LETTERS (Spotlight Weekly)

Wake Up To Challenges

Apropos your cover story "Boost Up Or Go Bust" (Spotlight April 7), it is clear that the country is in a strange position. With WTO and SAFTA looming over our heads, we must brace to face new challenges and be able to ride the tide. As Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world, there can be no going down from here. The only way we can move up and that is what should be our collective target.

Jeevan KC
Thapathali

Take Advantage Of Free Market

As Nepal is trying to gain the membership of WTO, it is imperative that the export-oriented industries of the country begin to hone their skills and come up with internationally competitive products (Boost Up Or Go Bust Spotlight April 7). The free market will bring with it both the opportunities and challenges. It is entirely upon the concerned authorities and businessmen to build relevant policies and make quality products to survive in the future.

Rakesh Shrestha
Ganabahal

Diversify Exports

Presently, Nepal does not have many items that are exported. Apart from carpets, garments and handicrafts, very few other items are exported from the country (Boost Up Or Go Bust Spotlight April 7). This situation needs to be changed. Although it is important to sustain the export growth of the afore-mentioned items, it is equally important to diversify our export. New products have to be found that have the potential of being exported. For starters, concerned parties should give a close look to items like vegetable products, flowers, forest products, medicinal herbs and others.

Jitendra Khadka
Gairidhara

Politics Gets Violent

While the ruling party is busy resolving its own crisis, the main opposition have come out to the streets pelting stones and destroying public property (Law Makers Or Law Breakers? Spotlight March 31). The people, however, are confused. As the two main political parties of the country fail to deliver what they were expected to the country slides further down the ladder of instability. Thanks to the immature behavior exhibited by the two parties, Maoist insurgents and other nefarious elements have gotten the opportunity to fish in the troubled waters.

Mani Raj Sharma
Dillibazar

Clinton's South Asian Tour

The visit by the US President Bill Clinton to the South Asian countries definitely has helped a lot to bring the region under the focus of the world community (On A New Plane Spotlight March 31). Home to the majority of poor people in the world, the region is grappling with various kinds of strifes. The solution to the problem of Kashmir is pivotal for the betterment of this region. Clinton admitted that solving the problem of Kashmir is important for the overall development of this region. He must have raised his concerns before the authorities in India and Pakistan regarding the disputed territory of Kashmir. The success or failure of Clinton's visit will depend upon whether this problem is resolved or not.

Naresh Silwal
Samakhusi

Promote Domestic Companies

Apropos the article "Seeking Level Playing Field" (Spotlight March 24), it is ridiculous that the authorities are paying more attention to foreign insurance companies rather than the domestic ones. The practice all over the world is to give first preference to domestic companies. If the government of ones own country does not promote the Nepalese companies, who will promote them? They cannot be expected to enter into competition with mighty multi nationals. There has to be minimum protection and promotion for domestic companies in any sector.

Neeraj Bista
Dhobighat

RNAC As An Autonomous Body

It is in the interest of the nation that the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) be made an autonomous body as soon as possible (Groping For Professionalism Spotlight March 24). Leaving it at the hands of politicians will only invite further controversies and more scams in future. If the current government is as interested to control corruption as it proclaims to be, the first thing it could do is to cleanse the national flag carrier.

Satish Sharma
New Baneshwor