and Vice Chairman of Hindustan Lever said the company also wants to build a base on the country advantages of Nepal.

"Nepal," he said, "has several advantages in tea, coffee and aromatic produces." Nepal has a very good prospect of aromatic plant cultivation in the Terai, he said.

He said at a press meet on Saturday that Nepal is growing to be an attractive investment place and mainly the Nepal-India Trade Treaty of 1997 has enabled Nepalese products to be exported to India. "Nepal Lever Limited is a proof of that and the manufacturing base in Nepal is our commitment to do business in Nepal with a long-term strategy," he said.

He also said the government's policy is also positive and pragmatic. But he expressed some concern about stability and security for the further enhancement of the business environment. The company provides employment to about 200 people at its units different manufacturing units.