Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 18:

Business sector people have expressed serious concerns on the status of industries scattered across the country and have urged for immediate steps leading to their revival.

Binod Bahadur Shres-tha, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the existing executive committee of the federation had faced very difficult and challenging times. During his tenure, a number of businesspersons have been tortured and handicapped that has created ‘uneasy environment’ in the business community, Shrestha said, at a meeting with district and city chambers presidents and members. Shrestha, who is retiring in a few months as the president, said that a huge infrastructure belonging to various business sector units has been damaged and a number of industrial enterprises have downed their shutters due to conflict. Movement of people has also been severely affected, he added.

Billions of rupees invested on infrastructure development is gathering dust which has hit the business sector and economy hard, said Shrestha. Speaking at a programme entitled ‘Role of industry and chambers in strengthening local economic development,’ Shrestha lamented the fact that FNCCI could not work as per expectations due to prevailing conditions. However, some programmes were successfully held, he informed.

FNCCI is concentrating its activities to addressed the globalised context rather than taking up personal issues of business sector people. FNCCI stated that coordination among stakeholders of the society such as local bodies, government and civil society is required to increase business and economic activities.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, first vice-president of FNCCI, stressed on the need to strengthen the capacity of local chambers, improve infrastructure and working capacity and effectively address economic problems of the country for its sustainable development.