Dec. 14, 2011 - myrepublica.com

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the government is preparing to import 100MW electricity from India by mid-January to reduce the impact of load-shedding in the industrial sector.

“Keeping in view the problem being faced by the private sector due to increasing hours of load-shedding, the government is making final preparations to begin imports of 100MW electricity from India by mid-January,” said Bhattarai at a meeting with a delegation led by Bhasker Raj Rajkarnikar, acting president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

In his interaction with the delegation, he committed to remove any policy or legal hurdle that may come in the way of the private sector´s development and assured to give top priority to creating a favorable business climate.

Expressing concerns over the exorbitant bank interest rates despite sufficient liquidity in the banking system, he said consultation is going on with the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank and Finance Secretary to resolve the problem.

On the occasion, Rajkarnikar apprised the PM of the problems being faced by the private sector and sought government help for making a favorable industrial climate in the country.

The delegation asked the PM to withdraw the dual-pricing of diesel, import at least 100MW electricity from India, implement the pact signed between major trade unions and employers, and reinstatement of recently dissolved High Level Commission for Information Technology.

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