KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has urged the National Planning Commission (NPC) to make the 16th Periodic Plan objective and result-oriented.
NCC suggested formulating a plan to create an environment for the maximum use and export of natural resources and other instruments in the country.
NCC on Thursday held an interaction programme to discuss the concept of the 16th Plan and the situation to arise after the country's graduation from the list of least developed countries (LDC) to middle-income countries.
The discussion was held with NPC Vice-Chairman Min Bahadur Shrestha and various stakeholders of private sector at Chamber Bhawan.
At the programme, NCC President Rajendra Malla said that since some of the targets mentioned in the 15th Plan have not been fulfilled, the 16th Plan should be made objective and result-oriented. Malla opined that expected results have not been achieved due to lack of coordination between the targets of the NPC and the annual budget of the government.
Malla said, "In the previous fiscal year when the 15th Plan ended, the economic growth target was 10.3% while the economic growth target for the current fiscal year is 6%." Further, he mentioned that ambitious programmes such as construction of metro rail in major cities and construction of industrial districts in 18 places were included in the 15th Plan but could not be implemented.
NCC also suggested that a strategy should be decided considering the subsequent situation after Nepal will graduate from the list of least developed countries in 2026. The NCC president also pointed out that Nepal will no longer be getting trade concessions in European countries. He opined that the 16th Periodic Plan should cover the issue of construction of land-connected strategic roads to link with the big markets in northern and southern neighbouring countries. He also said that the issue of road infrastructure and railways connecting North-South should be a national priority. He stressed that hydropower, agriculture, tourism, and information technology sectors should be prioritised in the 16th Plan.
NPC Vice-Chairman Shrestha said the 16th Plan will focus on economic prosperity including social justice and good governance. At the interaction, Shrestha said that the plan is being drawn after objective study of agriculture infrastructure, education, health, tourism, information technology and other sectors.
He also said that NPC is making strategic preparations for the situation that will arise after the country graduates from the list of LDC. Moreover, NPC is preparing to increase exports and bring in foreign investment through the expansion of industrial district, Shrestha said.
