KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, has been elected the 38th Prime Minister of the country. With this victory, he’s all set to lead the new government. The Himalayan Times talked to some of the prominent personalities to get their views on areas Oli’s government should focus on to ensure economic stability. Don’t reinvent wheel Swarnim Wagle, Member, National Planning Commission The new government led by CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli should not try to reinvent the wheel. Rash efforts to do something new will not yield desired results. The CPN-UML was part of the government led by the Nepali Congress. So, it should give continuity to existing policies to ensure predictability and certainty. Also, Nepalis have long aspired for political stability. The new government should work towards fulfilling this desire of people. It should also lay a solid platform for a higher economic growth trajectory. For this, the government should attract domestic and foreign investments, and frame necessary medium- and long-term policies. Address genuine Madhesi demands Pashupati Murarka, President, FNCCI The new government should immediately address genuine demands of parties and groups that have launched protests in the Tarai for almost 60 days. Once this issue is settled, it should focus on rebuilding parts of the country ravaged by the earthquakes of April and May. Also, the country should learn a lesson from the recent episode that created supply problem and formulate plans to make the country self reliant in different sectors, especially energy. So, the new government should not delay in formulating policies to tap the country’s hydro potential. But above everything the new government should trust the private sector because it can work as an effective partner in the country’s development. Manage fuel crisis Basant Raj Mishra, tourism expert The formation of a new government will definitely send a positive message throughout the world and raise the confidence of international tour operators. To capitalise further on latest political development, the new government must manage ongoing protests in Tarai and fuel crisis that has limited movement of vehicles. In fact, the protests and fuel shortage have caused more damage to domestic tourism industry than earthquakes of April and May. The problems being faced by country have even led the US government to issue a travel advisory, warning its citizens about possible disruption in public transportation system in Nepal. This has given a negative publicity to country’s tourism sector. Energy security strategy must Khadga Bahadur Bisht, President, Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal The new government should first ease supply of all commodities, including petroleum products. It should then frame a concrete country strategy on energy security. This strategy should chart out ways to gradually replace use of fossil fuel with electricity generated through water resources. We know it is not possible to replace use of petroleum products with hydroelectricity. So, in short-term, government should start importing petroleum products from other countries and expand storage capacity of Nepal Oil Corporation. In the coming days, it should also allow the private sector to build transmission lines and let Nepal Electricity Authority enter into power purchase deals with independent power producers (building over 100 MW projects).