If the statistics is to be believed, three hundred thousand youth leave for work in foreign countries each year, whose hard earned dollars keep Nepal’s tiny economy floating. Likewise, the number students heading west is increasing by double digits year on year. Though they might be missing Dal Bhat, hardly anyone misses the stench of garbage in Kathmandu. And if the countries in need of foreign labour absorbed these hard working folks, what would happen to Nepal’s population, per capita and the host of indicators of economic wellness is anybody’s guess. Gross national happiness would be a lot better if not on par with Bhutan’s.

On the realistic ground none of this is completely true as is the return of peace in Nepal. It did come back but has been unsettling ever since. Thanks to those mismanaging the process both at macro and micro levels! Widely expected peace dividends are nowhere to be seen or felt. On the contrary, an ordinary man’s life has become more complex and survival difficult. Queuing up for gas or water has become norms. Government’s inflation data is only for the bookkeeping purposes. Prices of essential commodities are sky-rocketing. Banks are as vulnerable to robbery, Bandhs have become favourite pass time and extortion in highways and trekking routes is considered heroic, which police dare not challenge. Optimism brought about by the initial gang of eight parties is gradually fading away proving every analyst wrong on what was happening and what will follow next.

Rhetoric apart, it is discerning clearly that the problems and solutions are in fact funnelling down to just one issue -seeking an opportunity to be useful in ones own surroundings and make dignified living in exchange of the labour and the skills one has. As a solution, what is needed now is to find ways to absorb domestic labour, make business by harnessing local resources, improve service delivery, make more profits, collect extra rupee in revenue, maintain law and order, and demonstrate that you respect wealth creators. This is a task of none other than the government. Stop seeking aid, mobilise local resources. If you must then request donor governments establish their businesses here. But without government being sincere and altruistic, bringing in businesses is not as easy as it would seem. No fair business would like to waste time and money in a corrupt regime.

It is the time, especially when the boards and shareholders of the companies are meeting, the government sent private-sector-friendly signals, discussed economic roadmap of new Nepal, did vigorous marketing, enticed investors from within and outside the country to invest in developing infrastructure and provide services to under serviced areas. If we squandered time our comparative advantage will be lost. For example, Nepal’s hydro potential may be huge but neither is it the only source of energy nor sufficiently enough for a size of a country like India. Let’s be pragmatic and forthcoming to businesses sans frontiers.