Kathmandu, Sept 5: Acting Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel has said that support of private sector is mandatory to achieve economic goals and for inclusive development based on justice and equality.

Inaugurating the 'Third Responsible Business Conference on Sustainable Development Goals' here today, acting PM Pokharel said, "Liberal and responsible support of private sector is necessary to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals."

He said that environment conducive for appropriate business could not be created in poverty, scarcity, discrimination, and financial and social exploitation, saying stability, peace, justice, integrity and security was necessary in the country trade and business.

Likewise, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence said, "Private sector should help to collect necessary means and resources for sustainable development goals by adopting the responsibility of the determined tax."

He further indicated that business and people's health or prosperity would be interdependent. 

Laying emphasis on not to let go the opportunity of innumerable new businesses that would be created with the technology handover and training to be promoted with the operation of thousands of projects with billions of rupees investment out of hand, he said this growth in business would help in achieving the sustainable development goals.

The Acting Prime Minister also reiterated that the government has institutionalized the broader role of the private sector by bringing the Public Private Partnership and Investment Act- 2075, the Special Economic Zone (First Amendment) Act-2075, and the foreign Investment of Technology Handover Act-2075. This would further boost the investment and create business environment, he said.

Presenting the statistics that an estimated Rs 30.4 trillion has to be invested to achieve the SDGs by 2030 as per a study carried out by the National Planning Commission recently, he said the private sector is expected to invest 36 per cent of this.

The Acting Prime Minister said that the government expected a big investment from the private sector in the vital infrastructure development, tourism and transport sectors. He asserted that only a dignified private sector could do this.

Industrialist Padma Jyoti, FNCCI former president Kush Kumar Joshi, among other speakers explained about the objective of the conference, saying it would further highlight the SDG and the role of private sector.

DPM Pokharel honoured the centenarian and renowned culture expert Satya Mohan Joshi on the occasion.