Why is BRB reluctant to provide dual citizenship? What do they have to lose?
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The fifth Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN) Global Conference kicked off in Kathmandu on Wednesday with NRNs raising strong voice for dual citizenship, something that they have been demanding with the government since nine years to help them bring their investment in Nepal.
However, Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai, who inaugurated the mega-event attended by some 700 Nepalis residing abroad, again refused to fulfill their demand in a straight forward way, saying that dual citizenship has nothing to do with investment by NRNs in the country.
“We are readily issuing special ID cards to NRNs and have also opened all possible ways to welcome their investment here. NRNs should not set dual citizenship as their precondition for investing in Nepal,” said Dr Bhattarai. Nonetheless, he promised them all other supports to ensure them that they will enjoy sound returns on their investment.
While reiterating that that the country needs huge capital for economic advancement, he requested NRNs to work as national ambassador and play catalytic role to lure foreign investment. "We have put a lot of hope on NRNs in this connection, particularly as we are preparing to mark 2012/13 as the Investment Year," said Dr Bhattarai.
The conference will last till October 14 and has participation of NRNs from 57 countries. During the conference, NRN Association - the organizer of the event - will try to find ways for transfer of technology, knowledge, skill and investment from NRNs living across the globe to Nepal.
During the later sessions, government officials and Nepali private sector expressed dissatisfaction against NRNs for not coming up with significant investment project in Nepal.
Even though NRNs had announced to form a collective fund of $100 million to invest in Nepal during the first NRN Global Conference, no such fund has come into being even after 9 years of the NRN movement.
“NRNs frequently promised they will make a collective investment in the country, but this is not happening in reality. We haven´t seen any of the significant investment projects from NRNs,” said Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun. Even while criticizing NRN Association for not fulfilling their investment promise, Pun said the government was ready to review necessary laws to help bring their investment.
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada also said that the government was all set to introduce Investment Board to prevent bureaucratic hurdles with a view to help the investors.
While discussing on the session, “Challenges and Prospects for Economical Prosperity of Nepal,” representatives from government and private sector stressed that Nepalis themselves have exaggerated the actual problem that the industrial sector is facing.
“The problems that we are facing are not unique one. Most of the prosperous nations have come across this situation,” said Rameshwor Khanal, economic advisor to the Prime Minister.
On the other hand, the officials of NRN Association cited labor unrest, political disturbances, insecurity, energy crisis and lack of proper infrastructure among others as the main problems hindering NRNs from bringing their investment to Nepal.
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