Nepal for stronger global partnership for LDCs development

Nepal has urged the developed countries to fulfill their commitments and support trade and development of least developed countries (LDCs).
Speaking at a 25th special session of UNCTAD in Geneva, Shankar Bairagi, permanent representative of Nepal in Geneva said Nepal, like all LDCs would like to graduate from LDC status, and for this the support of the developed nations as well as UN bodies was important. He also urged for renewal of global partnership in order to uplift the situation of LDCs.
According to a press release, Bairagi said the UN had more special responsibilities to advance the lives of millions of people living under extreme poverty and hunger. Around more than 700 million people in 48 LDCs live under the poverty and minimum standards of basic facilities.
“International community can´t afford to remain silent when a large chunk of humanity is still grappling with dehumanizing condition of poverty and hunger,” the release quotes Bairagi as saying.
He viewed the upcoming thirteenth conference on trade and development of UNCTAD in Doha on April 21 to 26 could contribute towards renewed realization of strengthened global partnership for the development of LDCs.
“LDCs are not asking for the best of affluence; they are seeking to meet the minimum developmental standards of their people and UNCTAD has a special responsibility to assist LDCs in their development process,” he argued.

Entrepreneurs to utilize zero-duty facility

Trade and Export promotion Centre (TEPC) and Nepal Freight Forwarders´ Association (NEFFA) have agreed to develop programs to utilize the duty-free market access facility provided by European Union to the least-developed countries.
At a program organized in the capital on Tuesday, representatives from TEPC and NEFFA agreed to hold discussions for tapping the trade opportunity in the EU countries.
In the context of the Doha Development Agenda, participants stressed the need to ensure better economic integration between developing and developed countries through improved access to the markets of developed countries, NEFFA said in a press release.
The participants also urged the developed countries to simply rules of origin so that LDCs could benefit from exports trade

SEZ bill through ordinance: Minister Jha

Minister for Industry Anil Kumar Jha on Monday said the government will enact the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) bill through ordinance before the upcoming session of parliament to address investors´ concerns and promote industries.
“I have already discussed the possibility of enacting SEZ bill through ordinance before the next session of parliament with the prime minister,” said Jha.
Speaking at a program organized to discuss on draft Industrial Enterprise Act (IEA), Jha said the government was prepared to enact the law through ordinance as opposition from a faction of UCPN Maoist forced him to withdraw the bill from regular agenda during the last session of the parliament.
“SEZ bill was the top agenda of the first parliament meeting of last session. But we had to withdraw it after Chief Whip of Maoist Dev Gurung warned his party would protest it strongly and even disrupt proceeding if the bill was added in the official business list of the house,” said Jha.
Jha said the government was holding talks with major political parties to put in place SEZ Act through ordinance. “I am also planning to approach President Ram Baran Yadav in this regard.”
SEZ bill was tabled in the parliament three years ago. Initially, labor unions protested saying it does not protect labor rights. But after trade unions softened their stance, resistance from a faction of Maoist emerged.
Gurung said the bill was against the national interest and would exploit natural resources and labor rights.
Industrialists, meanwhile, requested the government to implement the IEA through ordinance. “As the next session of parliament will begin only after few months, chances of IEA being ratified do not appear anytime soon. It might also face similar dilly dallying,” said Lawmaker and President of Confederation Nepalese Industries Binod Chaudhari said.
He also urged the government to provide all the facilities promised in the new Industrial Policy through upcoming budget for fiscal year 2012/13.
Commenting on the draft IEA which Ministry of Industry circulated for wider consultation, industrialists urged the government to list major manufacturing industries in the Act itself so there were confusion over facilities and incentives they should get.
“The draft should also incorporate a provision for forming Investment Promotion Trust and Technology Development Fund, which are incorporated in the Industrial Policy,” said Hari Bhakta Sharma, vice president of CNI.
In addition to that, entrepreneurs also demanded the government to clearly define small, medium and large scale industries and make the provisions of incentives more specific for them.