At a time when multinationals operating in Nepal are seeing politically motivated bandas and strikes, the delegation led by Anirudra Lahiri, vice president of ACCI, is meeting Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, leaders of major political parties, including top leaders of UCPN (Maoist), senior government officials and business leaders to seek their assurance for investment protection and explore possible sector for investment in Nepal.[break]
"Politically motivated strike, bandas and other frequent obstruction in industrial operations are the major roadblock in luring foreign investment in Nepal. So, the visiting delegation wants a clear assurance on investment climate, especially from political leaders and government," said an office bearer of Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce (NUCC).
The delegation arrived in Kathmandu on the initiation of US Embassy in Kathmandu. US ambassador for Nepal, Scott H DeLisi, had paid a couple of visits to India recently to arrange the visit.
A press statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu said the trade mission -- the first by a US business organization in 13 years -- will explore investment and trade opportunities in Nepal. "This important visit demonstrates the renewed American interest in Nepal´s economy," the statement added.
Building on the recently-signed US-Nepal Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), the visit is expected to expand the economic ties between the two countries.
The delegation includes Anirudra Lahiri of Sky Tech Solution, Rajan Iyre of Cream Bell Navigation, B S Singh of Bell Helicopter, Juhi Gupta of Monsanto India, Deepak Jolly of Coca Cola (India), Ashok Kakkar of GE Healthcare, Sanjaya Malhottra of Johnson& Johnson, R P Singh of Wal-Mart (India), Minu Segal and Harmit S Sudi of Rockwell Automation, S Sundar Rajan of Monsanto and Madhavi Kataria of America Chamber of Commerce India.
Representatives of nine US companies, including Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Rockwell Automation, Monsanto and Bell Helicopter, are in the delegation. The delegates are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, senior government officials, political leaders, private sector companies, and US Embassy officials.
Meanwhile, Nepali business leaders have stressed the need to capitalize the visit of high-level business delegation to boost confidence of existing and potential foreign investors. "It is necessary for us to assure the visiting delegation on investment security. For this, we have to resolve the problems of power shortage and end frequent bandas and strikes," said Kiran Shakha, vice president of the NUCC.
Shakha said the NUCC was preparing to arrange a visit of Nepali business people to US within a month to meet US investors that are interested to invest in Nepal. He said US investment can be attracted in sectors like finance, tourism, aviation, services and agriculture sector.
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