आगामी दशकमा थपिएलान् अर्बपति ?

हालै सार्वजनिक एक तथ्यांकअनुसार नेपालको उत्तरी छिमेकी चीनमा अबको एक दशकमा ४४८ जना नयाँ अर्बपति बन्ने छन् भने दक्षिणी छिमेकी २३८ अर्बपति थपिने छन् । विश्वका दुई ठूला आर्थिक केन्द्र कम्युनिष्ट राष्ट्र चीन तथा प्रजातान्त्रिक मुलुक भारतको बीचमा रहेको नेपालमा भने औपचारिकरूपमा घोषित डलर अर्बपति एक दशकदेखि एक जनामात्र छन् ।
के अर्को एक दशकमा नेपालमा अर्बपतिको संख्या थपिन्छ त ? यसको लागि नेपालमा व्यवासाय गर्ने वातावरण कस्तो छ भन्ने प्रश्न अहम् हुन्छ । उद्योगपति डा. रूपज्योतिका अनुसार नेपालमा उद्योग व्यवासाय गर्ने वातावरण असहज हुँदै गएको हो कि जस्तो देखिन्छ । केही दिनअघि कारोबारसँग कुरा गर्दै उनले राज्य संयन्त्र प्रयोग गरेर केही विचौलियाले जबर्जस्ती पैसा असुल्ने धन्दा कसरी चलाइरहका छन् भन्ने वर्णन पनि गरे । उनको गिरफ्तारी तथा यससम्बन्धी घटनाले उद्यौगी व्यवसायीमा ठूलै त्रास सिर्जना गरेको छ ।
अर्थात् व्यवसाय गरेर कानुनी रूपमा रोजगारी सिर्जना गरेर तथा सरकारलाई कर तिरेरमात्र नेपालमा व्यवसाय गर्न सम्भव छैन भन्ने सन्देशले नयाँ उद्योगपति जन्माउँदैन । नयाँ उद्योग, नयाँ उद्यमी तथा नयाँ अर्बपति नजन्मनु भनेको नेपालको संविधानले उल्लेख गरेको समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र बन्ने बाटोका ठूला तगारा हुन् । सरकारले बेलैमा यस्ता तगारा नहटाए आगामी दशकमा पनि नेपालमा नयाँ अर्बपति जन्मन गाह्रो छ ।
त्यसैले नेपाल समृद्ध बन्न तथा अर्बपतिको देश बन्न सर्वप्रथमतः नेपालका सबै राजनीतिक दलले अर्थतन्त्र र निजीक्षेत्रको बारेमा आफनो भाष्य बदल्नु आवश्यक छ । अर्थतन्त्र जति अनौपचारिक हुन्छ, राजनीतिक दललाई आफ्नो पसल चलाउन त सहज होल तर देश समृद्ध भने हुदैन । अर्थतन्त्र जति औपचारिकीकरण हुदै जान्छ, व्यावसायिकता बढ्दै जान्छ अनिमात्र देश वास्तवमै समृद्ध हुन्छ र समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र निर्माणको जग बस्दछ ।
नेपाल लिटरेचर फेष्टिबल पोखरामा आइतबार बोल्दै नेपालका एकमात्र अर्बपति विनोद चौधरीले भने, “नेपालमा व्यवासायीभन्दा अन्य विधामा धेरै धनीहरू छन् ।” उनको भनाइको अन्तर्य बुझेर कार्यक्रम हलमा ताली र हाँसो गुन्जियो । यसको तात्पर्य नेपालमा अनौपचारिक अर्थतन्त्रका कारण व्यावसायीभन्दा अन्य पेशामा संलग्नहरूसँगै धनको संग्रह भएको छ । सबैलाई थाहा छ । बिना कुनै निश्चित आयस्रोत केही पेशा तथा वर्गमा धनको संग्रह हुनु अर्थतन्त्रको लागि घातक त हो नै, कालान्तरमा देशकै लागि पनि घातक हो ।
