Government offices urged to increase using domestic goods

KATHMANDU: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has urged government bodies to give priority to the use of domestic goods and services in public procurement.

Acting on directions from Prime Minister Balendra Shah, the OPMCM on Wednesday requested federal ministries, commissions, secretariats, provincial governments, local levels and Nepali missions abroad to ensure full implementation of the measure within the existing legal framework for public procurement.

Spokesperson Hemraj Aryal said the initiative aims to increase the contribution of domestic production to the national economy, replace rising imports with local products, protect local skills and entrepreneurship, and create jobs, while strictly enforcing current legal regulations.

He added that government offices should make arrangements to use Nepali handicraft items as far as possible for meetings, ceremonies, gifts and decorations. Priority should also be given to locally made stationery, printing materials, furniture, decor items, construction materials, machinery, tools and equipment, agricultural and animal products, and food and beverages.

The OPMCM instructed heads of concerned bodies to monitor purchases of domestic goods regularly, and directed ministries to carry out quarterly inspections to ensure compliance.

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