KATHMANDU, APRIL 6
A team of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) led by its Officiating President Sunil KC paid a courtesy call to Arjun Prasad Pokharel, secretary at Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) today.
NICCI's Officiating President KC informed the secretary about intellectual property right (IPR) - raised by NICCI and Nepali business fraternity since over a decade - which has especially affected Indian and multi-national companies being operated in Nepal. Since the government has given priority to FDI, he said that unless the issues related to IPR are resolved, it would be very difficult to attract FDI into Nepal.
KC further informed that since NICCI is planning to organise a program on IPR, he requested the secretary for the cooperation and partnership in the programme.
Vice-President of NICCI Saibal Ghosh informed that in foreign countries, government, businessmen and even common people are highly conscious about the IPR issues and the government also facilitates the businesses by simplifying the IPR-related laws as per the international treaties, laws and practices but that is not the case here in Nepal. "Thus, this matter should be treated with utmost priority and addressed and resolved without delay."
MoICS Secretary Pokharel said the issues highlighted by NICCI were highly relevant.
He also informed the ministry has already prepared a Draft IPR Act and sent it to the Ministry of Law for their needful legal inputs.
He also said that the ministry was willing to cooperate and co-organise events with NICCI.
The delegation also included MNICCI Director General Keshab Man Singh, Deputy Director Marshal Rathour, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
