Jaswant Singh for enhanced bilateral trade relations

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 18: A delegation headed by FNCCI President Ravibhakta Shrestha met today with the visiting Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and requested the Indian Foreign Minister for the continuation of the 1996 Trade Treaty between the two countries.

During the talks, the Indian Foreign Minister pointed at the cooperation between the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and their efforts towards promoting trade and economic relations. Besides, he expressed confidence that the trade relations between the two countries would grow further.

Singh also said that the two private sector organisations should make special efforts towards for improving trade and economic relations for a long term.

The FNCCI President stressed that the Treaty has brought qualitative improvement in trade and economic relations between the two countries. Shrestha said after the treaty was signed, Nepal’s export to India has increased by Rs. 4.62 billion and India’s export to Nepal has increased by Rs. 4.37 billion annually.

Nepal still has a trade deficit of about Rs. 22 billion with India every year.

Apart from this, Shrestha said that there has been an increase of joint investment in Nepal with the brightening of the prospect of joint investment in beneficial sectors like hydro-power, information technology. Thus, he said, the treaty needs to be continued. He also express confidence that both Nepal and India have resolved any problem that has come up in the implementation of the treaty and they would be able to do so in the future also.

The FNCCI delegation also included its former President Dr. Padma Jyoti, First Vice President Binod Bahadur Shrestha, Second Vice President Rajendra Khetan and Chairman of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce Rukma Shumsher Rana.

Meanwhile, according to a FNCCI source, the delegation asked the Indian Foreign Minister to deal with any problem that might come up, but let the treaty continue with the spirit of 1996, when it was signed, for at least another five years before it is reviewed. It also said the Indian Foreign Minister sounded positive towards Nepal’s concern.

It also said the Indian side raised a concern that other countries might also ask for the same facilities as the treaty has accorded to Nepal. But the FNCCI delegation said that it was because of the special relationship between Nepal and India that such facilities are given to Nepal.

Sexual harassment at workplaces discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu Aug. 18: The two-day national workshop on ‘Action against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace in Nepal’ organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concluded today.

A survey report presented at the workshop said that about 53 per cent of the female employee/workers responded that they themselves experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, and about 57 per cent of the male and 23 per cent of female employees said that they were aware of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In the study there were a total of 62 respondents, five from trade union, 23 from policymaker/civil society, 20 from employers/workers and 14 from employer/management.

The study shows that 88 per cent respondents from policymakers/civil society and 72.72 percent of respondent from employers/management said that sexual harassment is commonly practised at the mass workers level - those who work in carpet, garment and other factories; whereas 80 per cent of policymakers/civil society and 72.72 per cent of employer responded that sexual harassment is also practised at the helper level – those who provide assisting work for example sweeper, cleaners and domestic helpers.

Their study report has dealt with perception, nature, prevalence and effects of the problem. It has also looked into available and non-available legal and other mechanisms. The report also made recommendations to all concerned agencies to address the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In the programme members of FNCCI, SAAT, Trade Union, Ministry of Labour, LACC, WEAN participated in discussion which focussed on issues like condition, background of our society, problem, its affect, standard mechanism/guidelines on the issue, the role played by trade union on the issue.

To continue with process, a 12-member committee with representation from trade union, FNCCI, ILO, LACC, WEAN, Ministry of Labour and other organisation was formed.

NCP (United) welcomes reform programmes

Kathmandu, Aug. 18 (RSS): Nepal Communist Party (United) has welcomed the first phase reform programmes of His Majesty’s Government announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.

A meeting of the party held under the chairmanship of General-Secretary Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar Friday welcomed the reform programmes of His Majesty’s Government to reduce the land ceiling, constitute a national women’s commission, set up an effective and autonomous academy for the promotion of indigenous and backward communities, consider the practice of caste discrimination and "untouchability" as a punishable crime, review the present laws to make corruption a heinous crime and seize property amassed through undisclosed sources and punish the people indulging in corruption and such unfair means.

The NCP (United) at its meeting also drew the attention of the government to the urgent need to put in place the necessary legal and other infrastructures for the effective implementation of the provisions made in the government’s programme as unnecessary delay in taking such measures would cause practical difficulties.

The party has demanded that an effective mechanism that is responsible towards the people be built as soon as possible for implementation of the government’s programmes.

The NCP (United) has also called on all the leftist and democratic forces as well as the people to be conscious and become aware so that the government does not backtracks from its programme under undue pressure from regressive elements.

Trade Treaty should be renewed unchanged: Industrialists

Kathmandu, Aug. 18 (RSS): Nepali industrialists have emphasized the need to renew the trade treaty signed between Nepal and India in 1996 in the interest of industrial promotion of both the countries.

They said that in view of the positive attitude of India towards industrial development of Nepal current problems in the treaty should be resolved through mutual discussion and that the treaty should be renewed unchanged.

They were speaking at a Face-to-Face programme organised by Reporters’ Club Nepal in connection with the ongoing visit of the Indian Foreign and Defense Minister to Nepal here today.

The trade treaty between Nepal and India was signed in 1996 to be automatically renewed in every five years. The term of the treaty is expiring on December 5 this year.

According to the provisions in the treaty, in case of an official proposal by either side for review or termination of the treaty three months prior to the date of expiry then automatic renewal will not come into effect.

Therefore, the treaty may not be renewed automatically if an agreement is not reached between the two sides within the next three weeks.

Speaking on the occasion, President of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Ravibhakta Shrestha said the treaty should be renewed as it is.

Mr Shrestha informed that during his meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister the latter said that India supported industrial development of Nepal and is ready to assist towards that end.

