CNI discusses economic issues with proposed ambassadors

KATHMANDU: Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) held discussions with the proposed ambassadors on economic issues on Monday.

During the discussion, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal urged the proposed Nepali ambassadors to prioritise the expansion of economic relations. He emphasised that ambassadors should play a crucial role in connecting investors from their respective countries with Nepal, keeping economic diplomacy as a top priority.

Agrawal highlighted the need to formulate a country-specific economic strategy to promote investment and exports, and to appoint a ‘focal contact person’ in all Nepali embassies for foreign and domestic investors. Citing global examples, he noted that economic relations with any country are more stable and stronger than political relations, and that the country can be branded through business.

He expressed confidence that Nepal’s ‘country rating’ has been completed and that it can help attract investment in necessary sectors, given its favourable rating. Agrawal also mentioned that as Nepal graduates to middle-income country status in 2026, the facilities it currently receives should not be reduced, and preferential trade arrangement (PTA) should be signed considering Nepal’s interests. 

CNI also emphasised the need to focus on promoting Nepali goods, tourism, IT, industry, hydropower, and infrastructure to reduce the high trade deficit.

Acting Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Amrit Bahadur Rai, stated that ambassadors, as representatives of the country, will promote Nepali goods and provide necessary facilitation to Nepali businesses. He urged the Nepali business sector to establish contacts with investors in respective countries and focus on facilitating the export of Nepali goods and services.

Proposed Nepali ambassadors, including Shankar Sharma, Sewa Lamsal, Chitralekha Yadav, Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Sumnima Tuladhar, Jang Bahadur Chauhan, Kapil Man Shrestha, Prakash Mani Paudel, Shiva Maya Tumbahangfe, Purna Bahadur Nepali, and Netra Prasad Timsina, committed to working as representatives of the country in the interest of Nepal and Nepalis. They stated that economic diplomacy should be central to their roles and pledged to provide necessary facilitation to the Nepali private sector for economic development.

Former CNI President Hari Bhakta Sharma, Senior Vice President Birendra Raj Pandey, Vice Presidents Hem Raj Dhakal, Rohit Gupta, Amit More, CNI Governing Council members Shashi Kant Agrawal, Bal Krishna Shrestha, and Director General Ghanashyam Ojha were also present at the meeting.