KATHMANDU, APRIL 13
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said the government is actively working to boost the morale of the private sector by addressing long-standing policy and legal hurdles.
Speaking at a discussion with entrepreneurs in Rupandehi on Friday, held in preparation for the upcoming fiscal year's budget and revenue policy (2082/83), Minister Poudel said the current government has already taken steps to support private enterprises. Finance Minister Poudel added that the government has already amended 29 private sector-related laws at once through an ordinance to resolve long-standing issues. He further added that the aim is to foster a private sector–friendly environment.
During the interaction, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Lumbini President Tanka Prasad Pokharel raised concerns over the operation of temporary border checkpoints-used during previous blockades-which, he said, are still functioning as if they were legally sanctioned. He warned that these checkpoints are facilitating smuggling and called for their removal. Pokharel also stressed the need to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles that confuse industrialists when seeking government services, suggesting the implementation of a one-door policy for smoother service delivery.
Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Lumbini President Ejaz Alam, Rupandehi Industry Association President Dilip Sapkota, and other business representatives urged the government to introduce budgetary measures that are friendly to industries and enterprises. They also highlighted the need to resolve persistent issues surrounding trunk lines and dedicated feeder users in the energy sector, which have remained unresolved for years.
