Despite being geographically small, Nepal has abundant economic, social, and cultural potential, including water resources, mines, minerals, herbs, and favorable climate.

Among them, the sectors of the economy with great potential are tourism, information technology, education, health, tourism and agriculture. 

Even though our close neighbors like India, China, and Bangladesh have been achieving high-digit economic growth, Nepal has not been able to experience this. Being between economically strong countries like India and China is also an opportunity for Nepal. Nepal is also not able to utilize the abundant market potential of India and China. Therefore, Nepal should now use these markets and set a goal of double-digit economic growth by focusing on import substitution and export promotion. These countries have achieved high-digit economic growth through industrialization and employment creation through the contribution of the private sector. Therefore, Nepal has no choice but to advance the relatively more productive private sector as the driver of economic development to achieve a '100 billion dollar economy, double-digit economic growth'. For this, we have productive industries, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology, education, health, tourism, energy, international trade, and mines and minerals. 

The government's low capital expenditure, lack of investable funds, low foreign investment, high imports, weak exports, and increasing business operating costs are some of the challenges facing the economy. Policy instability with the change of government is another challenge. To face and resolve these challenges, it is necessary to formulate a policy with a clear vision and ensure the stability of the officials who implement that policy. It is necessary for political parties to prioritize the economic agenda in the upcoming elections. 

The seven and a half decades from 2007 to 2082 BS have gone through ups and downs of political developments. On average, every decade, some political developments have raised our socio-political consciousness, but they have hindered the pace of economic development. Now, it would not be an exaggeration to say that we are in an advanced political system with all the political changes that the country needs. 

In the 35 years since the multi-party system (2047 BS), we have seen 30 prime ministers. That is, the average tenure of governments is only 1.18 years. This short average tenure clearly shows that the priorities of our parties have been power-centered. But the parties have no choice but to change this behavior now. 

We have an example of how the thinking and perspective of the government-leading party on the economy and development construction change when the government changes quickly. Therefore, every year, when a new government is formed, the state's prioritization of economic issues has been negatively affected. Its deep shadow has also been seen in the (in)stability of laws and policies that are directly or indirectly interconnected with the economy. Therefore, it can be said that this policy instability is also the main obstacle to the business environment and economic development in our country. 

In the name of system change, political parties and other stakeholders have no choice but to create new upheavals and chaos. This was also the essence of the Gen-G rebellion of 23-24 Bhadau. Economic and social development, improvement in good governance and public service delivery, end to corruption, radical reform in public education and health, industry-business friendly environment and job creation with attractive remuneration, etc. are the core of the changes sought by the last Gen-G rebellion.

To work seriously towards achieving these results, the main goal of all our parties should now be economy-centric politics. It is necessary for political parties to prioritize the economic agenda in the upcoming elections. The Confederation of Nepalese Industries has concluded that political parties should put forward the following priorities and policy approaches in terms of sectors through the upcoming elections.

Infrastructure development

Private sector participation should be ensured in its operation. So that the authority can operate in a way that also resolves disputes between various parties. Nepal, as a least developed country, should create a long-term infrastructure fund by utilizing the concessional loan facility it can get from the international community. The government should form a board of directors and make arrangements to operate the fund.

Legal provisions should be made to prevent contracting for development projects that are not prepared in advance to complete the infrastructure development work on time. There should be a provision to make all parties involved in the construction, including the government, construction entrepreneurs, and others, responsible for completing the contract agreements as specified only after all preparations, including 'site clearance'.

Currently, there is a policy to reimburse 75 percent of the construction cost of the access roads and transmission lines required for certain industries by the investors themselves. Now, the new government should provide such a facility for all infrastructures built by all industries. The process of reimbursement of such amount should be made simple and transparent. When inviting bids for the goods required for various constructions in Nepal, arrangements should be made to invite bids only in a way that competent Nepali industries are eligible to compete. A provision should be made to make it mandatory for at least 40 percent (60 percent in neighboring India) of construction materials/products produced by Nepali industries to be used in construction projects built with loan assistance or operated by the Government of Nepal to be used.

The detailed project study for the Birgunj-Kathmandu Electric Railway should be started immediately. Necessary arrangements should be made for the construction of a railway terminal in the area where the Chobhar dry port is located. Necessary policy and legal reforms should be made to ensure that the capital expenditure allocated in the budget of each fiscal year is effective and high. A fast-track policy and a 'sunset law' should be made to ensure timely completion of projects of national pride. 

Industrialization, export promotion and import substitution

Political parties should include the following issues in their manifestos to create an environment for industrialization and investment in Nepal by changing the following areas to create an environment for industrial revolution.

