Kathmandu, Nov 6: President Ramchandra Paudel has called on the international entrepreneurs to invest in the agriculture, tourism and energy sectors in Nepal. The President made this call while inaugurating the two-day 37th conference of Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) here today. The conference is jointly organised by CACCI and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). “Investment areas have been expanding in Nepal and laws are being formulated for facilitating investment. I urge the international industrialists-businessmen to invest in the agriculture, tourism and energy sectors,” the President said. The Head-of-State maintained that there are many opportunities in the investment and business sectors to link the immense natural resources and means as agriculture, water resources and tourism existing in our country having intense desire for economic development with the global market.
He further said, “Now India and Bangladesh are also becoming the market for Nepal’s electricity. The progress made in the recent days in the power trade sector has opened significant opportunities to the entrepreneurs who want to invest in the hydroelectricity sector. I call upon you all to invest in the hydroelectricity sector of Nepal.” On the occasion, President Paudel also appealed to all the industrialists and business persons to provide assistance with humanitarian feeling to the survivors of the earthquake with its epicentre in Jajarkot that caused huge loss of life and property in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim on Friday night. Describing the small and medium industries as the backbone of the country’s economy, he said, “In the modern age, sustainability is not only a jargon, but also the bedrock of our future. The small and medium industries are the backbone of the economy as they create growth, novelty and employment.” Noting that entrepreneurship means not only starting the business, he said, it also means adopting innovation, intensifying the diversity and also the strongest basis of addressing the challenges faced by our society.
“You have been pursuing this spirit and I am confident you will continue to do so,” the President said, adding that sustainable entrepreneurship and business were an important part of the basis for prosperous and sustainable future as well as the economy in the real sense. According to him, these not only provide the catalyst for economic growth, but also to build cross-border relations and maintain them. “The arbitration that the business sector organisations provide towards facilitating trade and the services including the digitalization of the process and networking opportunities are the tools of linking the business with the world,” the President reiterated. He expressed the confidence that entrepreneurship and trade contribute towards strengthening the world-wide multilateralism and consolidating the global peace through mutually beneficial linkages. Noting that Nepal’s geographical location between China and India is a strategic advantage, President Paudel viewed this situation makes Nepal as the natural gateway for the enterprises seeking to establish access to these huge consumer markets.
“Nepal’s membership in the regional trading agreements as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) provides access to the industries and businesses to the huge network of trade partners in this region,” he added. As the President said, Nepal has abundant active, disciplined and peace-loving workforce in the labour market, and this is an asset for the enterprises seeking the possibilities for skilled labour, innovation and entrepreneurship development. Stating that the country’s burgeoning middleclass is a rising consumer market, he opined this presented an opportunity for various industries including those related to the retail, consumer goods and services. “Nepal, which has natural diversities, carries immense possibility of tourism sector development, and I believe the investment made in this sector today will start paying tomorrow,” the President said and urged for investing in information technology, production-based industries and agriculture sectors in Nepal as these are the other feasible areas for investment. He stated that the topics of the conference were not only the matter of global concern but also equally relevant for the economic development and sustainability of Nepal.
