Kush Kumar Joshi elected 14th FNCCI president

Kush Kumar Joshi is elected 14th president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) by 120 votes as he got 1,468 votes in a neck-to-neck competition against Chandi Raj Dhakal, who got 1,348 votes.
Similarly, Krishna Prasad Tamrakar (from Districts chambers with 95 votes), Bhaskar Rajrajkarnikar (from Commodity Association with 22 votes) and Pradip Jung Pandey (from Associate members with 158 votes) were elected vice-presidents. Suraj Vaidya is elected unanimously from bi-national chambers as vice-president.
The 42nd annual general meeting of the umbrella organisation of private sector has also elected its new executive committee. Newly elected president Joshi — who was the second vice-president — after being declared the president, vowed to work unitedly towards strengthening of the FNCCI. “Security will be on top of our agenda for the time being,” he said, adding that without a business-friendly environment, industries cannot operate. He also urged the journalists to give economic news a high priority in the changed global context.
Bhawani Rana, from Nepalgunj Chambers of Commerce was elected with the highest 161 votes as an executive member from districts/municipality chambers. Similarly, Shaurav Jyoti was elected with the highest 232 votes as an executive member from associate category.
A total of 128 candidates had filed their nominations for the election of the executive committee of the apex body of the private sector. The executive committee has the representatives from district chambers, bi-national chambers, associate members and commodity associations.
The associate members have 376 votes, commodity associations have 64 votes and district chambers have 90 votes, bi-national chambers have 10 votes making it a total of 620 votes, whereas in terms of weightage the district chambers have 50 per cent, commodity associations have 20 per cent and associate members have 30 per cent.
Immediate past president Chandi Raj Dhakal congratulated all the winners and wished for their successful term in the FNCCI.
The newly elected president Joshi’s agenda was image-building as well as capacity building of private sector to compete in the current globalised economic system. He is for remodelling of public-private partnership (PPP) model for socio-economic development. Joshi — who holds an Electrical Engineering diploma from Society of Engineering, UK — is leading the 19th executive committee.


Come up with a package to boost exports: Dr Mahat
Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat — inaugurating the 42nd annual general meeting (AGM) of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) — yesterday at the BICC urged the private sector to come up with package programme to boost exports and urged labour unions to stop labour unrest for industrial revival.
He sought a concrete plan from the private sector for export promotion. "Private sector should come up with a concrete plan and package to boost exports," he said adding that except exports all other macro-economic indicators are good.
"We have comparative advantages and opportunities, though they could not be fully exploited in the transition phase," he said. "However, the successful Constituent Assembly (CA) election can guarantee investment-friendly environment making it possible for the optimum exploitation of opportunities."
"Peace should be our priority. If there is no peace, the capital will naturally fly as capital knows no borders," he said urging to stop the culture of bandh and end labour unrest for the industrial revival. "With the involvement of International Labour Organisation (ILO), the government will organise a tri-patriate dialogue between the labour unions, private sector and the government after the CA poll," Mahat said, adding that industrial revival can not only benefit the industrialists but will also generate employment and contribute to the national coffer.
"Private sector contributes about 72 per cent of the total revenue," said Chandi Raj Dhakal, incumbent president of the umbrella organisation of Nepali private sector, welcoming the participants. He said the government should create an environment where the natural resources at the remotest areas can also be exploited. "Private sector is committed to the national building as without its participation a country cannot develop," he added.
Diwakar Golchha, first vice-president of the FNCCI said that the government should promote Public-Private-Partnership model. The finance minister honoured five industrialists — Late Mohan Gopal Khetan, Late Hulash Chandra Golchha, Late Gopal Rajbhandari and Late Raj Bahadur Chipalu — posthumously.
Though Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate the AGM, he could not make it due to his health.