Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has announced that the situation of the private sector having to pay bribes for work, standing in queues for administrative hassles and being imprisoned like a criminal offense will end. During a meeting with the representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on Monday, Finance Minister Wagle expressed the commitment that the government would become a companion rather than an obstacle to the private sector.
Stating that he would give top priority to good governance during his tenure, Dr Wagle said, “I have not come here to take bribe and I will not allow anyone to eat.” I have come to steer the ship of economy in the right direction and give a new impetus to the country. He made it clear that the private sector would not be harassed under any pretext.
Responding to the demand of businessmen not to be imprisoned for a long time, the Finance Minister said that the government would now adopt the policy of financial penalty in case of financial dishonesty. Now the industrialists and businessmen do not have to be detained for petty technical or economic issues, we will change the form of punishment,” he said.
The Finance Minister also urged the industrialists to focus on nation building by increasing investment and employment. He said that while the government considers the private sector as a friend and partner, equal honesty is expected from the private sector as well.
“We believe that the private sector will not be dishonest when it becomes a friend of the state,” Minister Wagle warned. During the meeting, the industrialists demanded to remove the existing economic slowdown and policy ambiguity, while Minister Wagle assured that a new era of economic reforms would begin in the country.
