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New industrial policy peeves tourism sector |
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After tourism entrepreneurs complained that the tourism industry had been excluded from the priority list in the draft of the new industrial policy, the Ministry of Industry has clarified that it was not practical to have two different policies for the same industry.
The new industrial policy, which is set to be finalized next week for discussion at the cabinet, has left out hotels and travel agencies as they were already covered by the tourism policy under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
"There is nothing to be worried about," said Pratap Kumar Pathak, secretary at the Industry Ministry.
The new policy has included 10 industries in its priority list besides village and adventurous tourism.
The exclusion of hotels and travel agencies means that they will not qualify for financing and tax breaks including import and export facilities to be provided by the Ministry of Industry.
The Tourism Ministry claimed that the Ministry of Industry did not consult with it regarding the issue.
"The Industry Ministry's move must be corrected," said Tourism Ministry spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai.
He said that his ministry would request the Ministry of Industry to incorporate the tourism industry in the priority list.
He added that the Tourism Ministry only issues the operating license to the tourism industry, and that providing facilities was the job of the Ministry of Industry.
Madhav Om Shrestha, executive director of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) said, that the new industrial policy was still under formation.
He said that a HAN delegation was meeting with the National Planning Commission and other ministries tomorrow in this regard.
He said that hotels are registered and classified by the Department of Industry and excluding them from the priority list would be an upsetting move. "They should be incorporated in the priority list," he said.
But Pathak said that the move was taken after a proper assessment from various discussions over the issue, and the decision was finally made. "We have taken this move as two policies were not possible for the same industry," he said. According to him, the new policy has incorporated cottage and scale industries as a top prioritized sector. Similarly, development of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and establishing an Industrial Security Force (ISF) are other priority-based sectors.
Similarly, the ministry is also planning to bring a separate Investment and Technology Transfer Policy to attract foreign investors, Pathak added.
He said that the new industrial policy draft would be tabled at the cabinet meeting after the prime minister's return from China for further discussion.
The much talked about industrial policy has been lingering several times due to inconsistent governments and bureaucratic hassles.
The new industrial policy was tabled at the cabinet meeting on March 25, 2009 by the Maoist-led government for final endorsement. However, a change in government marred the policy implementation.
Now, under the 22-party coalition government, the new policy draft is in its final stage to be approved by the cabinet meeting.
Source Kantipur |
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