New budget soon: Dr Bhattarai

Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday said that the government would bring out a new people-oriented budget in the nearest future. Talking to a delegation from Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), Dr Bhattarai said that the current focus of the new government was to bridge the impasse existing between the people and the State.

He also tagged peace and development as two sides of the same coin, and committed that Nepalis would soon feel a sense of security and peace in the country, NCC said in a statement Tuesday.

According to the NCC statement, Dr Bhattarai said that public-private partnerships would form the basis of government's new economic policy. The statement said that the new finance minister assured that the government would continue with the good aspects of governance and focus on breaking the cycle of bad practices.

NCC President Surendra Bir Malakar, meanwhile, urged Dr Bhattarai to come up with private-sector oriented policies and programs to facilitate stronger economic growth and accomplish economic advancements.

He stated that improving industrial security and securing the already present investments were very crucial to lure more investment from domestic private players as well as overseas investors.

Malakar also pinpointed hydropower, tourism, agriculture and mining as potential areas of economic activities that can change the economic outlook of the country for the better. "However, the government must put and end to bandas, highway blockades, strikes and unfair practices like syndicates and cartels to give the private sector a smooth operational and level playing field," Malakar was quoted as saying.

Among others, the business leaders also urged the government to seriously implement its common minimum program.
Source: eKantipur