Speaking at the 50th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), federation's president Pashupati Murarka said the current government itself has become a major obstacle in the promotion and development of business. Defending the government, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said the government was always ready to address logical and appropriate demands of traders and the private sector.
"Using a six-decade-old 'controlled' black-marketing act, the government has been forcefully approaching businessmen and traders," Murarka said, adding: "As a result, entrepreneurs have not been able to compete internationally."
Murarka also accused the government of trying stifle and suppress industrialists and traders and using force to trouble them. Saying that the old black marketing act was causing problems for the growth of business in Nepal, Murarka said it had become a major obstacle to businesses and urged the government to either make amendments to different provisions of the acts or terminate the act completely. "Replacing such acts, the government should bring policies and acts that increase competitive ability of traders," Murarka said.
Murarka also said that government should immediately promulgate the acts and laws that have been awaiting endorsement for a long time through ordinances and implement them.
Saying that government bodies like Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) have failed completely, Murarka urged the government to end their monopoly in the market.
Addressing the AGM, the prime minister said all such old acts and laws would be amended soon. However, he did not touch no why these acts have remained piled up at the parliament for decades.
Oli, who encouraged traders to increase production of food to narrow down the country's trade deficit, said: "The present government is the government of private sector and we are committed to protecting and preserving businesses and the business environment of the country.
On the occasion, FNCCI launched a logo marking its golden jubilee and a mobile application which provides information regarding domestic industries. FNCCI also awarded 18 different district and municipal chambers on different categories. FNCCI also awarded Bikash Bajracharya and Rameshwor Pradhan who have worked at FNCCI for more than 25 years.
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