KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has instructed the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to facilitate and promote the enterprises and businesses that have been facing problems under difficult circumstances.
Governor Adhikari gave this instruction during an interaction with the representatives of bankers' associations affiliated with 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' class BFIs at the central bank on November 22. He urged members of bankers' associations to facilitate businesspersons who are running businesses with good intentions and have come under adverse economic conditions and difficult circumstances.
Governor Adhikari said the central bank was ready to take necessary policy coordination and guardianship for creating an environment conducive for industries and businesses to operate smoothly.
The NRB Governor asserted that there cannot be any kind of agreement regarding the unwanted activities against the financial sector that affect the financial stability. He opined that such activities are criminal acts of banking. "After taking a loan, one has to pay it," he said and suggested that someone not willing to pay back should be brought under the ambit of banking offences.
On that occasion, Governor Adhikari also informed about the topics raised in the interaction regarding the current state of the country's economy and the future course of action organised on Nov 20 and 21 under the coordination of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Deputy Governors duo Neelam Dhungana Timsina and Bam Bahadur Mishra, Executive Directors Dev Kumar Dhakal, Gunakar Bhatta, Revati Prasad Nepal and Vishrut Thapa expressed their views on the current issues of the financial sector.
NBA President Sunil KC, Development Bankers Association Nepal (DBAN) Treasurer Naresh Singh Bohara, Nepal Financial Institutions Association (NFIA) President Sunil Pant and Nepal Microfinance Bankers' Association (NMBA) Acting Chairman Ram Bahadur Yadav and other representatives were present in the programme.
The representatives of bankers' associations mentioned that in recent times, the collection of loans and interest, and the management of bad loans were challenging and the trend of manpower working in the banking sector going abroad in foreign employment has increased. They suggested that necessary steps should be taken to address these issues. Moreover, they emphasized the need to simplify the existing system related to loan loss.
