Speaking at a regional workshop in Pokhara organized by Transparency International Nepal and Ncell on Wednesday to discuss challenges facing business ethics and identify ways to promote ethical culture, local businessmen said unhealthy competition was affecting growth of ethical business practice. They said under-invoicing at customs offices, lack of issuance of bills by traders along the value chain, weak market monitoring, and transporters' syndicate were fostering unhealthy competition in the market."Lack of clear processes and policies, and discretionary authority provisioned to government officials are affecting ethical business environment," Giriraj Pandey of Nawalparasi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), said.
Business community of the region rated the situation of 'doing ethical business' in the region as unsatisfactory. They also discussed on policy and procedures related hassles that challenge business ethics, and how could local chambers and individual businesses take up those challenges so that ethical culture is promoted in the region.
Though majority of challenges of business ethics call for strong political commitment and broader reforms, they believed concerned authority can still address issues like ambiguous processes and policies with relative ease.
Participants agreed they, as an individual business, have responsibility in promoting ethical culture. Adoption of corporate governance, operating with a clear value system and enforcement of a code of conduct can help in a long run.
However, until the broader reforms and environment improve, they noted it is difficult for them to commit for ethical business. They suggested district chambers in regions to push for reforms, garner commitments among member firms for not engaging in unhealthy practices/competition, and enact code of conduct of conduct to improve environment that promote ethical business.
On the occasion, Ambar Bahadur Thapa, legal director of Ncell, highlighted benefits of doing ethical business. "We at Ncell believe in sustainability. Unfair practices and corruption pose serious threat to sustainability. Hence, we are committed to shun corruption in all its manifestations and have signed Integrity Pledge in presence of Transparency International Nepal to follow ethical norms and undertake measures that are conducive to good corporate governance," said Thapa.
As part of its commitment to promote ethical business, Ncell has joined hand with Transparency International Nepal and has been supporting its project Promoting Ethical Culture.
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