Three dozen recommended for CIP honour

Some three dozen entrepreneurs and business organisations have been recommended for the Commercially Important Person (CIP) honour for their contribution to the economy and commercial sector.

The list of 35 foreign and national exporters, importers, investors, employers and entrepreneurs has been selected on the basis of transactions made in the last two fiscal years 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The honour — that includes VIP facilities at Tribhuwan International Airport and other privileges — is awarded every two years by the government to encourage entrepreneurs to contribute to the economy.

Nepal Telecom has been recommended for its contribution as the largest tax payer; IME for channelling the highest amount of remittance at Rs 123.11 billion into the country; Sita World Travels for bringing the highest number of tourists from third countries; Hotel Hyatt Regency for earning the largest foreign currency through the tourism sector; largest employer Arihant Multi Fibers; largest investor of manufacturing industry under operation Jagdamba Steel Industries; top two importers of Nepali goods in China — Tibet Yintao Trading Company of Khasa and Shanghai Hengna — two importers of Nepali goods in India — Dabur India and Bhushan Power and Steel — five largest exporters-industrialists — Paramount Carpet Industries, Nepal Fashion, Everest Pashmina Knit & Weaving Industries, Tribeni Dal & Oil Industries and Asian Leather Industries — based on the amount of goods exported to third countries; Aarti Strips and Dabur Nepal as top two exporters-industrialists based on the amount exported to India have been recommended for the honour.

Likewise, presidents of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) for their contribution in promoting export and commercial sectors; presidents of top three commodities associations — Nepal Carpet Exporters' Association, Garment Association-Nepal (GAN) and Nepal Pashmina Industries Association — for their largest share in third country exports, apart from Federation of Nepalese Handicrafts and Federation of Nepalese Women Entrepreneurs have also been recommended for the CIP honour.

Similarly, five largest importers — Wissenbach GMBH & Co KG, Germany; The Bonton Stores Inc, USA; Lentils-Rokeya, Bangladesh; Oto Gmbh, Germany and Derma SRL, Italy — of Nepali goods in third countries based on the amount of goods exported have also been recommended for the honour.

However, the government will not award the CIP to any person or business blacklisted by any of the government authorities; blacklisted by Credit Information Bureau (CIB) as a defaulter of any bank or financial institution; of bad moral and convicted by the court; convicted of corruption and financial irregularities and tax defaulter till the previous year, at the time of awarding the CIP.