भलै कुनै पनि देशको अर्बपतिको संख्याले त्यस देशको धनी र गरिब बिचको खाडल तथा आय असमानतका कुरालाई सम्बोधन नगर्ला तर यसबाट त्यस देशमा ब्यवसाय गर्ने वातावरण छ भन्ने बुझिन्छ । जब अनौपचारिक तवरले घुसखोरीजस्ता कृयाकलापबाट ब्यवसाय गर्न बाध्य बनाइन्छ तब कुनै पनि देशमा ब्यवासायीक वातावरण बन्दैन र त्यो देश समृद्ध पनि हुदैन । त्यसपछि कुनै ब्यवासायी अर्बपति बन्ने त कुरै भएन ।
नेपालजस्ता गरिब देशमा ब्यवासायीभन्दा अन्य पेशाका ब्यक्ति धनी हुनु भनेकै अनौपचारिक अर्थतन्त्र बढेर हो । यसमा नेपाली राजनीतिक दलहरूको किन पनि कुनै दोष छैन भने नेपाली राजनीतिक दलहरूको स्थापना नागरिक हक अधिकार तथा राजनीतिक स्वतन्त्रताको लडाइँको लागि भएको हो । तर अब समय परिवर्तन भइसकेको छ । नेपाली राजनीतिक दलहरू स्थापनाको अभिष्ट सकिइसकेको छ । त्यसैले नेपाली राजनीतिक दलले अर्थतन्त्र र निजीक्षेत्रको बारेमा आफनो भाष्य बदल्नु आवश्यक छ । निजी क्षेत्र अर्थात् सबै व्यापारी, उद्यमी तथा उद्योगपति कालाबजारी, सबै कर्मचारी भ्रष्टाचारी भन्ने तर राजनीतिक दलका नेताले अदृश्य सम्पत्ति थुपार्ने मानसिकताले चुनाव त जितिएला तर लोकतन्त्र हार्छ, संघीयता हार्छ, समाजवाद हार्छ र अन्त्यमा देश नै हार्छ ।
त्यसैले आगामी दशकमा सरकारको पहिलो प्रमुख चुनौती भनेकै नेपालमा उद्योग खोल्नु भनेको पाप गर्नु हो, बिना कुनै उद्यम विचौलिया बनेर खानु भनेको गौरवको कुरा हो भन्ने संस्कार परिवर्तन गर्नु हो । दोस्रो चुनौती कारोबार थालनी गर्नलाई नेपालमा सहज वातावरण छ भन्ने निजीक्षेत्रलाई महशुस गराउनु हो । हुनत विश्व बैंकले तयार पारेको ‘डुइङ बिजनेस–२०२०’ सूचीमा नेपालले गत वर्षभन्दा ठूलै फड्को मारेर विश्वका १९० मुलुकमध्ये ९४औं स्थानमा रहेको छ ।
तर, त्यसको महशुस निजीक्षेत्रले गर्न सकेमात्र लगानी बढ्छ । लगानी बढेमात्र सन् २०३० सम्म नेपालले भेट्नु पर्ने दीगो विकास लक्ष्यको लागि पनि लगानी गर्दछ । किनकी सरकारको मात्र लगानीले यी लक्ष्य भेट्न नसकिने प्रष्ट छ । साथै, नेपाल आगामी दशकमा मध्यम आयको मुलुक बन्न तथा उत्तर तथा दक्षिणका छिमेकीमा जस्तै गर्वका साथ धेरै अर्बपति बनाउन पनि सरकारले विचौलिया समाजवादको मार्ग छोड्न आवश्यक छ ।

