May 17 : The private sector has commented the recently presented policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal are not focussed on the reviving the national economy being crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
In a video conferencing discussion organized here yesterday by the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON), the businessmen and industrialists made such a comment.
On the occasion, Senior vice-president of Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Shekhar Golchha, said the policies and programmes did not bring effective plans to immediately cushion the negative impacts the coronavirus crisis on the national economy.
“Proper liquidity management is one of the major issues facing the national economy. But, unfortunately, the government is also being lenient towards resolving this issue by taking necessary fiscal measures,” he added.
Also speaking on the occasion, senior vice-chair of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Rajendra Malla, complained that the government was not clear on bringing relief packages to support those private enterprises hit hardest by the current crisis.
He suggested the government to to increase domestic production, drop public expenses, reduce remunerations of chief executive officers and waive interest of the loans taken by farmers within the six months.
Likewise, senior vice-chair of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Bishnu Agrawa,l expected that the upcoming budget would address the issues which are not reflected in the government policies and programmes.
He suggested the government to cut off unnecessary expenses and increase capital spending. Acting Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Small and Cottage Industry Umesh Prasad Singh commented that the government policies and programmes were not centralized in addressing the pertinent problems. RSS
