At a program on 'Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos' organized by Nafiz in Kathmandu, speakers said that parties should decisively advance economic issues in the upcoming elections.
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In the backdrop of the 'Gen-G' movement and the upcoming election for the House of Representatives scheduled for February 21, Nepal's political parties are under pressure to formulate a new manifesto. Experts have pointed out that this time, the manifesto should include a commitment to implementation, not just slogans of political rights and system change, as in the past.
At a program on ‘Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos’ organized by the Nepal Association of Economic Journalists (NAFEJ) in Kathmandu, speakers said that parties should decisively advance economic issues in the upcoming elections.
Economist Nar Bahadur Thapa emphasized that a manifesto should be released that can connect the Nepali economy with the global economy by focusing on it. He said that all parties should invest in attracting foreign investment in the agricultural sector and embrace the revolution in the technology sector.
Thapa’s analysis shows that the private sector’s contribution to GDP has declined from 80 percent to 62 percent, indicating that the country’s investment climate is deteriorating. He said that parties should give a clear answer to the question of why the private sector is afraid through their manifestos and express a commitment to enacting investment-friendly laws and regulations.
Another economist, Prof. Sanjay Acharya, argued that parties should abandon fantasy such as achieving double-digit economic growth with a budget of Rs 3 trillion and seek a scientific basis. He pointed out the need for radical changes in the Public Procurement Act to increase the effectiveness of public spending. ‘The legal system of awarding contracts at the lowest price (low bid) has ruined infrastructure development, and the parties should play the legislative role of amending it,’ Acharya said. He also suggested including the issue of climate justice in the manifesto by linking it with economic benefits.
The political leadership has also accepted that the expectations of the people have changed this time. CPN-UML Secretary Rajan Bhattarai said that while people were looking for infrastructure 10 years ago, good governance and an investment-friendly environment have become the first priority now. He acknowledged the reality that investors will not trust us until there is political stability and mentioned that ending legal complications is the main way forward. However, he argued that past achievements should not be ignored and said that the parties should provide a clear roadmap for the next 20 years.
Congress General Secretary Pradeep Poudel, on the other hand, felt that the approach to the private sector should now change. He said that the comment of labeling those who earn profit within the law as 'brokers' has damaged the economy and said that the Congress will present a new blueprint for economic prosperity through a 10-point precise manifesto. Poudel said that corruption can be ended only by digitizing the economy and a new concept will be introduced to increase capital expenditure.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said that it will adopt a strategy to keep middle-class families and youth at the center. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) central member Shishir Khanal informed that preparations are underway to bring a 'promoter' with the goal of making Nepal a respectable middle-income country within 10 years. He said that connectivity in tourism and 30,000 megawatts of electricity generation in 10 years would be prioritized. However, Khanal also highlighted the political challenge that the manifesto cannot be implemented unless a single party has a majority and the government is unstable.
NCP leader Dev Gurung stressed on building a production-oriented economy by breaking away from the 'war economy'. He opined that cooperatives and the public sector should be strengthened for a self-reliant economy. Stating that the instability of the global market is affecting Nepal, he said that the focus should be on expanding the market for agricultural produce and large 'game changer' projects.
