KATHMANDU, April 12: The new President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Bhawani Rana, has vowed to work hand in hand with the government to achieve economic prosperity.
Assuming the office of the FNCCI following her elevation to the post of the president on Wednesday, Rana said it was high time the government and the private sector prioritized economic agenda. She also said that the leading umbrella organization of the private sector would set up a technical and vocational institute in all seven provinces to provide skill trainings to youths check the exodus of youths to overseas job destinations.
“Thousands of our youths have been flying abroad for employment. We should utilize this manpower in the country,” she said.
She also said that the FNCCI would take needful initiatives for addressing problems that the private sector has been facing in cross-border trade with India. Prioritizing domestic products, lobbying with the political parties to table a motion in the parliament for uniting political parties on economic issues, and promoting the interest of private sector are the other plans that the new FNCCI president after assuming office.
Nepali Congress for economic prosperity
Rana, who was the senior vice-president in the outgoing executive committee, was elevated to the post of president by the 51st Annual General Meeting of the FNCCI (FNCCI) on Tuesday. She is the first woman at the helm of the leading private sector body of the country which was established in 1965.
The election for the new executive committee held on Tuesday elected Shekhar Golchha to the post of senior vice-president. Golchha will succeed Rana as the president of FNCCI after three years. Golchha is the director of Golchha Organization which is involved in manufacturing, trading, and services, among others.
Similarly, Umesh Lal Shrestha, a candidate from Golchha panel, was elected to the post of vice-president from Commodity category. Pramod Shrestha, a candidate from Kishor Pradhan panel, has been elected to the post of vice-president from Industry and Commerce which is also called the District and Municipal group. Chandra Prasad Dhakal was elected vice-president from the Associates group.
The 64-member executive committee of FNCCI has 18 members from district and municipal groups, 14 from commodity groups, and 19 from associate members group.
WHO IS RANA?
Bhawani Rana is the first woman president of FNCCI. Rana, who is the chairperson of Sneha Group, was first elected to the executive committee of FNCCI a decade ago.
The group runs Sneha Hotel Pvt Ltd, Sneha Travels Pvt Ltd and Sneha Agro Private Ltd, among others. She received school education from St Marys School and did graduation in political science from Lucknow University, India.
Rana is also the first woman vice-president and senior vice-president of FNCCI. She was elected vice-president of FNCCI three years ago, but was upgraded to senior vice-president unanimously after the then senior vice-president Pashupati Murarka became president with the arrest of the then president Pradeep jung Pandey in connection to a decades-old case.
Rana is also the president of the Federation of Women Entrepreneur's Association of Nepal. She is also the founding member of the FWEAN which was formed in 2003.
