Industrialists submit memo to Karnali Province government over lack of investment

KARNALI: Industrialists and businesspeople of Karnali Province have submitted an 11-point memorandum to the provincial government. They said the business community is left disappointed despite the region’s rich culture, civilisation and natural heritage.

At a press conference in Birendranagar, Surkhet, on Monday, Padam Bahadur Shahi, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Karnali Province committee, said the provincial government has failed to attract investors and has not helped to uplift the morale of the private sector, which has been crippled by Covid19, earthquakes, Gen-Z protests, international price hikes and high bank interest rates.

Shahi criticised the government’s inability to create an environment for investment in a region he described as “a mine of water, forests, land, herbs and gemstones”, and blamed provincial decisions and policies for inflicting further injury on private sector that lags behind due to a lack of industries, factories, investment and infrastructure.

He said the memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel to support the development and prosperity of the region. The demands include improving and operating Karnali Highway 24 hours a day and running startup entrepreneur programmes in collaboration with the private sector.

The memorandum also calls for regular internal flights in Karnali, a review of provincial decisions not to hold programmes in hotels, free operation of souvenir centres alongside policy reforms, and transferring responsibility for fairs and festivals to private sector.

Chinta Mani Kandel, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Karnali Province, said the memorandum urges construction of Karnali province-level industrial, tourism and trade exhibition venue, the operation of weekly markets to promote local agriculture and entrepreneurs, a reduction in current rental rates and extension of contract periods to support small industrial villages, and permission for hotel businesses in main market areas along the Karnali Highway to operate 24 hours a day.