Kathmandu, April 28: President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, has stressed that Nepal cannot achieve import substitution without strong infrastructure development, urging the government to prioritise the sector.
Speaking at a programme welcoming newly elected officials of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, Agrawal called for long-term planning focused on roads, energy, water resources, urban development, and industrial infrastructure.
He also highlighted persistent delays in payments to contractors, warning that such issues are hampering project progress. “Just as the government ensures timely payment of salaries to employees, contractors contributing to national infrastructure should also be paid on time,” he said.
At the event, newly elected President of the Federation, Nicholas Pandey, emphasised that strengthening the construction sector is crucial, as infrastructure forms the backbone of economic growth in developing countries. However, he noted growing frustration among entrepreneurs due to what he described as an unsupportive government approach toward the private sector.
Pandey urged authorities to address key challenges facing contractors, including delayed payments, complex administrative procedures, and rising project costs.
Similarly, NCC Senior Vice President Dipak Kumar Malhotra underscored the importance of public-private collaboration, stating that economic growth targets can be achieved more effectively if the government works closely with the private sector. #Nepal #economy
