FNCCI urges for no strikes during SAARC car rally
The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has urged the political parties, organisations and concerned sides not to organise any strikes or demonstrations between March 23 and 26 when the SAARC car rally passes through Nepal.
In a press meet organised by the FNCCI Tuesday, president Chandi Raj Dhakal said this was important to promote Nepal as a safe destination for tourism since the event is being organised with the objective to promote tourism in the region.
According to the information given during the press meet, the rally will enter Nepal on March 23 from Kakarvitta and halt that evening at Pokhara, driving continuously for 13 hours and covering more than 600 km. The following day, the rally will reach Kathmandu and halt at Hyatt Hotel where cultural shows and exhibitions promoting Nepal's identity would be organised. On the third day, the rally will travel to Lumbini and on the fourth day, exit to India via Mahendranagar.
The 31-day sports event starts from Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh on March 15, will be formally inaugurated in New Delhi, and pass through seven SAARC countries and finally end in Male on April 14, where 15th SAARC summit is expected to be held for the first time. The rally will pass through New Delhi on April 4 greeted by SAARC heads of state attending the 14th summit.
The major objective of the rally is to promote regional connectivity, people-to-people contact, goodwill, trade, tourism and business among the member states, the organisers said.
Some 120 people in 30 Tata cars would travel for 31 days covering some 8,200 km in seven countries of the region.
Alongside the rally, the member countries will hold side events. In Nepal, FNCCI will hold a national seminar on 'Energy Efficiency and Clean Development Mechanism' on March 24. nepalnews.com ia Feb 27 07
