Govt to launch ‘Prime Minister Nepali Production and Consumer Promotion Programme’ to reduce import

Kathmandu / Sept. 14: The government is to launch the ‘Prime Minister Nepali Production and Consumer Promotion Programme’.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has made preparation to launch the programme announcing ‘Increase in production: Country’s development and prosperity special campaign decade-2079/89’.

At an interaction organized by the Ministry on the concept paper of the programme here Wednesday, Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu said preparation was underway to bring the ‘Prime Minister Nepali Production and Consumer Promotion Programme’ into implementation in order to make the import-dependent economy an export-oriented economy.

He opined, “We have not been able to expand our country’s industries and create employment opportunities. We cannot stop import if we do not use our domestic productions. So, country’s economy cannot be improved if we do not adopt a strategy of replacing the import gradually. The programme is going to be introduced with this conclusion.”

Saying the programme would be effective to improve country’s economy, the Industry Ministry stressed the need of forwarding the programme as the special campaign.

The “Prime Minister Nepali Production and Consumer Promotion Programme’ has set a goal to increase contribution of production-oriented sector in gross domestic product up to 15 per cent within 10 years and increasing the use of domestic production and reducing import of goods.

Similarly, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa suggested that programme be taken ahead based on the advice and suggestion of the bodies concerned in order to stop the import within four to five years and promoting exports by making a clear policy.

He further said production of domestic items should be increased as well as import of smuggled goods should be stopped in order to reduce import.

Likewise, lawmaker Pramod Yadav, former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala and former Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Rameshwor Khanal, pointed out the need that the government gave priority to domestic industries to make the country self-reliant on economy. RSS