Nepal’s economy cannot be compared to Sri Lanka: Dr Wagle

Kathmandu, May 5: Former Vice-Chairperson of National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Swarnim Wagle has asserted that Nepal’s economy cannot be compared with the Sri Lankan one.

At an interaction organized by Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on ‘Future Direction of Nepali Economy’ here on Wednesday, he claimed that Nepal has not witnessed the situation of economic crisis as Sri Lanka was facing. He however stressed the need to maintain fiscal discipline so as to mobilize all indicators of the economy in the right manner.

“Economic crisis has not occurred in Nepal now. There is no point to compare Nepal’s economy to that of Sri Lanka. But, the danger of economic crisis is looming large which are flatly due to policy and economic shortcomings. In order to maintain fiscal discipline, administrative and policy reforms are required”, he highlighted.

Economist Dr Wagle went on saying that bad governance propping up in the country coupled with whimsical decision-making trends can push the country to crisis. Nepal’s status of public borrowing and balance of payment is not identical to that of Sri Lanka but the governance character is, he said, adding the economic tendencies are different. Inability to repay the loan and level up the loss are the main reasons behind economic crisis of Sri Lanka, Dr Wagle said, underscoring the need for Nepal to take timely precautionary measures. Citing reference that Sri Lanka rampantly received loan for infrastructure after the end of the armed struggle, he said the South Asian country had to grapple with economic crisis as it had received foreign loan for investment without proper study.

On the occasion, Chairperson of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha highlighted the need of collaborative efforts of government and private sector for enabling the country’s economy. He also echoed the need of initiating policy reforms to advance the economy to a right track.     

Senior economic advisor at Ministry of Finance Surendra Uprety said the country’s economic situation was not in a worrying state. He further noted that there are several bases for the country to gain 5.8 percent economic growth as almost all sectors of the national economy are already in the flux.

He laid emphasis on agriculture and employment for production-based economic development so as to prepare base for sustainable development.

Vice-Chair of Bankers’ Association Sunil KC said the liquidity crunch would be prevailing in the country throughout the current fiscal year.

World Bank’s senior economist Alice Joan Brooks said price inflation would not move up to the higher level with the increasing production of hydropower and use of bio-gas. As Nepal’s public debt portfolio against GDP is satisfactory, he said there is no situation to get worried of country’s economic situation.     

Former Chief of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Dr Maniklal Shrestha presented a working paper on external sectors of economy while economist Biswash Gauchan presented working paper on ‘liquidity crisis and fiscal stability’. Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa presided over the interaction.

SEJON Chair Janardan Baral said the economic dialogue between different stakeholders and economic experts was organized to rightly inform the general public about the current status of the country economy.