The Indian Minister also expressed India’s willingness to contribute in the proper development of the hydel sector of Nepal, he added.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Pursottam Ojha said the treaty has led to an increase in industrial investment, employment and revenue collection in Nepal and that small problem could be resolved through discussion.

President of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce Rukma Shumsher JB Rana said the increase in custom duty on Nepalese goods by India upto 30 percent would not be a problem.

Ex-FNCCI President Padma Jyoti said the treaty should be renewed providing free access to Nepali goods in Indian market.

Industrialist Diwakar Golchcha, ex-secretary Mohandev Panta, vice-president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Surendrabir Malakar also emphasized the need for easy renewal of the treaty

Club president Rishi Dhamala presided.

Issues being discussed for unification: ML

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 18: The CPN-ML has denied that the party has agreed to merge with CPN-UML as was reported by some media. The party said today that the two parties have only agreed to talk on the issues related to the unification of the two parties. The talks between the ML and UML started Friday at the UML’s party office at Balkhu. The agenda-wise talks between the two parties held on Friday at the ML’s party office at Kopundole.

RSS adds: the CPN-UML and the Samyukta Jana Morcha Nepal held talks at the UML central party office today.

The meeting underlined the need for the Communist parties of Nepal to come closer in view of the national and international situations and to build a common machinery. They also agreed to discuss the process of building such machinery and other issues involved in the next meeting.

Those taking part in the discussion were convenor of the talks committee Bharat Mohan Adhikari and member Amrit Kumar Bohora, and SJM’s Amik Sherchan, Lila Mani Pokhrel and Dil Bahadur Shrestha

FNCCI calls for industrial security

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 18: A fire suddenly broke out at the Shah Distillery Industry at Khajura, Nepalgunj. The goods and materials inside the factory are completely destroyed in the fire. It is not known who set fire on the factory.

A press release of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said when the talks between the government and the Maoists are holding talks on the demand of the Maoists to ban the production and consumption of alcohol, the setting fire on the industry could be nothing but to create anarchy in the industrial and business sector. The FNCCI has condemned the arson on the factory and has demanded for immediate stop on such activity.

The Federation has also demanded with the government to provide adequate and immediate security to the industries and to protect the country’s industries from being ruined.

Meanwhile, FNCCI has formed a high-level task force headed by FNCCI President Ravibhakta Shrestha to take initiative and extend assistance for solving problems faced by the industrial and business sector of the country. The task force was formed by the Federation Central Committee.

FNCCI said that the country’s industrial and business sector has fallen into a very difficult time because of the Maoists’ demand of declaration of the Nepal as alcohol-free zone, and other demands related to export-oriented industries like carpet, garment and employment-generating industries such as tourism.

Private sector’s role in infrastructure building stressed

Kathmandu, Aug. 18 (RSS): The two-day "Second SAARC workshop on infrastructure development" began here today with the objective of promoting mutual cooperation and technology exchange between SAARC countries for the infrastructure development project.

Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are taking part in the workshop seminar organised under the joint aegis of Nepal Engineering College, National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR), India, and the Society of Consulting Architecture and Engineering firms (SCAEF), Nepal.

At the seminar, the participants will formulate plans for the development of economic and management infrastructure and present working papers on behalf of their countries.

Inaugurating the seminar, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prithvi Raj Ligal stressed private sector participation in building the national development infrastructure.

He said that preparations are being made to introduce a Build-Operate-and-Transfer (BOT) Bill in the current Parliamentary session to promote private sector participation in creating the national development infrastructure.

His Majesty’s Government has been increasing the budget under the infrastructure development head every year, he said, and expressed the hope that the seminar would come up with concrete infrastructure development plans.

Principal of Nepal Engineering College Prof. Deepak Bhattarai said that the government should give equal emphasis for the development of both the social and physical infrastructure of the country.

Director General of NICMAR Prof. K. N. Vaid, SCAEF chairman Badan Lal Nyachhon, Director General of National Academy of Construction, India Mr. R.C. Sinha, Dr. A. G. Mirajgaoker and Dr Rajendra Adhikari underlined the need for people’s participation for infrastructure development.

They pointed out the need for exchange of successful technology between the SAARC countries for strengthening the infrastructure development process.

Briton held for possessing brown sugar

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 18: Police arrested a British national Gordon William Robinson, 54, (passport No. 500151165) on Friday as he was about to board a Singapore Airline flight to Singapore carrying 2.315 kilograms of heroin (brown sugar).

According to Central Police Newsroom, police found the narcotics when he was being checked him in the hand baggage checking area of the departure lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). He had hidden the drug inside his shoe.

He has been handed over to the Narcotic Drug Control and Law Enforcement Unit for necessary investigation and legal action.

Similarly, Sriniwas Singh and Gorakhnath Shah, residents of Chhapara Nayagaon of Bihar, India, were arrested on August 14 at Chandranigahpur, Rautahat, as they were exchanging the fake IC100 rupee notes. Police also seized four fake IC 100 rupee notes from them. Police is carrying out necessary investigation.

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office collected a revenue of Rs. 152,425 from August 11 - 16 by taking action against 1,431 vehicle drivers violating the traffic rules.

According to the police news report, among those taken action against were five persons, who were using the mobile phones while driving vehicles and one for drunken driving.

During that period, 40 vehicular accidents took place in the Kathmandu Valley with two persons killed and seven injured.

Out of about 68 vehicles damaged in the accidents, 22 were motorcycles, 15 cars, five tempos and minibuses each, four buses and pick-ups each. There were also three trucks and jeeps each, two mini-truck and vans each and one cycle.