Finance Minister Urges Business Community Not to Heed Rumors of Crackdown

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has urged the industrialists and businessmen of the private sector not to heed the rumors that they are being apprehended. He said this while speaking at a program organized in Kathmandu on Friday evening. He said, 'The government has not prepared any list to imprison or apprehend private sector businessmen. Do not heed the rumors, you are our partners.' At the program, Finance Minister Wagle also stated that the private sector is a partner in the government's plan to build a $100 billion economy. He also clarified the government's five priorities. According to him, the government's first priority is good governance, the second is economic revival, and the third is domestic and external connectivity of the country. He informed that the fourth priority is social investment and the fifth is expanding 'soft power' through tourism, culture, and history. Stating that the country has reached a stage to turn the ship of the economy, he urged industrialists and businessmen to wait until the upcoming budget for that. Citing the example of the progress made by neighboring country India when political stability and honest advancement of the country were achieved, he said that some economic indicators of Nepal are currently similar to those at the time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. 'In 2014/15, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, some economic indicators of India were around the same level as Nepal's now. But in the last 12 years, a big leap has been made there. It is time for us to also take the same path,' he said.