Govt has considered impact on private sector seriously: Finance Minister

Kathmandu / November 24: Minister for Finance, Bishnu Poudel, has said that the government is serious regarding the impact on private sector due to the continuous Madhes banda for the past three months and the unannounced border blockade imposed by India.

Receiving suggestions of a joint team of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) at the Finance Ministry today, Minister Poudel said that the government was cognizant towards it as the problem faced by the private sector was the problem of the nation.

On the occasion, the private sector demanded immediate formation of a taskforce under the leadership of the Finance Minister and comprising the Finance Secretary, the Industry Secretary and the Commerce and Supplies Secretary as well as representatives of private sectors for the identifying, evaluation and resolution of the problem.

The taskforce would give immediate suggestions for the revitalization of overall economy and the private sector by holding discussions with the stakeholders. The team also suggested that the government should present mid-term and long-term strategic vision in this regard.

In response, Finance Minister Poudel stressed that the industrialists should think that they are also responsible representatives of the nation.

Minister Poudel said, “I will consider the suggestions of the private sector being a businessman or industrialist.”

Assuring that the government will fulfill the maximum demands that could be fulfilled within the limit of the government, he said that the suggestions of the private sectors would be addressed as per the need.

The Finance Minister said that it was the responsible of the government to create environment conducive required to go the private sector ahead in days ahead and it would be fulfilled, saying the government has highly evaluated the contribution of private sector in nation building.

Finance Minister’s finance advisor Dr Gobinda Nepal said that a high-level mechanism should be formed to deal with current crisis facing Nepal.

Likewise, Revenue Secretary Rajan Khanal said that the government and private sector would move ahead together to sort out problems being faced by industrialists.

Pashupati Muraraka, chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that private sector should coordinate with the government to manage the supply of essential commodities and medicines in the country.

Demanding that the government should declare the country economic emergency, CNI chairman Narendra Basnyat stressed the need for creating conducive environment to drive country’s economy smoothly.

Saying that private sector has suggested based on long-term vision, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, chairman of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, emphasised to focus on such move. RSS