Representatives of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) held discussions with Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Toya Narayan Gyawali, on the possibility of export promotion.
In the discussion, NCC delegation led by its President Rajendra Malla, discussed various ways to promote the exports. The NCC also handed over a 16-point memo to promote export through productivity increase.
In the meeting with Industry Secretary Gyawali, NCC President Rajendra Malla urged to open export houses in all seven provinces. Malla said NCC would cooperate with the government to promote foreign investment and skills in the industrial sector. “If we utilise skills and knowledge gained in foreign countries in our industries, it will minimise the loss incurred in the businesses,” NCC President Malla said. He also said NCC was ready to join hands with the government for the promotion of the industrial sector.
NCC President Malla also suggested maintaining a uniform interest rate citing that the increase in industrial interest rate has increased the cost of production. Malla lamented that concessions are available only to industries consuming electric power worth Rs 100 million and opined that all the industries should be granted equal concessions for the export promotion.
Likewise, it was pointed out that the exports of Nepali goods and products were facing issues due to lack of laboratories at the Customs checkpoint. The NCC President further urged the Industry Secretary to facilitate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in industries.
On the occasion, Secretary Gyawali made a commitment to take initiatives to include NCC as a member of the Industrial Promotion Board representing private sector. He informed that the government has been preparing policy arrangements for the promotion of the skills and investment of Nepali migrant workers returned from foreign countries. He asserted that the ministry was making a separate roster to deal with foreign employment. He said though we have the capacity to export goods worth Rs 900 billion, we are unable to do so.
