Happy Dashain-2063
Though we used this column also in the past to wish our valuable readers a happy festival, this year’s greeting is different in the sense that it is filled with more optimism. This is despite the ‘terrorism’ that is still spreading across the country – both from the Maoists and other criminal elements. Comparatively, the ongoing terrorism is more ‘peaceful’ than that of the past several years.
 |
The festival season is the period when the consumption expenditure is the highest. This is more so in Nepal where the people celebrate even if it means they have to borrow from someone else. Despite the Maoist extortion drive that has escalated to new heights in the recent weeks, the economy is showing an upbeat mood as can be noticed in the crowd assembling in the shopping areas and thronging ticket counters of road and air transport companies. The airlines and hotels are reporting almost 100 per cent bookings in this season. Even the power shortage and resultant load shedding has brought about new optimism as was evidenced by the impressive participation of the foreign investors in the recently held Power Summit showing their readiness to invest in Nepal’s hydropower development. It is a show of vote of confidence (to borrow the term from Indian Ambassador) in new Nepal from the foreign investors.
In this situation, the business community should try its best to enhance their business during the festivals and maintain this momentum even after the festivals are over. Preparation has to start right now. Remember, after Dashain comes Tihar which is followed by a number of other festivals including Chhath and Lhochar. One group of population may celebrate one festival with more enthusiasm than another, but the uniqueness of the Nepali society is that all the people do celebrate all the festivals in either one way or another.
In the meanwhile, the business community has to be more innovative. Those ideas that would be laughed at in the past would be appear sensible now. For example, the tourism entrepreneurs may now think of offering their foreign clients an opportunity to meet Maoist leaders and their cadres. Even paying the Maoists a certain amount of money for such meetings makes sense now provided that such arrangements are made without hurting the Maoists’ egos. Let the red comrades feel that their wellbeing has a higher chance if the wellbeing of the businesses improves.
Anyway, sporadic incidents disturbing the business for some hours these days are not as bad as in the earlier years when week-long strikes, enforced by terror, were commonplace.
So let’s try and celebrate these festivals with the greatest possible enthusiasm.
|
