Kathmandu, December 26:

Encouraging Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN) to invest in infrastructure development and other economic activities would do the country good, according to experts who also feel that NRNs have great potential for investing in different sectors of the country.

“NRNs are the budding sector who can invest in our country, all they need is encouragement from the state,” said Nepal Tourism Board spokesperson Aditya Baral adding that the government has adopted a policy for development of tourism in the fiscal year 2008-09, and also has the policy to encourage NRN investment in the tourism sector.

They should be encouraged according to tourism perspectives by either providing them different incentives or honoring them for the work they have done. As the tourism industry is growing steadily more investment can bring positive changes and advancement in this sector, Baral added. he said that the Nepalese diasporas are large in number and ready to make investments priovided there are secure investment avenues here.

Meanwhile, NRN Afflication executive director Dr Hemant Dawadi said, “NRNs are always ready to make investments here, all they need to feel is that the government of Nepal cares about them.”

“ We have been urging for dual citizenship for NRNs since five years but to no avail, However, this time we hope the issue will get addressed,” said Dawadi adding that while NRNs would feel proud to make investments here they are ill-at-ease on account of no security for their investments. He also said that NRNs had launched a programme, “Send Home a Friend” in coordination with NTB in the year 2007, which showed their interest in the development of Nepal.

Nepal Tour and Travel Agents’ Association (NATTA) president Ram Kaji Koney said the government’s policy on tourism for encouraging NRNs to investment in infrastructure development, industry and other economic activities was appreciable but the investment volume would have to be substantial.

According to Koney, the government has proposed about $1 million investment but it should be at least $2 million and investors must be experts in their field. New destinations and new ventures should be made.

However, Hotel Association Nepal general secretary Shyam Lal Kachhipati said NRNs were having problems with the dual citizenship and have no investment security. There is no clear policy and the procedures are also not clear. He said that merely talking about encouraging NRNS was not enough as it would not bring investments and added that a long-term policy was required for this.