”We have moved forward to bring the economy to a rhythm”

चैत्र १८, २०८१

शोभाकान्त पौडेल

”We have moved forward to bring the economy to a rhythm”

SEZ and international airport in Bhairahawa should be operated smoothly. Apart from that, it is also necessary to improve the road network and many other things.

20/25 years ago I was a tax officer in Bhairahawa. The potential of this place is very abundant . India's chemical and pharmaceutical industry has grown by 16 percent. Contact 'manufacturing' is happening in the world now. We have now focused only on religious tourists to operate the international airport. But, not only this, some people do laser . Some come for health care, some come for business meetings . The airport will function only if the airport can be made a 'transit-hub' for all of them. Only after that, investment in airport and hotel is guaranteed.

Airports, hotels, industries and other manufacturing industries are also developed . If this happens, the overall economy will develop . India now has 'contact manufacturing', India occupies 16 percent of the world market in chemical pharmaceuticals . If we bring only that, we can benefit . Chemical, manufacturing, textile, garment, food, agro-business should also be connected . 

In India, an 'auction' is being held in the interest of a Japanese company in Gautam Budh Nagar for a green industrial park to create a power grid there. We also have to go in that way . If infrastructure is added as a 'byproduct', the industry will be successful . The return on investment comes . The government has spent more than 2 billion on upgrading the infrastructure of Bhairahawa, the return of which should now be seen from the private sector .

must go to green manufacturing . Now there is a problem in the operation of the airport. Energy crisis may occur tomorrow . So attention should be paid to solar, clean energy . For that policy, we look at it from two/three points of view . One- The government is ready to give incentives to the goods-machinery for manufacturing industries. Second, we will remove the 'bureaucratic hurdle'. Third- The Ministry is ready to facilitate with banking institutions for easy loans.

By connecting the industries to each other, we worked as a 'by-product' to raise each other up, the government is ready for the facilities provided by the government, we are ready for the policy reform . There are policy hurdles right from granting licenses to businesses. There is a problem in registering the organization. We are ready to remove such problems. Please suggest for economic act, we include in it . 

There were many iron industries in the Lumbini Corridor. At that time, I was the director general of the Internal Revenue Office when the Economic Act was introduced. At that time, the government's policy was to support 'blast technology' or to support the current technology . Again, the pollution is reduced when going through 'Blast Technology'. Therefore, it was decided that the excise duty on iron should be removed .  We have improved the economic act that came after the

. Now the work of sick industry is also progressing . The Ministry of Finance is always ready to facilitate this. However, not complete . There are limited resources. This leads to a situation where the revenue is lost. If the government's policy has slowed down the expansion of

business, we are ready to improve it . There has been some relaxation in business after covid. We have only seen relaxation here . The problem is worldwide. It's an all-round effect . Now we have moved forward to bring the economy on a 'track' by slowly bringing it back to the rhythm . What needs to be done about it, the Ministry of Finance is ready to help . 

The government should invest in 'institutes' and regulate them for skilled manpower. The Union Government can also do it . The state government can also do it . The private sector can invest only if the government says so. The government is ready to provide resource and policy support to produce skilled manpower. 

There is a lot of potential for cement export in the rural areas of India due to increased investment in housing and building houses. Why the cement industry was established in Nepal is because of the government's policy support. We levied customs duty on clinker . Let's levy customs duty on ready cement . Due to this policy, Nepal's cement industry has become sustainable. The government is also ready to provide more support in this . My experience is that I don't see Nepali industry lasting long.

Vietnam used to export cement to China . China imposes customs duties on Vietnam. After that, Vietnam changed its policy and said "Welcome to Chinese Investors in Vietnam". Similarly, 'Welcome to Indian Investor in Nepal' should now be said. 200/400 metric ton industry is not running . Must be mass produced . Don't be afraid of losing my share . Investors also bring technology . Sources also bring . India also supports infrastructure development.

For that, the overall asset and liability assessment (DDA) of the company should be done and given to the investors. Then all problems including BLIS will be solved . Gotta get to it now. Udaipur cement industry has the best prospects in Nepal. It is occupied by the government. Now the government has to go for privatization . Udaipur and Hetaunda cement industries should be evaluated and given to the private sector. Then export to Bangladesh and India should be increased . 

(Thoughts expressed by Paudel, joint secretary of the Ministry of Finance, in the first session of the interactive program on 'Lumbini's strength', 'Slow infrastructure and unstable policies, production choices' )

शोभाकान्त पौडेल

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