Urge to focus on economic agenda

The country can be developed in five years, if the parties can create investment-friendly environment, according to the former finance ministers.

Committing that they would help create investment-friendly environment, they said that they would help promote economic agenda.

"The political parties should now focus on economic discourse," said former finance minister and Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat in an interaction here today.

"The parties should focus on economic agenda," he said, adding that the economy has worsened due to bandh, strike and labour trouble. "Nepal will be developed if it can achieve seven per cent economic growth."

However, stable government is key to attract investment that can propel economic growth, he added. "The parties have started new dispute over Constitution amendment, which will distract investors."

If the parties continue to go against the people's mandate, the investors will not find it conducive environment to invest, Mahat said.

Likewise, former finance minister and CPN-UML leader Surndra Pandey, also agreed that there is not much difference in the economic agendas of the political parties. "If the parties unite and focus on economic agenda, the country can be developed in five years," he said, adding that they all agree on economic development but they need to walk the talk.

Another former finance minister and Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, on the occasion, stressed on the implementation of economic agenda that can help develop the country. "Though there is not much difference – among the parties – in the concept of economic development, their behivour has, however, pushed the economy to backstage," he said.