The private sector umbrella body the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is hosting a symposium Vision 2020:Hydropower on Monday.
The symposium aims to discuss important issues concerning the investment and development of hydropower projects.
"The symposium will explore the private sector's role in the development of hydropower," said Kush Kumar Joshi, president of FNCCI.
The symposium is being held at a time when the government has brought out an ambitious plan to develop 10,000 MW of electricity within ten years.
Currently, Nepal has the installed capacity of 618 MW while the peak demand reaches 721 MW. During dry winter season, the actual production of power is only 60 percent of the installed capacity leading to acute power cuts.
Meanwhile, speaking at an interaction on business friendly climate, the FNCCI has bemoaned that lethargy on the part of the government in making swift decisions is hamstringing the private sector, according to media reports.
Kush Kumar Joshi, president, FNCCI, said, "The concerned authorities are indifferent towards a myriad of problems like frequent strikes and bandhas, minimum wage policy and, the augmenting sense of insecurity among entrepreneurs and businessmen.”
The chief of the apex body of Nepal’s private sector also related that if the government continued to remain inert towards addressing the problems the business sector is reeling under, the country’ economy was going to get worse.
The FNCCI also said that the labour problem is one of the prime reasons responsible for the industrial shutdowns and obstruction in the smooth conduct of business operation. nepalnews.com sd/nd Nov 24 08
