Envoy to US to Promote Nepal as Business Destination

Newly-designated Nepali ambassador to the USA Dr Shankar Sharma has pledged that he will make every possible effort to promote Nepal in the US as a potential trade and investment destination once he assumes office.

Speaking at an interaction organized by the Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, the former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission said he has penciled a number plans that he intends to implement.

"Among the many plans I have in mind, I will identify US investors and traders who have potential for doing business with Nepal and we will be in close touch with them through regular briefings about the emerging business opportunities in Nepal," he said.

Dr Sharma also said that he plans to form a group of Nepal-loving US citizens who have some kind of influence over US government policy toward least developed countries like Nepal and tap them to promote business opportunities between the two countries.

Also speaking at the program, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala urged US investors to raise their investments in Nepal and assured them that Nepal is ready to provide all possible assistance to those interested in doing business here.

She also highlighted various efforts that the government has been making to ensure duty-free entry of Nepali garment products into the US market and expressed hope that with the passage of a bill that provides duty-free entry of goods produced by 14 LDCs, the lost glory of the Nepali readymade garment industry will be restored.

Prashidha Pandey, president of Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed dissatisfaction over the role played by the government in promoting business relations between the US and Nepal. The achievements made in the past were nominal compared to the opportunities that exist, he said.

Pandey said that along with the renewed efforts of the government, bi-national chambers can play a bigger role in expanding business opportunities and informed the gathering that a delegation of Nepali businessmen is soon to visit the US to explore new opportunities.

Lawrence Lee Hess, deputy chief of the US mission in Nepal, said the US government is committed to promoting business relations between the two countries and expressed hope that bilateral tansactions will increase in the days to come.