After forming the Narayani zonal chapter of CNI in Birgunj, CNI president Binod Chaudhary on Monday held meetings with office bearers of Morang Trade Association and Chamber of Industry, which is affiliated with Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and formed the Koshi zonal chapter.[break]
"We opened the chapter in a bid to protect and promote the rights and interests of industrialists in this region," said Chaudhary, addressing a function. He elaborated the organization´s main goal behind organizing the industrialists and entrepreneurs is to empower the private sector and strengthen Nepal´s trade with India and China.
Referring to the deepening differences between CNI and FNCCI, Chaudhary said he is aware that entrepreneurs in districts are getting phone calls from Kathmandu (where FNCCI Secretariat is based) to not affiliate with the CNI.
"But people making calls must understand one or two phone calls will not hinder our movement," he said, adding that entrepreneurs who are members of FNCCI can join the CNI. Leading industrialists of the region even charged the FNCCI with failing to pick and address the problems faced by the business community outside the Kathmandu valley.
On the occasion, CNI also announced to form the Mechi zonal chapter of CNI on Tuesday.
Chaudhary said CNI has collaborated with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Bao Trading Institution of China and is making efforts to bring in investments from both countries.
"We will provide information that investors need and also lobby for the creation of appropriate investment environment," said Chaudhary, adding that collaborations with business partners in China and India will help address problems faced by investors in all three countries.
Chaudhary also linked CNI decision to open zonal chapters and expand network with the ongoing political changes, under which the country will have a federal structure.
"The new structure will complicate the way we do business, particularly as there will be different states in Nepal and we will need to maintain good functional relationships with the adjoining provinces on the one hand and China and India on the other," he said, adding that the CNI chapters will work to ease the situation for the business community, when that happens.
Chaudhary demanded from the government to declare all major industrial corridors in the country as special economic zones and provide facilities to the industries accordingly.
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