Banke industrialists urge HOR election candidates to present long-term plans

RANJHA, BANKE: Industrialists and entrepreneurs in Banke district have urged candidates in the election for the House of Representatives to present long-term strategic plans to make the district prosperous.

They said the district's businesses have been affected, and many businesspeople have closed their businesses due to smuggling through the Nepalgunj checkpoint. The government has not made a plan for the construction of Naubasta industrial area, and it has not been able to revitalise the district's economy despite establishing an integrated security post.

General secretary of Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bhim Ranabhat, urged the candidates to bring a long-term strategic plan, saying prosperity could be achieved only if an environment favourable to industry is created, "A long-term strategic plan that makes a sustainable impact on the overall development of the district is needed, and such matters should be addressed with a concrete decision after the victory," he stressed.

Ranabhat added, "It is necessary to ensure the victory of a candidate who works honestly for the economic development and prosperity of Banke."

Similarly, Krishna Prasad Shrestha, former central committee member of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), pointed out the need to carry out activities to create a strategic plan for the overall development of the district, as industry and business have not developed economically despite physical development and construction of necessary infrastructure in Banke.

Suggesting that people's representatives elected from the district should draw the state's attention to uplifting people from lower classes and work to bring about positive change in the country, Shrestha said, "Development is not just about physical infrastructure; it also refers to efforts that improve the standard of living of the people."

He stated that Banke needs representatives who can pressure the government to quickly start the construction of Naubasta industrial area, complete the unfinished work of Sikta irrigation project, and operate Nepalgunj Airport as an international airport, and emphasised the need for infrastructure development to make Banke National Park a centre of tourism, stressing the need for policy provisions to address the increasing damage to property caused by wildlife in the district.

Bhaskar Kafle, a hotel entrepreneur from Nepalgunj, said that although there is immense potential for the hotel and tourism industry in the district, businesspeople are discouraged due to unstable politics, and therefore, it is necessary to elect candidates with comprehensive development plans.

Mohammad Ishtiyak Rayi of CPN (UML), a candidate from Banke Constituency No. 2, expressed his commitment to work to improve people's living standards along with physical infrastructure if elected, recalling the development work he carried out when he was a minister, he said his focus as a people's representative, if elected, would be on the development of sectors such as the economy, education and health for economic prosperity.

By RSS