Binod Chaudhary felicitated in Bangladesh

Political stability in the country is a must to accelerating economic growth in South Asian countries, Chaudhary Group president and the first Forbes-listed billionaire of the country Binod Chaudhary said speaking at a felicitation programme hosted by International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh in Dhaka today.
“Small countries still find it very difficult to deal with each other,” he said, adding that dealing with India is easy. “But it is not easy for one small nation to deal with another like Nepal dealing with Bangladesh and Bangladesh with other smaller nations continues to be a challenge.”
Chaudhary, on the occasion, lamented power crisis in Nepal and its compulsion to import power from India. “We are still struggling,” Chaudhari, said. “We can light up the whole of India, given the hydro power resources of Nepal.”
But today Nepal is a net importer of power due to the lack of sense of economy in the mainstream politics.
 He also appealed businessmen of SAARC to join politics as he feels politics revolve around economy at the centre.

“We are proud to honour Binod Chaudhary,” said president of the chamber Mahbubur Rahman. “The only unexplored area for business is the Antarctica and I am sure it will not be long before he ventures there as well," he added.
Chaudhary was in Dhaka recently to participate in fourth Social Business Day 2013 organised by Yunus Center on June 28 that witnessed over 150 guests from 30 countries.

Wai Wai, dream and a ruthless, shrewd businessman

The journey of a businessman from New Road in Kathmandu to New York in the USA, ‘Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha’ – autobiography of Binod Chaudhary – gives different readers a different taste.
Going through autobiography, readers not only get to know the industrialist Binod Chaudhary and his struggles and success but also political and economic development of the country from the 60’s to the present date.
Reading the ups and downs of a successful industrialist will definitely inspire the younger generation but more than that it will also teach them how can one achieve success in life.
The book describes how Chaudhary continued his journey step by step, from the first fashion boutique to Copper Floor Disco, to multinational hotel chains.
His affiliation with royal palace, politics, politicians, music and his hobby, which almost killed him, of bikes reflect a boy next door image behind a ‘ruthless and shroud businessman’.
Though, the book revolves mostly around relationships between business and politics, it also has reflected the last six decades and country’s changing consumerism to rising private sector’s lead in policy level.
Chaudhary describes the story of Wai Wai – his flagship noodles brand – that according to him was one of the key turning points of his business plan – is one of the lessons to be learnt from going through the book as most of the readers might not know the story behind the starting of Wai Wai – that changed the today’s eating habit – in Nepal.
Chaudhary dared to dream and turn his dream into reality too. From Arun Emporium (1968) to Chaudhary Investments, Himalayan Intercontinental to Chaudhary Foundation, CG Education, CG Finco, Hospitality, Energy and Infrastructure to Financial Services to Telecom and recent agreement with Grammen Bank of Bangladesh for Social Business Fund, he has left not a single sector untouched.
The readers might not believe every word in an autobiography because sometimes autobiographies turn into self praise. But Chaudhary has also tried to clarify from his side on certain issues that he was involved in, may it be Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) politics and establishment of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), or his relationships with the royals, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML or deal of Nabil Bank, Mahalaxmi Sugar Mills or the latest controversy of VAT scam.
The book is also a nice read to know how an industrialist turns his failures into a steeping stones and how one major turning point changes the whole universe of business and leads to corporatisation of Bhuramal Lunkarandas Chaudhary to Chaudhary Group and establishment of Ganga Devi Chaudhray Uddhyog Gram, the model Special Economic Zone of the private sector.
Some claim autobiographies could not be true, others take it as a lesson and inspiration but Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha, is the first of its kind of book in our part of the world that is completely obsessed with politicians and politics and feels ashamed of talking of money, though everyone dreams of becoming rich over night.
Some of the readers might feel that the book is filled with much self praise, whereas others might take it as an inspiration. But as Chaudhary himself claims, he wants everything in his one life, not sacrifice something for the other. May be that’s why he is ‘ruthless and shrewd businessman’.

BOOK REVIEW
BOOK: Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha (An autobiography of Binod Chaudhary)
AUTHOR: Sudeep Shrestha and Binod Chaudhary
PUBLISHER: Nepa-laya
PAGES: 327
PRICE: Rs 395

Private sector loses its patron

Nepal lost the leader, who believed in democratic socialism, the role and capacity of private sector and the industrialisation of the country. Under late Girija Prasad Koirala's leadership during the early 90s, the country took major policy decisions that brought sweeping changes in the economy.

"The economy is surviving even today due to decisions that were taken under his leadership post-1990," according to former finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, who worked under him at different times and in different capacity.

