Nepali Economics
By Prajwal Shrestha
The Confederation of Nepali Industries (CNI) under the government-private sector partnership, has decided to launch the “Make in Nepal” campaign by encouraging locally manufactured products.
The influential organization of the private sector entrepreneurs has become active in exploring the make in Nepal campaign, therefore, we can hope for the success of the campaign.
The make in Nepal campaign is very much important for Nepal at a time when the nation is facing an alarming level of loss on its foreign trade. Due to the government negligence and non-cooperation to the national industries, our economy has been converted into an import-based economy. The government, even to manage the matching fund for any national project, is relying on the revenue generated through the imports customs. In reality, the government’s economy should have been relayed on the revenue generated from the excise duty on the local production. Unless the government will not give priority to the make in Nepal campaign, we cannot expect positive development of our economy. For this, the government should encourage local entrepreneurs for establishing manufacturing industries with the priority of substituting imports. The government should become ready to provide facilities to the local industries. In the meantime, the government should develop a policy of using locally manufactured products. The government is encouraging the establishment of vehicle assembling industries. Nepal is a small market for investors. Therefore, the government should ensure for purchasing the locally assembled vehicles in the government offices. In the meantime, there should be feeling and pride in raiding locally produced vehicles among the consumers.
Jumla is a remote district in Nepal and the government is supplying food for the people in Jumla at a subsidized price. In this way, it has made the Jumla people solely dependent on the government. Radi-Pakhi is the popular product of Jumla. If all the government offices compulsorily purchase the Radi-Pakhi manufactured by the locals in Jumla, it will be a great support for the upliftment of their economy making them self reliant. If the government will give a subsidy on transportation of the carpet manufactured in Jumla, it could be developed as a hub for carpet manufacture. Also, if the government would provide a transportation subsidy on the apple grown in Jumla, the Jumla people will become self-reliant on the economy. Instead, the government is distributing rice at a subsidized rate making them more and more dependent on the government.
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