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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government is ready to form a high-level mechanism for addressing problems seen in the economy at present.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'National Economic Debate' organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here today. On the occasion, the PM said the government is ready to form such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

"It is required that all sectors are at one place and there is a centralized expression for improving the economy. We need this kind of mechanism as we need suggestions and guidelines to initiate a new dimension for economic reforms," the PM said, adding that the efforts for improving the economy could be started from this very point. He asserted that the government is ready to make such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

Chairperson of the Dialogue and FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal had proposed making the high-level mechanism for improving the country's economy and the PM, who addressed the program after this, agreed to the proposal.

Stating that the government is about to take a 'bold decision' for economic reforms, PM Dahal opined that improvement of the overall economy would not be possible through 'minor operation'.

"The main problem of the economy is not resolved despite taking the path of reform. Pathwork-type reforms are not adequate and there needs to be a policy shift," he reiterated. The PM also shared on the occasion that the government has made long efforts to have a synchronization of the finance policy and the monetary policy.

He also claimed that the overall economic situation of the nation could not improve if the government did not facilitate the private sector in their business enterprises. The PM reiterated that Nepal itself will take decisions as to how the problems seen in the country's economy are addressed.

The Prime Minister said the government would restructure the nation's economy through the next fiscal year's annual policies and programs.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said that the citizen's morale has been down due to the narrative that is being fomented forcefully that the economy is in the doldrums. He said this narrative should be shattered.

According to him, although the economy is not growing at present, it is not slumping either. "It would create even more problems if the narrative that the country is crisis-hit is spread," he said and called for the united efforts of all sectors, including the private sector in improving the economy.

FNCCI president Dhakal spoke at length highlighting the condition of the economy, calling for urgent action with the government and the private sectors working together to improve it.

Chief economic advisor of the Ministry of Finance Poshraj Pandey said the current critical economic problem was a continuation of problems that piled up in the past.

Stating that there was no uniformity about the present economic situation (the private sector points out economic problems, but the government denies it), economist Dr Achyut Wagle stressed the need for bringing out facts about the current economic situation.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla called for the government to bring the monetary policy that suits the goals of economic growth.

Vice President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Birendra Raj Pandey said the time has come to restructure Nepal's economy.

Similarly, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce Khimlal Bhandari pointed out structural problems in Nepal's economy.

President of the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries Umesh Prasad Singh ruled that there was no recognition of the contribution of cottage and small to the country's economy.

Also, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Industry and Enterprises Bhagirath Sapkota viewed that the state should recognize the role of cottage and small industries for building socialism-oriented society as envisioned by the constitution of Nepal. Industry friendly laws are also required, he added.

A Nepal Airlines plane that had left for Israel this morning to evacuate Nepalis from war-torn Israel will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu at 9 pm today.

The national flag-carrier plane took off for Israel from Kathmandu at 3.30 am today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud himself has left for Israel on the same plane for diplomatic coordination to rescue the Nepalis from the war-hit West Asian country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said a 250-seat wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines has left for Israel to bring the Nepalis wishing to return home.

Ten Nepali students were killed and some others were injured in the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in the southern part of Israel on Saturday. The status of one student is still unknown.

The Nepali Embassy in Israel has been collecting, through an online registration system, the names of Nepalis who want to be relocated or rescued to safer places and who wish to return to Nepal.

Delay in repatriation of bodies

The repatriation of the bodies of the 10 Nepalis killed in the attack may take time as the legal process of handing over the bodies has not been completed.

It may be noted that the Government of Israel has declared a war against Hamas.

Spokesperson Lamsal said the bodies would be brought to Nepal at the soonest once the Israeli government completed all the legal processes including the post-mortem.

The leadership of CPN-UML Sudurpaschim Province has been elected unopposed.

Krishna Prasad Jaisi of Achham has been elected unanimously to the post of Chairman.

Along with Jaisi, Kamal Timilsina of Achham, Bh arat Bahadur Saud of Achham and Bachhan Bahadur Singh of Kanchanpur had filed their nominations for the post of Chairman.

Jaisi was elected as the Chairman after Timilsina, Saud and Singh withdrew their nominations.

Similarly, Kali Bahadur Shahi has been elected unopposed as the Vice-Chairman.

Shahi was elected unanimously after Baldev Regmi of Bajura, Hari Singh Saud of Kailali, Rana Bahadur Mahara of Kanchanpur and Gajendra Bahadur Shahi of Dadeldhura, who had field their nominations for the post of Vice-Chairperson, withdrew their candidacies.

Likewise, Rana Bahadur Chand of Kailali has been elected unopposed as the Secretary.

Jeevan Kumar Bam, Rajesh Khati and Ratan Raj Regmi of Kailali had filed their nominations for the post of Secretary.  All of them withdrew their candidacies.

Bhagarati Bista of Kailali has been elected as the Deputy Secretary (Woman).

Kanda Kala Rana of Kailali and Archana Gahatraj of Doti had filed their nominations for the post of Deputy Secretary.

Bista was elected as the Deputy Secretary after Rana and Gahatraj withdrew their nominations.

Similarly, Nar Bahadur Bishwokarma has been unanimously elected as the Deputy Secretary (Open).

Ashok Kumar Chand, Ram Dutta Joshi, Har Dev Joshi, Surendra Bahadur Pal and Ananda Lal Bishwokarma had filed their candidacies for the post of Deputy Secretary (Open).

Nar Bahadur Bishwokarma was elected as the Deputy Secretary after all the five withdrew their nominations.

A joint meeting of the ministers for foreign affairs of Nepal and Sri Lanka is to take place in Kathmandu on December 21-22.

The earlier round of this meeting had to be hosted by Sri Lanka last year. Nepal is hosting the meeting in Kathmandu on the intent of the Sri Lankan government.

Matters related to multi-dimensional aspects of Nepal-Sri Lanka bilateral relations will be discussed in the meeting, informed Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka, Basudev Mishra.

The meeting will widely discuss the measures to expand diplomatic and commercial as well as cultural and educational relations, he said.

Inflow of tourists from Nepal to Sri Lanka and vice-versa has increased in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding Sri Lanka can be a major destination for Nepali tourists.

Nepal and Sri Lanka had established diplomatic ties on July 1, 1957.

Ambassador Mishra expressed his belief that Nepal and Sri Lanka will see a new chapter in the bilateral relations in the coming year.

He further said that bilateral discussions among the vice-chancellors, professors of the universities, high-level government officials and representatives of other non-government agencies have been intensified for the expansion of relationships.