Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the special annual general meeting (AGM) of the federation in Kathmandu on Friday, Murarka called for the use of domestic raw material in reconstruction activities and urged the government to introduce policies that mobilizes domestic manufacturers to produce construction materials as per demand.
The government should partner with private sector to rebuild the nation, Murarka said. "Coordinating with FNCCI and the entire private sector, the government should carry out post-earthquake reconstruction activities in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model."Murarka also requested the government to help the private sector to revive industries and establish new factories in earthquake-affected areas, improve existing industrial policies to promote domestic and foreign investment, and control interest rates of banks for at least two years.
Most importantly, Murarka requested the government to ensure the private sector's representation in the proposed National Reconstruction Authority (NRA). "The government has already passed the NRA ordinance. But the private sector is excluded from the NRA," Murarka said.
On the occasion, Murarka also thanked all FNCCI members for unanimously electing him the president through consensus.
Addressing the AGM, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, praised FNCCI for exercising democratic principles in its presidential election process. Saying that the government needs active participation of the private sector in the reconstruction processes, Singh said: "It is through the joint effort of the government and the private sector that the country's economy has to be driven."
He also asked suggestions from the private sector and their voices to be submitted soon so that they could be incorporated in the constitution.
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