Kathmandu, November 17:

Political leaders and experts from various sections of the society today explored ideas to make a new Nepal by boosting the socio-economic situation, following a new political beginning in the country.

The change has given the people of Nepal an opportunity to restructure the state, concentrate on inclusive development, make the market structure competitive and mobilise resources to reach the underprivileged.

Dr Minendra Rijal, leader of Nepali Congress (Democratic) expressed the views that Nepal can become ‘economically and politically’ strong if we could stay without monarchy.

Dr Rijal also disclosed that his party’s meet has decided the same to build a new and prosperous Nepal. At the same time, we need to empower the people and increase their participation in policy decisions to see a better economic advancement, said Dr Rijal. He stressed that seven parties and the Maoists should be honest in sustaining peace, expand investment and development for creating a new Nepal.

Dev Gurung, leader of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), said unless there is ‘democratisation’ of all socio economic issues, sustained development will not be possible.

In this connection, we have to work with locals who are poor and who have never received the fruits of development, said Gurung at a programme organised by the Management Association of Nepal (MAN).

Due to wrong policies adopted by political parties in the past, the country has been crippled

‘financially’, said Gurung. He added that for the socio-economic transformation ‘republic’ is a must.

Dr Bimal Koirala, chief of MAN-MDC said that the time has come to carve out a new vision for making Nepal economically prosperous.

Dr Koirala said that a vision for 25 to 30 years need to be formulated, capitalizing the existing potentials for which all people have to be unified.

On the basis of issues such as state’s restructuring, inclusive development, market structure and resource mobilization, which are all being discussed at the political level, concrete inputs for from all sectors should be sought for conceptualising a new Nepal, said Koirala.

He stressed on the need to restructure the state for giving justice to people, allow inclusive development to uplift the underprivileged, revive market structure to become competitive and mobilise resources for increased access. Present at the programme were chief secretary Dr Bhoj Raj Ghimire, Prof Bishwambher Pyakuryal, president of Nepal Economic Association, WB’s country director Ken Ohashi, senior economists, political leaders and other experts.