Kathmandu, Oct 17: The 11th Global Conference of the Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), the NRNA General Assembly and the Third NRN Global Knowledge Conference has commenced in the federal capital Kathmandu from today.
Inaugurating the Conference with the slogan, ‘Knowledge and Transformation: The Foundation of Prosperity’, President Ramchandra Paudel said the NRNA has a crucial role to unite the Nepalis scattered throughout the globe. The Head of the State said in whichever corner of the world they are, all the NRNs are Nepalis.
Stating that it has been late for the nation to catch the path of economic prosperity after the political change, he said the topic of economic prosperity have relegated in shadow due to the persistence of the transition period for long.
According to the President, although the country has seen administrative restructuring, the governance style has not still changed.
“There are big investment opportunities in the tourism, infrastructure, information and communication sectors in Nepal. We have large market in our neighbourhood. I urge you to utilize this immense possibility of investment in Nepal,” President Paudel said.
On the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud urged the NRNs to collaborate in fulfilling Nepal’s goal of economic prosperity. “There is paucity of source of investment in Nepal. The government will provide you concession when you invest in Nepal,” he said, adding that the NRNs shall be provided economic, social and cultural citizenship.
Noting that the government wanted to partner with NRNA for expanding the access of Nepali goods and services in the global market, Minister Saud said the diaspora should move ahead in a strong manner for knowledge transfer, youth mobilization and women empowerment. He stated that every Nepali living abroad is an honorary ambassador of Nepal.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal urged the NRNs to invest in the projects in Nepal. “Let us revise them if there are any old complex policy and legal structures coming on the way of investment in Nepal. Let us look for possibilities and create an environment for job creation within Nepal itself,” he said.
UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said remittance has played a big role in building the local economy in Nepal. She suggested to the NRNs to increase their investment in Nepal for fulfilling the developmental needs of the country.
Founder president of NRNA Upendra Mahato opined that the support and cooperation from abroad would be forthcoming only if the Nepali citizens come together for the country’s economic development and prosperity.
“There is lack of commitment for the nation’s development. We have failed to make the most of our capacity despite having adequate capacity for the same. The nation does not become prosperous until the citizens themselves join hands for developing their country,” he added.
NRNA Executive Chair Dr Badri KC said the Nepalis living in foreign land have some problems and suggested that such problems could be addressed through the coordination of the government. He informed that 30,000 Nepalis were working in Iraq, a country with which Nepal does not have reached labour agreement, while women workers were reaching Kuwait through illegal route.
According to him, although the investment climate in Nepal was not easy in the past, it is gradually becoming easier at present. He expected huge investment from the Nepalis living and working abroad with the establishment of a joint investment company of the government and the NRNA.
NRNA ICC chairperson Rabina Thapa underscored the need of making maximum efforts for linking the Nepalis in foreign land with their homeland.
NRNA president Kul Acharya thanked the government for making arrangement for providing the NRN citizenship to the NRNs and also the social security fund. He also called for providing voting rights to the NRNs.
Pointing out that the Nepalis spread across the globe could be the true partners in Nepal’s development, he cautioned all not to amass wealth abroad by selling ‘Nepal’s soil’ or their properties in Nepal.
