Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 27:

At a time when the ministry of finance is preparing the budget for the forthcoming fiscal year 2005-06, the private sector is intensifying discussions relating to the problems surrounding the business and economic sector. At a programme held by Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), various businesspersons urged the government to address problems facing the industry, trade and export sector to advance economic and business activities by introducing effective measures through the budget, says a statement issued by LCCI today.

Speaking at the interaction programme, president of LCCI, Umesh Lal Amatya stressed that the forthcoming budget should resolve the business sector’s problems as the sector has been beset with various obstacles in recent times. The government should bring a realistic and practical budget, Amatya suggested. Kush Kumar Joshi, chairman of Industry Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), commented that there has hardly been much sense between policies and their implementation. Therefore, this

is an area which needs to be corrected if we are really serious in implementing budget for national development.

The government has a tough job ahead as it has to identify areas of industrialisation by focusing on areas of employment generation, poverty reduction and Inland Revenue mobilisation. “Policy clearance is a perquisite thing for boosting local and foreign ventures,” he said. Chairman of FNCCI-revenue committee and former president of LCCI, Sailendra Lal Pradhan asked the government to create an environment for the operation of industries effectively. He asked for extra incentives for entrepreneurs while opening up industrial units in remote parts of the country. “Domestic industries should be promoted for which serious homework on the part of the government is required.” The business sector people attributed the various problems to weak business development to lack of quality manpower, lack of skills, lack of information, shortage of raw materials, political instability and lack of market for locally-produced goods.