Gandaki, Dec 19: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has laid emphasis on the need of expanding domestic and foreign investment in the areas of infrastructure development and service expansion. Inaugurating the ‘Fewa Dialogue’ in Pokhara today, the former President shared that revenue collection should be increased through domestic production by expanding areas of foreign and domestic investment.
The programme is jointly organized by Tribhuvan University and China Centre for South Asian Studies (CCSAS) of Sichuan University, China with the theme of ‘South Asia’s Options under Global Industrial Transfer’. She stressed the need of making agriculture, which is the backbone of Nepal’s economy, commercial and fulfilling the demands of the country by establishing industries in local levels.
Former President Bhandari expressed the view that citizen’s financial status could be uplifted by creating employment increasing the export of domestic products. She also pointed out the need of effectively implementing different policies and programmes minimizing adverse impacts of climate change and adapt to it while accelerating the development process.
Stating that Himalayan and island nations including Nepal, which contribute least in green house emission, are most affected by climate change, she mentioned that developed and industrialists countries should take responsibility of climate crisis as the major contributors in carbon emission. Former President Bhandari opined that countries like Nepal should follow China as it had made drastic change in its economy in a short period, saying that double digit economic growth rate could be achieved if there is rapid policy and institutional reforms to attract foreign investment, development of physical infrastructures and institutional capacity building.
Similarly, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, expressed the belief that the programme would make significant support in establishing people-to-people relation along with tourism promotion. Saying Tribhuvan University and Sichuan University have been making collaboration in education, academic and research sectors, Vice-Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Prof Dr Keshar Jung Baral, shared that this type of intellectual dialogue has been organized in Pokhara under this collaboration.
Likewise, programme coordinator, Rector of TU, Prof Dr Khadga KC, said Fewa Dialogue was organized to further strengthen collaboration of South and Southeast Asian countries as well as to enhance technology and development partnership. Professor of Sichuan University, Yao Lele, expressed the belief that the programme would be effective and fruitful for exchanging culture along with experience sharing, transferring knowledge and skill and enhancing friendship.
