KATHMANDU, Oct 13: With the slogan ´Peace and Prosperous Nepal: Our Common Dream´, the fourth Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Global Conference kicked off in the capital on Tuesday. [break]
Over 600 Nepalis living in 52 countries have converged for the three-day conference that will elect a new leadership for the six-year-old NRN Association--an umbrella organization of over 2.5 million overseas Nepalis.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the conference at the Army Officers Club at Bhadrakali.The government, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the NRN Association are jointly organizing the biennial global meet.
During the conference, a wide range of issues including the state of foreign employment on the back of the ongoing global financial crisis, channeling remittance into productive investment, issues concerning women migrants, foreign employment and its impact on the labor market, safe migration and employment abroad, contribution of NRNs to economic diplomacy and opportunities for investment and trade in Nepal will be discussed.
Speaking on the occasion, President Yadav urged all the political parties to come to a consensus, putting their differences on the table on the basis of the Interim Constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Accord as well as seeking assistance from the Constitutional Special Committee. "I urge all the political parties to frame a democratic constitution and wish that the sovereignty of our nation would remain intact," the president said.
"There is no place for arms in democracy; whatever problems that face us should be resolved through peaceful means and understanding," added Yadav.
His remark comes at a time when the main opposition party, United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), has taken to the streets to oppose the ´unconstitutional step´ of the President in reinstating then army chief Rookmangud Katawal after he was sacked by the Maoist-led government.
Yadav specifically urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in environment protection and controlling the effect of climate change, besides putting their money into major sectors such as tourism, hydropower, education, health and infrastructure development.
"You are all conscious of the deepening impact of environmental degradation and climate change on Nepal," Dr Yadav said, "We expect a greater role from you in sensitizing the international community to these crucial issues and investing for the protection of environment".
Yadav also lauded the role of the NRN Association in the fight for democracy and urged the Nepali diaspora to uphold the norms of democracy and carry forth a positive message about the peaceful political transition in Nepal.
Yadav said that institutionalization of democracy that has been achieved through the democratic movement is a major challenge for the coming days.
He urged NRN communities to use their skills, experience, resources and expertise for the development of Nepal, stating that a favorable environment for investment has emerged with the enactment of the NRN Act and related regulations.
NRN Association President Dr Upendra Mahato requested the government to make legal provisions for dual citizenship for non-resident Nepalis for the sake of their own identity in foreign lands and to pave the way for their secure investment in Nepal. He asked the political parties to complete the task of writing the new constitution in time as per the wishes of the Nepali people.
Sujata Koirala, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, informed the gathering about different incentives mentioned in the NRN Act and Regulations for strengthening the contribution and participation of NRNs in the development of Nepal.
Kush Kumar Joshi, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, lauded the contribution of NRNs to economic diplomacy in countries where Nepali diplomatic missions are yet to open. Joshi also urged the government to foster a conducive environment to lure investment by the Nepali diaspora in different crucial sectors.
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