July 8: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is preparing to hold a Nepal-China Investment Summit. FNCCI announced that the summit is being held with the objective of attracting Chinese investment in Nepal.
FNCCI has requested the Nepalese Embassy in Beijing, China to assist for the summit. Senior Vice President of FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal and newly appointed Nepali Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha held a meeting on Thursday regarding the summit where Dhakal made such request. The FNCCI expects Ambassador Shrestha to play a leading role in China's cooperation with Nepal at the summit.
Dhakal also stressed on the necessity of promoting Chinese investment in Nepal.
“We need diplomatic efforts to bring in Chinese investment. The private sector expects the assistance of the embassy to promote the export of Nepali goods to China and increase Chinese tourists in Nepal,” said Dhakal.
Dhakal, who is currently the acting president of the federation, emphasized on the need to make the relationship between FNCCI and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) more fruitful. He said that the federation is ready for cooperation in bringing investment, technology and skills by expanding economic and trade relations between the two countries through the Nepal China Non-Governmental Cooperation Forum established in 1996 with the support of the governments of the two countries.
After the meeting, Ambassador Shrestha stated that the discussions with the federation were fruitful. He said that he would take suggestions from the federation and move forth accordingly by prioritizing those suggestions.
Former President of the federation and Joint President of Nepal-China Non-Governmental Cooperation Forum Binod Bahadur Shrestha, former President of the Federation Suraj Baidya, Director General of the Federation Gokarna Awasthi and Deputy Director Arun Shrestha were present at the meeting.
