Industrialists and businessmen have said that although the budget includes programs to promote agriculture, industry, tourism, and local production, it has not adequately addressed the long-term demands and needs of the private sector.
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The private sector has expressed mixed reactions to the budget announced by the Koshi Province government on Monday for the fiscal year 2083/084.
Industrialists and businessmen have said that although the budget includes programs for the promotion of agriculture, industry, tourism and local products, it has not been able to adequately address the long-term demands and needs of the private sector.
Rajendra Raut, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Koshi, said that the budget has prioritized local products, agriculture, industry and social security. He said that the inclusion of programs to promote industries and domestic products based on local raw materials is a positive aspect.
However, for the economic transformation of the province, more clear and effective programs are needed to market agricultural products, expand access between producers and consumers and enhance the competitive capacity of local products.
Pointing out the need to strengthen the implementation side by making social security and individual inclusion programs result-oriented, he mentioned that a clear action plan, adequate resource management and effective monitoring system are indispensable to make the new plans and programs included in the budget successful. ‘Overall, the budget has given a positive signal.’ However, more concrete and result-oriented programs are needed in the areas of production growth, job creation, agricultural modernization and economic transformation of the province,’ Raut said.’
Anil Shah, vice-chairman of the Morang Industry and Trade Association, commented that the private sector has not yet experienced direct benefits from the provincial government’s budget.’ He said that even as a decade of federalism is about to complete, the provincial-level budget has not been able to address the industry and business sector as expected.’
‘Like every year, this time too, the issues of agriculture, tourism and entrepreneurship have been included in the budget.’ However, not enough attention has been paid to the development of the private sector and the construction of commercial infrastructure,’ he said.’
Shah complained that the much-awaited Ring Road project of Biratnagar has not been given priority in the budget despite being stalled for three decades. He said that the issue of construction of an exhibition venue, which has been demanded by industrialists and businessmen for a long time, has also not been included in the budget. ‘Although significant budget allocations have been made to other districts, important projects in the provincial capital and economic center Biratnagar have not received the expected priority,’ she complained.
Shruti Sharma, chairperson of the Morang Industry and Trade Association Women Entrepreneurs Committee, expressed dissatisfaction saying that there is a lack of concrete programs to promote women entrepreneurship in the budget.
According to her, skill development, production-oriented training and market management programs for women entrepreneurs have not been adequately covered. ‘Although gender equality is mentioned in the budget, there are no programs for developing the skills and capacity necessary for women to run businesses,’ she said.
Although some attractive programs have been announced for young entrepreneurs, their effectiveness will depend on their implementation, she said. Stating that she feels that there is still a tendency to put women as a second priority in policy making and resource distribution, Sharma responded that women entrepreneurs cannot be excited by the current budget.
