KATHMANDU:  "Our motto is Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali," attending the first official programme upon arrival at the administrative capital of India, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli interacted with representatives of Indian business community and announced aforementioned verse as Government of Nepal's motto.

"I would like to take this opportunity to invite our friends to Nepal to assess the changed business environment. We want to work jointly with our Indian friends on our way to prosperity. We aspire to stand as a developing country and graduate from LDC status at the earliest. Our motto is Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali," PM Oli said.

At the India-Nepal Business Interactive Roundtable, the Prime Minister briefly spoke on the need for business community to acknowledge the current changed situation of trade and commerce in Nepal and further requested them to reshape their perception on investing in the Nepali market.

Federation of Nepali Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Bhawani Rana and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) President Rajesh Kaji Shrestha backed PM Oli's claims and spoke on the changed political scenario of Nepal which, after almost two decades of political instability, is now, more than ever, conducive for business and investment.

In a bid to reassure the potential investors, Oli remarked. "We are committed to, the modern term for which is, a liberal economy. The government's key partner is the private sector and we do not believe in nationalisation of private companies."

"We cannot go against global trends and we will not. A highly powerful Investment Board has been set up by the government including members of the private sector that will facilitate big investors," Oli encouraged the business community.

While talking about facilitating cross-border business and investment, the PM made sure not to leave questions on clean energy unattended. "We are in favor of clean energy, alternative energy. We are open for investment in these sectors too."

"The interaction allowed Indian business communities to present suggestions directly to the Prime Minister and his delegation which ranged from tax reforms to empowerment of government institutions involved in attracting foreign investment," Semanta Dahal, a lawyer and one of the programme attendees, briefed THT about the interaction.

"Making business communities aware about legal and policy reforms undertaken by the government is usually not enough for raising investor confidence, government should be willing to act like partners with the foreign investors", commented Dahal.

PM Oli reached New Delhi on Friday morning on invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for a three-day state visit.

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