OIBN, CNI hold public private dialogue on impact of Gen‑Z protests on private sector

KATHMANDU: A public private dialogue held on Friday examined the impact of the nationwide Gen‑Z protests on private sector, investor experiences and the initiatives needed to restore confidence and move forward, organisers said.

The meeting was jointly organised by Office of the Investment Board Nepal (OIBN) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and took place in the Ministry of Finance (MoF) meeting hall. Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal was the chief guest, and special guests included Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Biswo Nath Poudel.

At the programme, Finance Minister Khanal said the government has placed policy reforms on a high priority and that some measures have already been implemented, which the private sector can feel. He urged domestic and foreign investors not to doubt the security of their investments.

Home Minister Aryal said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has taken private sector concerns about security assurance seriously and stressed that good governance is essential, requiring reforms both in government and the private sector.

Industry Minister Sinha said he is working at an accelerated pace to complete pending work across agencies and that process‑related reforms, except those requiring legal amendment, are being prioritised.

NRB Governor Poudel said banks and financial institutions (BFIs) hold ample investable capital, presenting a good investment opportunity, and specifically urged investors to consider the infrastructure sector.

CNI President Birendra Raj Pandey, welcoming guests, said incidents of arson, vandalism and looting during the protests have deeply saddened and concerned industrialists and businesspeople. He called for rapid digitalisation of public services to make them faceless, paperless and contactless as a means to curb corruption, increase transparency and strengthen governance.

IBN Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali said OIBN is working actively to create an easier business environment for project investors and developers and is implementing a single point service system that allows private investors to register projects directly with OIBN for integrated approval processing. He pledged continued commitment to the fiscal year’s policy goals and to OIBN’s forthcoming four‑year strategy and business plan.

MoF Joint Secretary Uttam Kumar Khatri presented policies and planned reforms since the formation of the new government. CNI senior vice president Nirvana Chaudhary outlined economic challenges and opportunities and advised on ways the government can support the private sector.

Participants included senior officials from the MoF, MoICS and the Ministry of Land Management, Co‑operatives and Poverty Alleviation (MoLMCPA), representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), CNI past presidents and heads and representatives of industrial, business and multinational companies affected by the protests, along with investors and developers associated with OIBN.