Kathmandu, July 17: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to adopt a more flexible and facilitative monetary policy to boost economic growth, strengthen the stock market and promote entrepreneurship.
During a meeting with NRB Governor Dr. Bishwanath Poudel at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, PM Shah discussed measures to make the national economy more dynamic and resilient.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for closer coordination between the government and the central bank to restore confidence in the economy and encourage investment. He said the NRB should play a guardian’s role in maintaining investor confidence in the capital market and creating a stable environment for economic activities.
PM Shah also called for easing certain restrictive provisions in the monetary policy to make investment in the stock market more attractive and investor-friendly. He further urged the central bank to support entrepreneurship by creating a favourable business environment for both small and large enterprises, enabling them to establish industries and generate employment without unnecessary obstacles.
The Prime Minister said interest rate policies and lending programmes should be designed to better support businesses and productive sectors of the economy. He also emphasized the need to use monetary policy tools to encourage women entrepreneurs and individuals from economically and socially disadvantaged communities, suggesting that concessional loan facilities could help expand their participation in economic activities.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s suggestions, NRB Governor Dr. Bishwanath Poudel reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to introducing a timely and flexible monetary policy that responds to the country’s economic needs. He said the Nepal Rastra Bank would formulate policies aimed at supporting economic stability and growth, while ensuring that its decisions do not create unnecessary hardship for businesses, investors or the public. #nepal
