Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, has appealed to the industrialists who suffered huge losses during the Genji agitation not to give up.
Issuing an appeal on his Facebook page today, President Dhakal urged the industrialists and entrepreneurs not to be disappointed. “Don’t panic and don’t get tired,” he said. Let’s start rebuilding the damaged industries and businesses from today. ’
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When I started a small business, it wasn’t done with any big capital. I mean, I wasn’t a businessman and I wasn’t a big investor. In a way, I didn’t have any seed capital. But it was a dream and a desire to fulfill it. In fact, I wanted to do something on my own soil, irrigate Nepal’s fertile soil and produce gold here. And it still is.
We had a good understanding of the honesty required for that and the persistence in any work, that is, hard work. I think we have reached here today on the basis of these four decades old commitment, spirit and determination. The small business trail that was carved out by our hard work, honesty and deeds stands in front of us today as a wide highway.
These are the things I used to pay attention to when I was thinking about any business. The priority of the state, the needs of the general public, and the possibility of becoming a long-term business. Today, our business is directly linked to the employment of more than 20,000 Nepali brothers and sisters. I don’t want to go there now, maybe millions.
The businesses that we started have expanded not only to create jobs, but also to create a culture of partnership and service in the country. And wherever they are established and expanded, there is a strong alliance with the locals. Because, inspired by the feeling that ‘the country cannot prosper by earning only from business’, our steps have moved forward by sharing investment with all.
We have adopted the model of local partnership through share so that the local and general public have ownership in every project. They are also the first priority in employment. That is why our local infrastructure, including tourism, has been established and served as the common property of all.
In the past, it was difficult for low-income Nepalis who went abroad for livelihood to send them home rather than earn money abroad. Seeing their sorrow, I think that the business started from Malaysia today is the result of their blessings. With their blessings, the fruits of our hard work and sweat in the goodwill of all Nepalese brothers and sisters, our business foundation and brand have led to the construction of many commercial highways in the country. They are the means that give me joy in every moment.
But today, my heart is heavy. I am at the most important juncture of my responsibility in my journey that started from scratch with the dream of building a country. I don’t have the liberty to do so even though I want to keep crying when my own projects with billions of rupees invested are suffering unexpected losses. On the one hand, I am afraid that if I do this, I will hurt the confidence of the 20,000 people who are associated with our family livelihood, and on the other hand, I have to console other businessmen who have suffered losses like me.
I am the President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Every level, group or circle is looking for a guardian in a difficult situation. Perhaps it is in such a time and circumstance that you have to laugh with a stone on your heart. I have a big responsibility to encourage the entire private sector.
I now remember that even in those days, when the hearts of the businessmen were falling along with the earthquake, I had encouraged the industrialists of the country to rise from the dust and get on with their work and business. I remember encouraging the businessmen not to close the shutters and to stand up even when the country and business were shaken by the corona epidemic that no one had ever imagined and even when they themselves were in the grip of corona. Even now, we have to get up with the ashes, strengthen our minds and self-confidence, and we have to get up. I myself am wounded in all these sorrows, but as a professional leader, I am encouraging my friends to get up.
On September 23 and 24, during the demonstrations of the Genji generation, many industries, businesses and private property were attacked across the country. In the process, the industries and businesses where we invested were also vandalized and set on fire. Major damage has been done.
I am an industrialist who is working to improve the country’s economy, attract foreign investment and create an investment-friendly environment. Therefore, I requested the employees not to share photos and videos of the damaged projects. However, after the photos and videos were made public on social media, I felt the need to say something with the intention of not letting the common industrialists and businessmen get disappointed and their morale does not drop.
Yes, during the protests against good governance and corruption, the industries, businesses and private residences and property of many industrialists and businessmen across the country have been severely damaged. Thousands of jobs are in jeopardy, billions of dollars worth of infrastructure have been destroyed and investment is in jeopardy. It has hurt all of us.
We were trying to recover from the decade-long conflict, earthquake, blockade and the Covid pandemic. Many public and private property have been damaged during the recent protests.
However, despite all the adversity, we have no choice but to recover and move forward. As the President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), I would like to give a message to the industrialists, businessmen and enterprising minds across the country that friends, let us not panic, do not get tired. Let’s start rebuilding the damaged industries and businesses from today. Let’s invest more and create jobs. Let us take such challenges as new opportunities for economic reform of the country and move forward.
Let us explain to the new generation that the private sector is the engine of the country’s economy, entrepreneurship is the source of employment, the source of revenue for the state, and the driver of prosperity. The country’s prosperity is not possible without the private sector, which contributes 81 percent to the country’s economy and creates 86 percent more jobs. The private sector is also active in the campaign of building the country and without joining hands with the private sector, we cannot build the development, prosperity and new Nepal that we expect.
Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, in this difficult situation, we do not have the facility to weaken, get tired or give up. When the prosperity of the country is in our hands and deeds, then we have to build it, we have to fill the country and the Gen-G with hope. Let us think that the future generation does not have to travel to the Gulf and Malaysia in search of employment. May they never feel such a difficult time in their lives in the future.
Respected business friends
It is painful to see the house and business built with the bricks of your life’s sweat, dreams and dedication burned to ashes in front of your eyes. Perhaps these words of mine cannot take away the pain and comfort you. Because this moment is not only the loss of material possessions created by one’s own hands but also the irreparable wound to one’s mind, dedication and dreams.
But let’s be satisfied that even if the fire burns bricks and wood, you still have the courage and self-confidence within us. Our minds, the value of labor, and the self-confidence that we carry with you will never burn. You can regain what we have lost with our self-confidence and courage. Our patience, our regularity and ability to work hard are the real assets of all of us. Therefore, material possessions must be added and the wounds that have been inflicted must be buried together.
We entrepreneurs and businessmen should never consider ourselves alone and consider everyone’s suffering as our own and should get up and move forward with more strength. Let’s believe that tomorrow will be a golden dawn. We have to rise again, we have to move forward, we have to build and our courage and self-confidence have to inspire future generations.
Let us work in such a way that with the efforts of all and the courage of the private sector, we can give the message of carving out a road map of a golden Nepal.