A clear provision should be made that industries are not subject to land restrictions, and long-term leases within industrial zones, industrial corridors, and industrial villages should be made for 99 years, as is the practice in neighboring India. There should be a provision to allow industries operating on such land to take loans by pledging 100% of the land for 10 years before the lease period expires. The process of liquidation and exit of industries that cannot operate should be simplified. To attract companies, firms, or individuals interested in making new investments in sick industries, a provision should be made that the provisions regarding ownership change in Section 57 of the Income Tax Act, 2058 BS, should not be applied. 

Nepal's export capacity should be increased by making Nepali products competitive in foreign markets. For this, subsidies including value addition should be provided to all export goods from Nepal so that foreign currency can be infused here. Production-based subsidies should be arranged to increase the production capacity of industries like in neighboring countries. Arrangements should be made to provide quality electricity to industries at subsidized rates to increase domestic production at low cost while making Nepali products competitive. The time and process taken to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be reduced. Since environmental impact assessment studies are conducted in advance while establishing industrial zones and special economic zones, industries established in such zones should facilitate environmental testing.

New industrial zones should be established in every province. Various packages should be announced to encourage the private sector to build and operate industrial zones and special economic zones with facilities. Section 57 of the Income Tax Act 2058 should be amended to make sick industries, innovative businesses, involuntary transfer of rights and changes in the control of share rights unattractive. International-level laboratories should be established and operated for the certification and testing of exportable goods.

Exports should be promoted. For export-oriented industries, arrangements should be made to operate export houses and Koseli houses from the private sector. Arrangements should be made to establish and operate excellent centers and business incubation centers in collaboration with the private sector. Freight railways and air cargo should be developed to reduce production and transportation costs. Regulatory provisions in banks and financial institutions have ensured profits. Therefore, since new and creative products are not coming, the next phase of reform programs should be brought in the banking sector, as they have not addressed the needs of the economy. 

Private sector companies with good reputation should be allowed to issue corporate bonds. There should be an arrangement to levy only 1 percent customs duty on technical construction materials required during the construction phase of pharmaceutical factories and physical infrastructure (since about 38-40 percent of the total cost is taxed during the construction phase) and there should be a value-added tax exemption. The necessary laws should be updated to protect the country's intellectual property. In such laws, the pharmaceutical industry operating in the country should also be given priority. 

Necessary policy arrangements 

The declaration should include a commitment to formulate a stable policy by prioritizing manufacturing industries, export promotion, and import substitution. A policy should be adopted to strengthen the manufacturing sector in a way that encourages the industrial revolution. A policy should be formulated to increase production, industrialize agriculture, promote the service and export sectors, and create employment so that the contribution of manufacturing industries to the economy increases. Industries with high potential and potential to be self-sufficient in Nepal should be identified, and an industrial strategy should be prepared for the development and stability of such industries and the stability of that policy should be ensured. Such industrial policies should be integrated and an industrial development strategy should be formulated and implemented. Industries that are self-sufficient and are becoming self-sufficient in Nepal include cement, footwear, medicines, textiles, garments, biscuits, paints, beverages, and tiles. In addition, there is a high potential for the production and export of herbal medicines and aromatic oils, perfumes/perfumes, etc. The results and quality of these products should be enhanced and expanded to many cities in the world. 

In addition to formulating laws directly related to industry, facilities and concessions have been provided through various policies and regulations for the promotion of industry and business. Legal arrangements directly related to industry and investment promotion should be integrated. A system should be established to solve the problems faced by the industry and provide them with the facilities and concessions they receive from one place. A clear system should be established that the services and facilities received by the industry from specialized acts cannot be reduced by any other law or system.

The export of goods and services without weight and distance, such as information technology and consulting services, which have a high potential to bring in foreign exchange and prevent foreign exchange outflow, should be promoted. And, competitive capacity should be developed at the international level. To make Nepali products competitive in neighboring and international markets and to control unauthorized trade, the existing 'threshold' should be reduced by implementing multiple rates on Value Added Tax (VAT).

Domestic promotion and market regulation

Domestic production and consumption campaigns should be launched. स्वदेशी प्रतीक चिह्न लिएका वस्तु तथा स्वदेशमा उत्पादन भएका वस्तु नेपाल सरकारका सम्पूर्ण निकायले आवश्यकताअनुसार अनिवार्य खरिद गर्नुपर्ने व्यवस्था तत्काल कार्यान्वयन गरिनुपर्छ । यसका लागि उद्योग, वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालयअन्तर्गत रहने गरी स्वदेशी वस्तु पहिचान तथा खरिद–बिक्री गर्न मिल्ने ‘पोर्टल’ बनाई सो कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याउनुपर्छ । स्वदेशी उत्पादकले उक्त ‘पोर्टल’ मा आफ्ना उत्पादनका जानकारी प्रविष्ट गर्ने र सरकारका निकायले त्यहींबाट वस्तु खरिद गर्न सक्ने व्यवस्था मिलाउन सकिन्छ । 

