Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle Vows Major Reforms for Good Governance and Economic Restructuring

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has stated that the government is moving forward with the goal of making major changes for the good governance and economic restructuring of the country.

Speaking at a program organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister Wagle clarified that the government is moving forward to end the 'policy capture' and macro-syndicates at the policy level as in the past.

Mentioning that those who benefited from old practices and settings are now spreading confusion out of panic, he termed it as the 'last throes'. Dr. Wagle stated that the economy will now be based on a 'level playing field' and healthy competition, and the throes of vested interest groups will not last long.

According to him, only clean, pure, and capable people will now come to the regulatory bodies. He claimed that the days when the political mechanism, economic structure, and regulatory bodies were under the control of any specific person or corrupt politicians are now over.

The Finance Minister Wagle said that the situation where people with ideas and talent have to run after power centers and leaders to get licenses will now end. He said that an environment is being created where the private sector can become competitive not only in Nepal but also internationally, based on its capital and capabilities.

He mentioned that by emphasizing 'micro delivery' through the budget to bring good governance to the doorstep of the citizens, government services will be delivered through digital means like the Citizen App, which will end intermediaries and reduce corruption. He said that preparations are underway to include hundreds of services in the Citizen App so that citizens do not have to visit government offices and pay extra money to employees or intermediaries.

Speaking at the program, Finance Minister Wagle said, 'In the budget, we have called it a big hit in good governance. Therefore, macro-syndicates are to be broken. We have now come a long way from the old practice of policy capture. Those who are panicked by this are now also spreading some confusion, which I think is the last throes. Therefore, we will now have a level playing field, competition, and the law will underguard it. Clean, pure, capable people will come to the regulatory bodies. The days when our political mechanism, our economic structures, and regulatory bodies would be under the control of any specific person, or operate under the undue influence of political, corrupt politicians, are now over.'

Minister Wagle claimed that the upcoming budget is completely business-friendly and also expressed commitment to develop good governance not just as a slogan but as an institutional culture.