Kathmandu, November 7

The steering committee meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), which was scheduled for today, has been postponed.

Though the meeting was supposed to hold discussions on the response of the statute amendment committee on the necessity to hold special annual general meeting (AGM), FNCCI steering committee meeting was postponed after the statute amendment committee came up with no response.

Last week, the FNCCI executive committee meeting had asked the statute amendment committee led by Chandi Raj Dhakal, senior member of FNCCI, to submit its proposal regarding the amendment of the statute. Similarly, today’s meeting was scheduled to

discuss whether or not to hold the planned special AGM as per FNCCI’s statute.

“The meeting was postponed as the statute amendment committee did not present its proposal citing lack of adequate time. The next meeting will probably be held on Sunday,” informed an FNCCI source

seeking anonymity.

Though the FNCCI had announced it would hold a special AGM on November 15 to amend its statute to elect its next president through direct election, the private sector representing body is unlikely to hold the special AGM as a majority of office bearers, especially vice presidents of FNCCI, are against the idea of amending the statute and incorporating the direct presidential election system.

A group of FNCCI members led by Dhakal has been lobbying against system of directly appointing senior vice-president to the federation’s top post and seeking amendment to the FNCCI statute. Of late, it is said that those previously supporting Dhakal’s agenda are in no mood to amend the statute any time soon.

Under the current provision, Shekhar Golchha, senior vice-president of FNCCI, will lead the federation after the tenure of incumbent President Bhawani Rana ends. A group in FNCCI, including Golchha and former FNCCI president Pashupati Murarka, is lobbying against the special AGM and planned amendment to the FNCCI statute.