They have also rapped the government for the failure to create good labor relations in the industrial sector.[break]
“We are worried over the worsening investment climate in the country despite the fact that the government announced a host of programs to encourage domestic as well as foreign investment in the country,” said Binod Kumar Chaudhary, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), at its10th annual general meeting (AGM) on Saturday.
In an effort to rejuvenate the confidence among investors, the government has announced Investment Year 2012/13.
The fiscal year is already halfway through, but not a single project development agreement (PDA) on mega projects has been signed, according to Chaudhary.
“Worse still, political parties themselves have been creating obstacles in the development projects,” said Chaudhary.
Highlighting the achievements made by CNI during the past one decade since its inception, Chaudhary expressed his commitment to widen the role of CNI in making Nepal prosperous.
“As an organization that has reached this level of success after going through many ups and downs, CNI will focus on social business -- non dividend-making company -- designed to contribute to the overall social development,” said Chaudhary.
He also expressed dissatisfaction at the government´s failure to get Industrial Act endorsed from the parliament in line with the Industrial Policy 2010. The proposed act tried to address hosts of problems of the industrial sector.
He also opined that problems such as prolonged load-shedding, labor unrest, apathetic bureaucracy as well as weak law and order situation should be addressed to achieve double digit growth.
Chaudhary also demanded that the government show it seriousness in implementing its programs and policies to re-invigorate the confidence among investors.
“We want the government to sincerely implement the programs and policies aimed at industrial development. Political parties should also be serious to create investment climate in the country,” he added.
Inaugurating the 10th AGM of the CNI, the Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai expressed dissatisfaction over the trend of seeking returns by both industrialists and workers without fulfilling their responsibilities.
“The tendency among workers to seek wage without fulfilling their duties and businessmen seeking huge returns without making any investment should end,” said Bhattarai.
Terming the private sector a driving force of the economy, Bhattarai also urged the business people not to blame politics and political parties for existing economic slowdown in the country.
“Business people should stop blaming politics and political parties and start working to show that private sector can be instrumental to take the economy ahead even during the political instability,” he said.
Making his remark on the occasion, Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, urged the business community to collaborate with the government to overcome the economic obstacles in the country.
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