Opinion

LETTERS: Broaden investment

LETTERS: Broaden investment

By Himalayan News Service

Apropos of the news story “FNCCI to organize investment summit” (THT, July 24, Page 10), we should first invite the Indians as well as other potential investors to do a comprehensive reality check and reassure themselves prior to pouring their hard-earned money in one of the last virgin frontiers that allegedly offer dizzying returns. Rather than us telling the potential investors to consider Nepal’s most loved investment areas like hydro, agriculture, hotels and travel agencies, we should ask them to choose the business that their individual research finds feasible and profitable. On Nepal’s part, we should open all areas without reservations for investment on 100 percent FDI so that the investors do not have to worry about litigation with local partners, who normally want to take full control by investing two drops of water in the vast ocean. We should broaden the investment portfolio and include all areas such as mineral water, metal craft, woodwork, pottery, other handicrafts, insurance, roads and flyovers, banks; domestic, regional and international airlines, airports, airstrip and landing pads; helicopter services; schools and colleges from kindergarten to specialized medical, engineering and space studies; pharmaceuticals, hospitals, abortion shops, IT, telecom, restaurants and pubs, well-planned and modulated urban dwellings in places like Bajura, Bajhang, Accham etc; sustainable sand and stone mining, logging, railroads, cable cars and everything under the sun. It would not be a bad idea to ask the investors to invest in integrated development of tourist and residential townships in areas like Melamchi, Kakani, Lele, Dhunche, Tatopani etc. Since FNCCI honchos have broader knowledge than the government agencies they should lobby to include the areas for FDI such as world-class whiskey, vodka, gin by inviting their producers to invest in Nepal for Himalayan profits. Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu Wonderful British cyclist Chris Froome on July 23 really made his country Great Britain feel proud in a real sense with his wonderful achievement at Tour de France 2017. The Briton went on to capture his 4th overall Tour de France title for yellow jersey. He sprinted to victory in his 21st as well as final stage. Froome performed so well that there was simply and really nobody to stop him from winning the title at Champs Elysees although Dylan Groenewegen from the Netherlands was able to defeat German Andre Greipel. The 32-year old Team Sky Kenyan-born and South Africa-raised rider was the center of attraction because of his excellent performance. Although he is shy of controversial American cyclist Lance Armstrong, the one who won the global cycling race for highest number of times i.e. 7 times, the former will have a lot to think about before getting ahead of the latter. Of course it’s a well-known fact that Nepal has got nothing to do with this tournament. Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar