FNCCI urges CPN-UML to incorporate economic agendas in poll manifesto

THE Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has urged CPN-UML leaders to include the “common economic agendas” in the party’s election manifesto, prioritising employment and economic prosperity. The country’s apex business body had also made a similar request to the Nepali Congress (NC) three weeks ago. It plans to hold similar meetings will all major political parties, pleading them to put economic development at heart of their election manifestos. An FNCCI team, which was on Friday summoned at the party’s headquarters for their inputs to be incorporated in the manifesto, urged the UML leadership to prepare the party’s manifesto with focus on addressing unemployment, trade deficit, energy crisis, unequal development, weak infrastructure and corruption. “More than 415,818 youth left the country for foreign employment in last fiscal year alone. Migration of youth for foreign employment has caused scarcity of potential and trained manpower for industries, while agriculture development is weaker than ever,” states the 16-page FNCCI suggestion letter handed over to the party. The letter also includes short- and long-term strategies for development. The FNCCI urged the party to complete the 900-MW Upper Karnali Hydro Project in the Midwestern region; 750-MW West Seti Hydro Project in the Far-west; 600- MW Budhi Gandaki and 900-MW Upper Tamakoshi in the central region; 600-MW Upper Marsyangi Hydro project, Lower 400-MW Tarun, and 415-MW Upper Tamor Hydro projects in the Eastern region. FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya said the UML “seemed to be serious” on economic development and creation of an investmentfriendly environment. “To much relief for the private sector, UML leaders convinced that the scheduled polls will be held on November 19, and they will also fix a date of the budget presentation,” he said. UML Standing Committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari said: “We have taken their concerns seriously and will do our best to incorporate them in our election manifesto and implement in future.” With the CA polls on the horizon, FNCCI has begun homework to convince political parties to include the private sector’s agendas in their election manifestos. In a rare gesture of political unity, top leaders of seven political parties had recently expressed their commitment to the country’s hydropower development and decided not to hinder work on any hydel projects. The political parties had made such a commitment on April 11 at the initiative of the FNCCI. “The political parties have committed promoting the economic agendas a number of times in the past,” said an FNCCI vice president. “This time, we want their commitments to be mentioned in their manifestos.”