Pokhara: Japan's former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has insisted on the need of building an investment-friendly atmosphere in Nepal.

Speaking at a press meet today organised by the Federation of Nepali Journalists Kaski chapter, the Japanese former Prime Minister said Nepal has abundant potentials of development, but the creation of an atmosphere favourable for investment is needed so as to materialise such potentialities.

Nepal's youth human resources need to go abroad for employment due to lack of proper development of industries and factories at home, he said, suggesting the development of small and medium-scale industries to engage youth power in finance-generation activities within the country is a must.

Japan was struck by a major earthquake in 2011 like that of one Nepal suffered recently and it was essential to expedite the post-quake reconstruction works with a high priority, he asserted.

Describing the natural beauty of Pokhara, Mr Hatoyama said it is a tourist city and   environment-friendly tourism infrastructure should be developed here.

Programmes of international –level, as he said, can be conducted in Pokhara to boost up its image and identity in the international arena. Arrivals of Japanese tourists in Nepal will go up if Nepal and Japan are connected by direct flight.

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• Japan’s ex-PM Yukio Hatoyama in Pokhara