औद्योगीकरण तथा स्वदेशी वस्तुको उपभोग वृद्धि गर्ने उद्देश्यले नेपाल उद्योग परिसंघले नेपाल सरकारसँगको सहकार्यमा ‘मेक इन नेपाल–स्वदेशी’ अभियान कार्यान्वयन गरिरहेको छ । परिसंघले यस अभियान अघि बढाई नेपालको औद्योगीकरणका लागि नीतिगत सुधारको आवश्यकता पहिचान गरेको छ । ती विषयको कार्यान्वयनसँगै औद्योगीकरणमा सहजीकरण गर्न राजनीतिक दलहरूले आफ्नो घोषणापत्रमा प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुपर्छ ।

आयात हुने सम्पूर्ण वस्तुको गुणस्तर मापदण्ड बनाई लागू गरिनुपर्छ । मापदण्डअनुसारको परीक्षण र वस्तुको गुणस्तरको जिम्मेवारी आयातकर्ताको हुनुपर्ने कानुनी व्यवस्था कडाइका साथ लागू हुनुपर्छ । वस्तुको मूल्य, आयातकर्ताको विवरण, उपभोग्य म्याद गुज्रने अवधि आदि मापदण्ड पूरा नगरेका वस्तुको आयातमा प्रतिबन्ध लगाइनुपर्छ । बजार अनुगमनका समयमा यस्ता वस्तुहरू बजारबाट हटाउनुपर्छ । उपभोक्तालाई झुक्याउने गरी परिचित ब्रान्डका नक्कल गरिएका सामानको आयात भन्सार विन्दुमै नै रोक लगाइनुपर्छ ।

भन्सारमा घोषणा गरिएको मूल्य तथा बिल बिजकको प्रामाणिकता सुनिश्चित गर्न नेपाल सरकारका सम्बन्धित निकायलाई भारतको ‘जीएसटी पोर्टल’ मा पहुँचका लागि सरकार तहबाट पहल गरिनुपर्छ । नेपाली सेना, नेपाल प्रहरी, सशस्त्र प्रहरी बल, निजामती कर्मचारी, सरकारी स्वास्थ्य संस्थाका चिकित्सक तथा स्वास्थ्यकर्मी, शिक्षक र विद्यार्थीका लत्ताकपडा, जुत्ताजस्ता स्वदेशमै उत्पादन हुने वस्तुहरूको प्रयोग अनिवार्य गरिनुपर्छ । 

प्रत्यक्ष विदेशी लगानी

नेपालमा लगानीका लागि इच्छुक लगानीकर्तालाई द्रुत मात्रामा लगानी भित्र्याउन सक्ने व्यवस्था मिलाउने र एकल विन्दु सेवा प्रभावकारी बनाउने । लगानी प्रोत्साहन गर्न अवितरित नाफाको पुनः लगानी गर्ने कानुन र प्रक्रियालाई सरलीकृत गरिनुपर्छ । गैरआवासीय नेपालीको लगानीका सम्बन्धमा नेपालको संविधान, गैरआवासीय नेपाली ऐन र विदेशी लगानी तथा प्रविधि हस्तान्तरण ऐनमा रहेको बेमेल हटाउनुपर्छ । गैरआवासीय नेपालीले विदेशी मुद्रामा गरेको लगानीको नाफा सजिलै फिर्ता लैजान पाउने व्यवस्था स्पष्ट गरिनुपर्छ । 

नेपाली उद्योगहरूलाई विदेशी मुलुकमा आफ्नो लगानी विस्तार गर्न दिनेसम्बन्धी चालु आवको बजेटको नीतिगत घोषणालाई कानुनी व्यवस्था कायम गरी कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याइनुपर्छ । विदेशी लगानी आकर्षित गर्न आयकर ऐनको दफा ५७ र ९५ (क) मा रहेको करसम्बन्धी अन्योल र दोहोरोपन हटाउनुपर्छ । बहुनिकायबाट लगानी अनुमति लिनुपर्ने अवस्था अन्त्य गरिनुपर्छ । हाल विदेशी लगानी तथा प्रविधि हस्तान्तरण ऐन (एफआईटीटीए) बमोजिम उद्योग विभाग विदेशी लगानी अनुमतिको एकल निकाय छ । 

सार्वजनिक–निजी साझेदारी तथा लगानी ऐन 

(पीपीपीआईए) ले ६ अर्बभन्दा माथिका परियोजनाको लगानी स्वीकृति ‘लगानी बोर्ड’ मार्फत हुनुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरेको छ । यसैगरी २०० मेगावाटमाथिका जलविद्युत् आयोजनाको लगानी अनुमति पनि ‘लगानी बोर्ड’ मार्फत नै हुनुपर्ने व्यवस्था छ । यसले गर्दा एफआईटीटीएका प्रावधानका बाबजुद विदेशी लगानी ‘लगानी बोर्ड’ बाट पनि स्वीकृति अनिवार्य देखिन्छ ।

