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Fri, April 26, 2024

Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 kicks off in Kathmandu

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KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has organised the Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu. The five-day event that kicked off today has over 150 stalls displaying various types of products manufactured in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries. [caption id="attachment_36637" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Sharat Singh Bhandari, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, inaugurates Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 organised by Nepal Chamber of Commerce, at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo: Media9/Rupesh Maharjan[/caption] The exhibition was inaugurated by Sharat Singh Bhandari, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, who was also the chief guest of the event. During his address, he extended wishes on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who could not attend the programme due to his busy schedule. Minister Bhandari mentioned that the country was facing problems due to the instability in the government. However, he stated that others will not come and solve the problem, hence we need to diagnose and resolve the various issues being faced by the country. Bhandari stated that the government is always willing to help the private sector and urged private sector representatives to apprise the government of the steps that could be taken to develop the economy. He added that the country's economy was in the doldrums and all stakeholders must collaborate to strengthen the economy. The minister said the government will also aggressively look for markets for domestic products. Minister Bhandari also lamented that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has not been as active as it should have been. Most of the conversations that take place in the ministry are related to foreign employment rather than domestic employment, he said. "There are times when I feel we should rename the ministry to Ministry of Foreign Employment," he mentioned. He stated the government had established Employment Service Centre under the Prime Minister Employment Programme at all the local levels to create more employment opportunities within the country. Regarding migrant workers, Bhandari said it would be good for the country if such workers learnt various skills while being employed abroad and returned to utilise that knowledge in Nepal. "Most of the youths at present have a dream of going abroad at least once in their lifetime, so it is time we all came together to seek ways to retain the youths in the country," he said. [caption id="attachment_36636" align="alignnone" width="1000"]Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Rajendra Malla delivers welcome speech at the inauguration of Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 at Bhrikutimandap, kathmandu, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo: Media9/Rupesh Maharjan Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Rajendra Malla delivers a welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony of Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo: Media9/Rupesh Maharjan[/caption] During the welcome address, NCC President Rajendra Malla said the exhibition was being organised by the chamber to promote business activities. It was also to make foreign investors aware of Nepali products. The expo will have stalls displaying and selling a wide range of products from automobiles to handicraft items, he shared. "However, I would like to urge the government to streamline the customs process for goods that are brought into the country by international companies for such exhibitions," he said. He added that the country was facing a deficit because production has been declining but consumption has been increasing. Malla further stated that since economic activities have declined in Nepal, employment generation is limited, as a result of which people are going abroad for employment. "We need to focus on areas that will help in import substitution and also ease the process to bring in foreign direct investment," he stated. He also stressed the need to utilise domestic raw materials and the need for the customs offices to be transparent and more efficient to help the export-import sector. [caption id="attachment_36634" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, speaks at the inaugural ceremony of Nepal Chamber Expo 2023 organised by Nepal Chamber of Commerce, at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo: Media9/Rupesh Maharjan[/caption] Meanwhile, Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, who was also the special guest of the event, said that there is a need to increase economic activities in the country. "More economic activities mean more demand which in turn will give rise to more industries which consequently will help increase employment generation," he shared. He mentioned that such exhibitions are important because it helps businesses connect with one another which will further lead to exchange of technology, skills and ideas. The sixth edition of the Nepal Chamber Expo will conclude on May 22. READ ALSO:
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MARCH 2024

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