Kathmandu, Dec 27 (RSS): President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday held discussions with the newly-elected office-bearers of the Federation of Nepalis Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI).
During the meeting at the Office of the President, President Bhandari congratulated the newly-elected team of the FNCCI and wished them for their successful tenure, the FNCCI stated in a press note.
On the occasion, President Bhandari suggested that the FNCCI leadership needs to focus on employment generation through enterprises development for self-reliant economy.
"We are lagging behind despite our immense potentials. We are rich in natural resources; we have not problem for market but sufficient investment has not come. Even at present, we have the situation to rely on others (foreign countries)," the press note quoted the President as saying.
President Bhandari also urged the industrialists to work seriously to end the obligations of Nepali workforce to opt for foreign employment.
The President also expressed her concerns towards ballooning trade deficit of the country, read the press note.
Likewise, she urged the industrialists to be serious to reduce the trend of Nepal's dependence on foreign countries on goods while calling the business leaders to produce goods in the country itself.
Stating that the state's major priority should be on attracting domestic investments even to entice foreign investment, the President stressed the need for public private partnership to the development of self-reliant economy through the development of agriculture, energy and tourism sectors.
The team led by FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha informed the President that they were preparing the vision paper for prosperous Nepal by bringing the private sector together. FNCCI Senior Vice-President Chandra Prasad Dhakal, vice presidents Dinesh Shrestha, Anjan Shrestha, Ram Chandra Sanghai and Treasurer Sukunta Lal Hirachan, among others were present at the meeting with the President.
On the occasion President Golchha said that thousands of youths were unemployed and managing employment opportunity for them was a challenge at present. He added that the vision paper was targeting to create employment opportunity for 400,000 youth ensuring two-digit economic growth in the country.
He also stressed on bringing incentive package for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs as they were worst-hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The private sector is expecting effective implementation of such relief package brought by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
Similarly, other members of the delegation stressed on maximum utilization of natural resources focusing agriculture, hydropower and tourism sectors.
Likewise, they also opined to complete the projects of national pride in time.