सीप तथा रोजगारी

वैदेशिक रोजगारीबाट फर्किएका युवालाई नेपालमै स्वरोजगार हुन आगामी १५ वर्षका लागि ती युवाले सञ्चालन गरेका उत्पादनमूलक उद्यमबाट प्राप्त आयमा लाग्ने कर पूर्ण रूपले छुट दिँदै देशलाई विभिन्न उत्पादनमा आत्मनिर्भर हुने नीति अवलम्बन गर्नुपर्छ । उद्योगको आवश्यकता अनुसारका दक्ष जनशक्तिको विकासका लागि सरकार र निजी क्षेत्रको सहकार्यमा सीप विकास गर्ने संस्था सञ्चालन गरिनुपर्छ ।

बजारको मागअनुसार दक्ष जनशक्ति उत्पादन गर्न प्राविधिक शिक्षा तथा व्यावसायिक तालिम ऐन यथाशीघ्र जारी गरिनुपर्छ । नेपालमा विधागत सीप उपसमितिहरूलाई कानुनी मान्यता दिई सीटीईभीटी काउन्सिलको संरचनाभित्र औपचारिक रूपमा स्थापित गर्नु अत्यावश्यक छ । राष्ट्रिय सीप योग्यता कार्यान्वयनका लागि आवश्यक कानुनी प्रक्रिया, स्तरीकरण, मूल्यांकन व्यवस्था र प्रमाणीकरण प्रणाली स्पष्ट निर्धारण गरी चरणबद्ध रूपमा लागू गरिनुपर्छ ।

नवप्रवर्तन, घरेलु, साना तथा मझौला व्यवसाय

सातवटै प्रदेशमा औद्योगिक उत्कृष्टता केन्द्रको स्थापना गरिनुपर्छ । निजी क्षेत्रसँगको सहकार्यमा राष्ट्रिय स्टार्टअप इन्क्युवेसन सेन्टर स्थापना तथा सञ्चालन गर्ने नीतिगत व्यवस्था गरिनु आवश्यक छ । उद्यमशीलतामा नयाँ आकर्षण ल्याउन उद्यमशीलता प्रवर्द्धन गर्ने प्रमुख उद्देश्यका साथ राष्ट्रिय युवा उद्यमशीलता बोर्ड गठन गरिनुपर्छ । स्टार्टअपहरूलाई अनुसन्धान तथा विकासका लागि पुँजीगत अनुदानको व्यवस्था गरिनुपर्छ ।

सूचना प्रविधि निर्यातमा हुने आम्दानीमा आगामी १० वर्षका लागि आय कर छुटको सुविधा दिइनुपर्ने देखिन्छ । सेवा निर्यातको प्रचुर अवसर रहेको यस क्षेत्रमा नेपालमा दक्ष जनशक्ति उत्पादनका लागि कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरी यस्तो जनशक्तिको अधिकतम उपयोग गरिनुपर्छ ।

ऊर्जा

दिगो ऊर्जा आपूर्तिका लागि जलाशययुक्त जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माणमा निजी क्षेत्रलाई आकर्षित गर्ने नीति लिइनुपर्छ । ऊर्जा क्षेत्रको लगानीमा हाल रहेको सुविधा (आयकर, भ्याट आदि) जलविद्युत् उत्पादनको जडित क्षमता १५ हजार मेगावाट पुग्दासम्म निरन्तरता दिनुपर्ने देखिन्छ । बूढीगण्डकी, पश्चिम सेती, कर्णाली चिसापानी, सुनकोशी–३ लगायतका ठूला आयोजनाहरू तत्काल अगाडि बढाइनुपर्छ । विद्युत्को आन्तरिक तथा अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारण निर्बाध र चुस्त बनाउन ठूलो क्षमताका प्रसारण हाइवे निर्माण गरिनुपर्छ । नेपाल सरकारबाट स्वीकृति लिई सर्भे सम्पन्न गरिसकेका आयोजनासँग तत्काल विद्युत् खरिद सम्झौता (पीपीए) गरिनुपर्छ । विद्युत्को आन्तरिक खपत बढाउन घरेलु प्रयोजनका विद्युतीय उपकरण निर्माणमा कर सहुलियत दिइनुपर्छ । ऊर्जा सुरक्षा सुनिश्चितता हुनुपर्छ ।  –पाण्डे नेपाल उद्योग परिसंघ–सीएनआईका अध्यक्ष हुन्।