KATHMANDU, April 21: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is lobbying with the political parties to include energy development programs in their election manifestos.
“We want all the political parties in the country to come up with economic programs prioritizing energy sector development so that we can gradually reduce energy deficit in the country,” Suraj Vaidya, president of FNCCI, said. “We will start negotiations with top leaders of political parties soon.”
Speaking at an interaction with economic journalists on Sunday, Vaidya said FNCCI will request political parties to forge consensus on common minimum economic agenda for sectors like tourism, agriculture, energy and service.
Stressing the need to promote trade with India and China, Vaiyda said process to form a tripartite high-level team has already begun. “We are already in talks with Indian business leaders in this direction. We will also hold talks with our Chinese counterparts to form a high level think tank that will play vital role in promoting trade among the three neighbors,” said Vaidya.
At a time when negotiations are underway to review minimum remuneration of workers, Vaidya clearly stated that the private sector was not in a position to fix minimum remuneration at Rs 12,000-Rs15,000 per month as demanded by the trade unions representatives. “We are for increasing minimum remuneration on the basis of inflation rate calculated by the government,” said Vaidya. “Most of the factories will be closed down if remuneration is increased as demanded by the trade unions.”
Source : Republica
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FNCCI planning to set up Nepal-India-China think tank
KATHMANDU, APR 21 – The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is planning to set up a think-tank comprising private sectors of three countries—Nepal, India and China.
The proposed think-tank, according to FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya, will mainly focus on benefiting Nepal, being strategically located between the two emerging economic powers.
Making public the plan at a press meet held in the Capital on Sunday to mark its first two year at country’s apex business body, the FNCCI leadership said that they would concentrate on results of the programmes that were announced in first two years. “We were in the planning phase in the first year and spent the second year for implementations of planned projects and programmes,” said Vaidya. “The remaining one year will be to see the results of our plans and programmes.”
Vaidya said the FNCCI leadership will urge stakeholders including political parties to implement the commitment signed recently for the development of hydropower sector in the country.
During the 47th annual general meeting of the FNCCI on April 10, top leaders of seven political parties along with Chairman of the Interim Election Government Khil Raj Regmi had signed a commitment paper vowing to not obstruct in the hydropower development but rather to play positive role in project development.
“We will now begin pressuring the parties to execute what they had signed,” Vadiya said, adding that the FNCCI expects to see the party’s commitment in their respective political manifesto.
According to the FNCCI, it has come up with the revised draft on common economic agenda after incorporating comments from stakeholders, including the political parties. “The revised draft has been forwarded to all political parties and we will soon make them sign the draft,” said Vaidya.
Reviewing its two-year performance, the FNCCI said its efforts towards the introduction of Nepal Investment Year 2012-13, formation of Investment Board of Nepal (IBN), extension of one village; one product (OVOP) to 22 districts and preparation of the study reports of more than 20 products under one district; one product, regular talks with the trade unions and political commitment in hydropower development were some of the achievements during the period.
When asked about the growing difference between past and current FNCCI presidents, Vaidya insisted that the apex business body has always treated equally to all its former presidents. He said that former President Pradeep Kumar Shrestha had been elected as vice-president of Confederation of Asia Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) and Padma Jyoti was sent to the Nepal-India Trade Mechanism due to the initiatives of FNCCI itself. “Chandi Raj Dhakal has been entrusted with revising the FNCCI’s statute which is a critical job of any organisation,” he said.
Stating that nobody should expect more recognition than necessary, he said, “Nobody is above the institution and that we should work as per the FNCCI’s statute.”
Source : The Kathmandu Post
