Kathmandu. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said economic reforms would be given high importance in the days to come. “We have started economic reforms for some time. We are getting positive results from it. In a discussion with the development partners about the upcoming budget, Finance Minister Poudel said, “The amendments made through the ordinance, the suggestions made by the High Level Economic Reform Suggestion Commission, various policies and decisions are important aspects of policy reforms.” ’’
Finance Minister Poudel said that the upcoming budget would focus on encouraging the development partners, especially the private sector, creating employment opportunities, increasing production and productivity and strengthening the national economy.
Stating that there was no convenient situation in terms of ensuring resources, Finance Minister Poudel said that attention would be paid to allocate austerity, expenditure reduction and limited resources in such a way that the high returns would be given while preparing the budget.
“Our focus will be on focusing foreign aid on Nepal’s needs and priorities and utilizing it properly and effectively,” said Finance Minister Poudel. ’’
Expressing confidence that the upcoming budget would be evaluated as a matter of fact by all after presenting it in the Parliament, Finance Minister Poudel sought the continued support of friendly countries and development partners for Nepal’s development.
Finance Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyay said the upcoming budget would give priority to economic discipline and increase the confidence of the private sector. Dhaniram Sharma, chief of the International Economic Assistance Coordination Division at the Ministry of Finance, said that Nepal’s economy was improving as compared to last year.
The representatives of the development partners gave suggestions on revenue mobilization, optimum utilization of resources, formulation and implementation of realistic budget and said that they would provide more support to Nepal in the coming days.
Representatives from India, China, the US, the UK, Japan, Korea, Australia, Norway, Germany, Finland, the European Union, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization and others participated in the meeting.