Post-1990, the country not only saw multiparty democracy, the national economy also saw liberalisation. His government encouraged the private sector and the economy began to take off. Nepal implemented extensive reforms under his leadership to facilitate its integration with the global economy. Though the favourable initial effect of liberalisation on economic growth could not be sustained and inequality in distribution of income has continued to rise, the country saw many industries flourish post-1990.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Kush Kumar Joshi said that foreign investment policy was brought by Koirala's government. "He was instrumental in bringing a foreign investment policy," he said.

Joshi remembers Koirala as a leader who always lent his ear to the private sector. "He always reacted spontaniously when the private sector approached him for his help," he said adding, "Koirala always fought for democracy. His post-1990 movement established democracy and brought about economic liberalisation."

Binod Chaudhary, president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, reminisced, "When late Koirala became the PM, I was FNCCI vice-president. He totally trusted us and relied on us as we worked closely with his government in transforming Nepal's economy from controlled to liberal. Tremendous changes took place then which resulted in higher-ever growth, close to nine per cent, doubling of exports and revenue.

"History will see him as a leader who played a crucial role in opening up the economy by supporting the private sector and taking the economy to an unprecedented height," he added.

Industrialist Rajendra Khetan thinks that the economic liberalisation policy brought by his government helped boost the private sector especially banking, insurance, airlines, telecom and the media.

"Nepal entered the modern economic era under his leadership," he added.

"Koirala ended the licence-Raj and liberalised the economy," remembers Diwakar Golchha. "He brought various policy changes during his tenure as Prime Minister," he said adding that Koirala played a key role in the Nepal-India Trade Treaty that opened the door for Indian investment in Nepal. "Koirala was serious about bringing about an economic revolution through industrialisation," Golchha said.

Brought up in the industrial capital of Nepal -- Biratnagar -- Girija Prasad Koirala knew how the economy worked and was aware of the importance of industrialisation.

"He had strong faith in the capacity of the private sector and under his leadership post-1990 Nepal saw sweeping changes in its economy," recalled Mahat.

It is no surprise then that a man, who started his political career from Biratnagar Jute Factory as a trade union leader in 1947-48, always stood for a market-oriented economy and social justice.

"To him, socialism meant roads where there were no roads, drinking water where there was no drinking water and employment where there was no employment," he said adding that Koirala gave subordinates a free hand in implementing liberal economic policies.

Though various political parties came to power, the successive governments after Koirala's government followed his policy of economic liberalisation. They all understood that Nepal should find a way of translating its integration with the global economy into higher growth and sustainable development by carrying out complementary policies to enhance supply elasticities and offset some of the adverse outcomes by cooperative action in partnership with its South Asian neighbours.

Industries closed

KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to close all industries throughout the country on Sunday to honour late Girija Prasad Koirala. It also conveyed its condolences at the demise of former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Koirala. Issuing a press statement, the umbrella organisation of Nepali private sector said, "FNCCI will always remember late Koirala as the leader of historical revolutions -- the people's movement of 1990 and 2006 as well as his role as the father of market economy in Nepal. The Nepali private sector cannot forget his contribution to the peace process and liberalisation of the economy that led the country towards prosperity. The duty of promulgation of constitution and making Nepal a prosperous country has shifted to other leaders," it said.

Binod Chaudhary becomes president for third time

Binod Kumar Chaudhary has been elected president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) for the third time. CNI also elected five vice-presidents and a six-member governing council today. It will hold its sixth annual general meeting (AGM) tomorrow.

"At a time when industrial environment is worsening, entrepreneurs are being targetted and their morale is down, CNI's sixth AGM will send a positive message," said Chaudhary, who is also a CA member. He added that the new CNI committee would contribute to the industrial revolution in the country.

Along with Chaudhary, the governing council has Chiranjilal Agrawal, Bijay Kumar Shah, Shreedhar Prasad Acharya, Tolaram Dugar and Tekchandra Pokharel. The five vice-presidnts are Narendra Kumar Basnyat, Birendra Kumar Shanghai, Haribhakta Sharma, Anuj Agrawal and Anand Bagaria while Anil Shah, Rajendra Aryal, Gunchandra Bista and Hemant Golchha among others are members.

Barsha Shrestha will lead WEF and Dipendra Tandon will lead YEF while Upendra Poudyal and Mahesh Kumar Lohiya are in CNI's national council.