Construction Federation Chief Urges Political Parties to Prioritize Economic Agenda Over Politics in Manifestos

Kathmandu. Rabi Singh, Chairman of the Nepal Contractors' Association (FNC), has stated that political parties must set aside political agendas and give primary importance to economic agendas in their upcoming manifestos.

Speaking at a program organized by the Economic Journalists Association of Nepal (NAFEJ) on the topic of 'Economic Agendas in Party Manifestos,' Chairman Singh emphasized that for the nation's progress, concrete plans for job creation and good governance are now necessary, rather than traditional political slogans.

Chairman Singh stated that the manifestos issued by parties during elections should not merely be for show. "The Nepali people no longer trust only in periodic elections," Singh said. "The way out for the country should not be limited only to political agendas. The next manifesto must include a clear framework for creating employment in Nepal and reducing mismanagement and corruption. We will no longer be fooled by credit-based commitments."

Furthermore, Singh pointed out that legal hurdles are the main obstacle to infrastructure development and criticized the government's move regarding the amendment to the Public Procurement Act as a 'blunder.' He stated, "Section 59 (8) of the Public Procurement Act is the reason why all projects in Nepal have become stalled. Until a construction-friendly umbrella law is enacted and the practice of one law overriding another ends, the 2081 election will not provide a solution either."

He claimed that due to Nepal's public procurement process and legal complexities, projects involving globally successful Japanese, European, and Chinese construction companies, and even those involving the Nepali Army itself, are failing to be completed on time.

During his address, Chairman Singh expressed anger over the working style of the outgoing Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Kulman Ghising. He accused Ghising of launching a one-sided attack on the construction industry through 'stunts,' pushing the economy into a 'setback.' "A narrative was created that taking up construction work is a crime," he said. "Such stunts will be tormented by the tears of businessmen and the public."

Chairman Singh stated that development construction has come to a standstill because the bureaucracy is unable to make decisions due to the fear of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Office of the Auditor General. "Employees are not making decisions due to the fear of being trapped if they work, while they remain safe if they fail to fulfill their responsibilities," he added. "This only serves to strangle the economy."

Reminding that the infrastructure industry has created over 2 million jobs, Singh asserted that the country's economic progress is impossible without making this sector dynamic. He also committed to submitting suggestions regarding the infrastructure sector to the political parties in writing.