HoR election: Entrepreneurs demand long-term strategic plan with candidates

Ranjha (Banke), Jan 25: Industrialists and entrepreneurs in Banke district have requested the candidates to the election for the House of Representatives to introduce long-term strategic plan in order to make the district prosperous.     

They asked the candidates to bring such plan, citing district business has been affected and many businessmen closed their business due to smuggling through Nepalgunj check point, the government did not make plan in construction of Naubasta-based industrial area and it has not been able to make any contribution to make district's economy dynamic despite establishing integrated security post.     

General-Secretary of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bhim Ranabhat, urged the candidates to bring long-term strategic plan as prosperity could be achieved only if environment in favour of industries is created.     

"A long-term strategic plan making sustainable impact in overall development of the district is needed and such matters should be addressed with concrete decision on it after the victory," he stressed.     

Ranabhat mentioned, "It is necessary to ensure victory of such candidate who works honestly for the economic development and prosperity of Banke."     

Similarly, former central committee member of the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Krishna Prasad Shrestha, pointed out the need of carrying out activities making a strategic plan for the overall development of the district as industries and business have not been developed economically despite physical development and construction of necessary infrastructures in Banke.     

Suggesting to the people's representatives to be elected from the district to draw the attention of the state towards the uplift of the people from the lower classes and to work for bringing about positive change in the country, Shrestha said, "Development is not just about physical infrastructure; it also refers to efforts that improve the standard of living of the people."     

He stated that Banke needs representatives who can pressure the government to quickly start the construction of the Naubasta industrial area, complete the unfinished work of the Sikta irrigation project, and operate the Nepalgunj Airport as an international airport.     

Emphasising the need for infrastructure development to make the Banke National Park a centre of tourism attraction, Shrestha stressed the need to make policy provision to address the increasing damage to property caused by wildlife in the district.     

Bhaskar Kafle, a hotel entrepreneur from Nepalgunj, mentioned that although there is immense potential for the hotel and tourism industry in the district, businesspeople are discouraged due to unstable politics, and therefore, it is necessary to elect candidates with comprehensive development plans.     

Mohammad Ishtiyak Rai of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), who is a candidate from Banke Constituency No. 2, expressed his commitment to work to improve people's living standards along with physical infrastructure if elected.     

Recalling the development works he carried out when he was a minister, he said that his focus as a people's representative if elected would be on the development of sectors such as the economy, education and health for economic prosperity.(RSS)