Kathmandu, March 28:

The private sector, that recently joined hands to highlight ‘Maoist atrocities’, has now formed a permanent forum called Alliance for Economic Growth (AEG). Set up on Tuesday, the forum is designed to take forward the objectives and goals set by the recent protest movement.

The Alliance, comprising of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), Hotel Association of Nepal, Private and Boarding School Organisation of Nepal (PABSON) and several commercial organisations and professionals from different sectors, will be governed by a steering committee with the secretariat being based at the FNCCI secretariat in Teku, Kathmandu.

According to NCC president Surendra Bir Malakar who claimed to have met Maoist chairman Prachanda yet again today to discuss the demands of the private sector, there was certainly a need for such a regular forum. This forum will utilise the strengths of all organisations which had come together against the prevalent insecurity in the country.

“Our three-fold demand of sustainable peace and security, end of extortion and return of all seized property have only been partially met till now,” he said. Therefore, the basic agenda of this Alliance will be to carry on the fight against all obstructions to business, he added. Malakar felt the government still appeared to be unclear on what it is willing to do for the private sector.

Even as the finer details of the new forum is being worked out, the steering committee will have different sub committees and working groups which would take up individual complaints from entrepreneurs. The working groups so far set up for systematised problem solving, include security and labour; media and communications; common economic agenda; resource mobilisation; public relations and event management.

AEG has also launched a website www.aegnepal.org, which will act as a common platform for alliance members and the public.