नया समाचार

KATHMANDU: A 10-member delegation of the European Parliament led by Jean Lambert met with the leading businessmen and industrialists affiliated with the European Economic Chamber of Trade Commerce and Industry (EEC) – Nepal yesterday evening.

During the meeting held exclusively with EEC-Nepal, members of the European Parliament delegation concentrated their concerns on increased socio-economic difficulties and political crisis in Nepal .

During the discussion, Jean Lambert, team leader of the European Parliament (EP) delegation representing Great Britain showed concerns related to political situation, constituent assembly, climate change and development perspectives in a changed socio-economic environment globally.

President of EEC-Nepal, Dibya Mani Rajbandhari spoke about Nepal’s situation in private sector prospective stressing that, “we indigenous people tried our best to be independent despite political upheavals at times occurred in Nepal. “Our first priority is for peace stability to enhance economic prosperity. We have tremendous scope for investment in the areas of infrastructure, hydropower, renewable energy and other exportable products,” he told the visiting EU team.

“If peace is restored, it can work wonder for Nepal where exportable products like garment, carpet and handicraft can acquire better access to European countries,” he added.

In German market, SMEs do hold a great scope for which we are ready for moving jointly.

“We are also serious in chamber-to-chamber cooperation, networking, quality control, proper inspection, human resource development, capacity development, among others.”

Members of the European Parliament (EP) spoke about the role of private sector in economic upliftment, attraction of foreign direct investment coupled with political stability.

“They said that Nepal has a huge labour force. More trained labour is far better including proper enforcement of ‘law and order’ and regulatory frameworks for enhancing productivity,” Rajbhandari said.

He also urged the European Parliament members to encourage European Development Banks to invest/provide soft loan for industrial development activities in Nepal . He stressed that Nepal was looking for TRADE than AID.

“We are really looking for capacity building, institutional development and market access for Nepali products with the increased globalisation,” added Rajbhandari.

Nepali businessmen present at the function said that they are helping disadvantaged population greatly for their survival and economic empowerment.

“The country is potential for increasing the presence of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that provides huge employment and contributes greatly to gross domestic product (GDP). If foreign investments come to Nepal , it would create job opportunities in the market” they added.

Jean Lambert, team leader winding up the programme suggested that Nepal holds tremendous opportunity in terms of foreign investment. Market access is also one for which the European Parliament delegation would take up, assured Lambert.

She added that political and policy stability along with sound legal structure would be the back bone for creating sound business atmosphere in any country.

Lambert further added that she would look into Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Certificate of Origin Form A as per the suggestion made by the Nepali delegation. The GSP is a formal system of exemption from the more general rules of the World Trade Organisation. Specifically, it’s a system of exemption from the most favoured nation principle that obligates WTO member countries to treat imports of WTO members.