Govt won’t compete with private sector, says Minister Khatiwada

Pokhara, September 21

Minister of Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada today said that the government would not compete with the private sector.

Addressing the 32nd conference of Pokhara Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pokhara, Khatiwada said the government would instead encourage the private sector.

Urging the private sector to work as bridge between foreign investors and the government, Minister Khatiwada said the government had prepared policies and programmes to meet the eight per cent growth target this fiscal.

Noting that it was necessary for the government to impose taxes, Khatiwada said, “The government had not changed tax policy in the past 25 years. Tax rules have been made easy now.”

Finance Minister Khatiwada asked the local levels to collect tax in accordance with provisions mentioned in the tax policy and existing laws of the country.

“Tax can be collected if the law permits,” he added.

Khatiwada said the federal government was working to create suitable environment for investment.

He said the government was preparing to hold investment conference and added that discussions were under way to scrap outdated laws and draft new ones to simplify the tax system.

The minister also asked employees at tax office to collect tax in a transparent manner.