Kathmandu: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has emphasized that in a liberal economy, the government’s role should be to regulate trade rather than actively participate in it.
According to National News Agency Nepal, during an interaction organized by the NC Central Department of Supply and Consumer Affairs, Deuba underscored the need for effective regulation to encourage industrialists and businesspersons as part of a liberalization policy. He highlighted his dissatisfaction with the existing quota for gold imports and advocated for open import policies to combat smuggling.
At the same event, party General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa outlined the current government’s priorities, which include economic reform, good governance, investment promotion, and constitutional amendments. Thapa mentioned that the Nepali Congress is actively engaging through various departments to discuss and advocate on livelihood issues, stressing the importance of balancing trader interests and consumer rights in a capitalist system.
Other notable speakers included Dinesh Koirala, the party’s Consumer Affairs Department Coordinator, central member Guru Baral, former Governor Dr. Chiranjivi Nepal, and former Secretary to the Government of Nepal Kewal Bhandari. They shared insights on the budget’s impact on the consumer supply chain and the need to safeguard consumer rights and interests.