Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal inaugurated the AGM and also handed over awards to best performing district chambers, associate and commodity members of FNCCI to mark the Industry and Commerce Day.[break]
FNCCI also felicitated Anuradha Koirala, Chairman of Maiti Nepal and winner of CNN Hero award, for her contribution in combating women trafficking.
Addressing the function, PM Khanal said that government was committed toward business development, investment promotion and upholding the rights of business community.
“There is no change in policy stance. You are the engine of economic growth and we seek more contribution from the private sector in creating jobs, income opportunities and economic advancement,” said Khanal.
But at the same time, he urged the business community to resort to fair and clean business practices. The newly disclosed fact on widespread use of fake VAT receipts and revenue evasion has stunned the government, he said.
“We neither expected such bogus acts from the business community, nor will tolerate it,” he added, promising strong actions against fake VAT receipt racketeers.
PM Khanal also promised strong enforcement of rule of law, improvement in security situation, creation of investment friendly environment, and transparency and accountability in government operations.
“We are overhauling the security plan to step up security of every citizen and also working out new policy to end power crisis that has hurt industries the most,” he stated.
Khanal also asked the private sector to come up with immediate, medium-term and long-term plan for strengthen the country´s industrial sector.
Senior business leaders from FNCCI, however, demanded concrete actions from the government and not plans. They also expressed resentment over the government´s failure to step up security in the business circle.
“We have heard good words, but no action from the government,” said FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi.
“We want the government to assure us that we are free to do business, invest and hold property.”
The AGM that will last for two days will elect the new president, vice presidents and executive members to lead the institution for the next two years on Tuesday. Leaders from 92 district and municipal chambers of commerce and industry, 76 commodity associations, 10 bilateral-chamber of commerce and industry and 439 associate members are scheduled to cast their votes.
As a part of the election campaign, Ajad Shrestha and Suraj Vaidya -- the two presidential candidates -- and their panels presented their policy and programs for the next two years.
FNCCI Business Coalition against AIDS unveiled
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on Monday launched Business Coalition against AIDS in Nepal (BCAN), aiming to work for prevention of HIV infections at workplaces.
The program introduced in collaboration with UN-AIDS and ILO will also work to remove stigma associated with HIV/AIDS so that HIV affected persons do not suffer from discriminatory treatment in the work places and society, said FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi.
“HIV/AIDS is a matter of concern for business community, as people of most productive age (between 16 and 45) are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and this threatens productivity of the private sector as a whole,” said Dawn Faderingham, regional program advisor of UN-AIDS.
Since the workforce is the valuable asset of the industries, they should be kept alert from this disease, she added.
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