SANGAM

Political commitment positive for investment: Thapa

By Sangam Prasain
Kathmandu, Oct 22,2009

Green lights are on for the investment and political commitment is positive to expedite the country’s development, said Ishwor B. Thapa a Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN).
Talking to The Rising Nepal, Thapa, a Japan-based NRN, who is willing to invest in Nepal, said that investment congenial environment was getting momentum in the post-conflict period in the country, but the lack of security to investment and lingering doubt on the success of the peace process have held back the country’s full potential.
Thapa is the president of Thapa Incorporation at Koenjiminami Suginami-Ku, Tokyo. He said that Japanese investors were willing to make a huge investment in the tourism and hydropower sectors on long term basis provided their investments were secured.
Thapa who hails from Gorkha is living in Japan for the last 20 years. He owns two restaurants -- Khana Koenji and Khana Wasada, and three handicraft outlets -- Potala Handicraft, Sitaram Handicraft and Thapa Incorporation in Japan and is the owner of Kalika Exports House, the manufacturer, whole seller and exporter of cotton garments and hand knit woolen goods at Samakhushi, Kathmandu.
He has been recently awarded the prestigious ‘Yeso Yo’ business award by the Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
"Nepal is one of the favourite countries of Japanese. So, they are interested for a good deal of investment here," he said.
According to him, he is only a member of New Leaders Business Club, Tokya, a club promoted by over 200 businessmen. "The club members are interested to invest over US$10 billion in Nepal’s different projects.
However, they are afraid of the investment security as the media reports about Nepal was negative in Japan, he added.
He also said that the arrival of Japanese visitors to Nepal had significantly dropped compared to previous years after Nepal Airlines stopped its flights to Japan. NA is the only airlines that connect Nepal with Japan.
"The Nepal Tourism Year 2011 is approaching near, but the government is still undecided over the air link between the two countries. This can hamper the tourist flow from Japan," he added.
"We are organizing Nepal Day Festival in June next year as a part to promote NTY2011 and disseminate the Visit Year widely," he said.
Talking about the export potential of Nepal to Japan, he pointed out that the handicraft products were largely popular in the country and if Nepal could deliver these items in Japan, it could play a significant role in the country’s economic development and reduce the wide trade deficit that Nepal had been going through for the last couple of years.
He said that promoting the one-village-one-product (o-v-o-p) concept could benefit the countries economic development as concept was successful in leading Japan’s economy towards high growth.