Kathmandu, March 7:

National Business Initiative (NBI), a loose network of various business chambers and organisations, has proposed a 10-point accord for lasting peace and socio-economic development.

The accord seeks commitment from the political parties to shun away from any activities that hurt socio-economic development, industry, trade and commerce activities. It further states that the private sector will jointly work with everyone for peace, democracy and development of all the sectors in the country.

NBI has also stated that it will call its member entrepreneurs, traders and businessmen to join hands for vocational training and job creation, especially for conflict victims and marginalised. The Nepali business community will opt collective bargaining system to address labour unrest, while it will discard any other anti-peace activities in the name of social justice and rights.

The accord seeks solid commitment from the political parties to ensure conducive environment for business, investment and trading activities keeping in mind that the private sector is the engine of growth and main source of revenue.

“The private sector will respect human rights, follow rule of law and good governance, which are prerequisite for advancement and sustainable peace in the country,” states the accord. It will aggressively stand against corruption and extortions but practice and promote socially responsible business practices. Leaders of various political parties endorsed the accord and expressed their commitment to implement it.

Senior leader of CPN Maoists Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai said that his party would endorse the accord and stressed the need on proper utilisation of national resources to have a real economic revolution. “The Maoists will adopt a new transitional economic policy with public-private partnership in focus to move forward after political revolution,” he said.

Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Pou-dyal lambasted Maoists and their people’s war for derailing the whole industrial and economic development process, which had once come into track after 1990.

Amik Sherchan, chairman of UPF-Nepal and Rajendra Prasad Pandey of CPN-UML also expressed their support for NBI’s initiatives.