Anjan Kumar Shrestha, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce, has urged the industrialists and businessmen to help with all their heart for the relief and rehabilitation of the Bhotekoshi flood affected citizens.

Inaugurating the 36th session of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President Shrestha said that citizens from Rasuwa, Nuwakot to Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalpur were affected due to the flood in Bhotekoshi and asked for assistance in their rehabilitation.

Mentioning that life in the flood-affected areas has become dire, he promised to work together with the government for reconstruction.

We will work together with the government for reconstruction. "You should support all industrialists and businessmen with a good heart," he said.

Chairman Shrestha informed that the federation has also requested the international community to gather support for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

"We have written and sent letters to 70 industry and commerce associations of the world for help," he said, "Nepal needs help, we have sent a letter asking you to help."

President Shrestha said that due to climate change, the problem of glacier breakup is increasing and Nepal is suffering its effects, and it is time to think about it seriously.

Human civilization started from the river. However, Nepal has come to think about the environmental problems that Nepal is facing," he said. "There are still glaciers in places that cause disasters. The state, society and the private sector will have to think seriously about how to manage it.

He said that even though Nepal's contribution to climate change is very small, i.e. only 0.04 percent, it is suffering its effects on a large scale.

The former president of the Federation, Anandraj Mulmi, said that the Federation and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry should raise their voice for the protection of the private sector.

Mentioning that industrialists and businessmen are getting into trouble due to incidents ranging from political upheavals to natural disasters, he said that federations and associations should play a role in creating an investment security environment.

He said that due to natural calamities, the tourism sector is also devastated.

Today there is no situation for tourists to come, they are not going to come either. If tourists do not come, how will the economy of Pokhara be affected? We will have to think about it and make it work," he said.

Santosh Pokharel, executive member of Nepal Tourism Board, said that the message should be conveyed that the areas other than the areas affected by natural disasters are safe and open.

Mentioning that the tourism sector of Pokhara has declined due to the disaster, he pledged to contribute to the development and promotion of the tourism sector of Nepal as a whole, including Pokhara.

Four candidates in the race for president

Four people are competing for the chairmanship of the Pokhara Industry and Commerce Association. Four people, including two panelists, have nominated for the post of chairman for the next two-year term.

Balram Acharya and Shobha Gautam, candidates for the chairmanship, along with the panel, and Uttamman Buddhacharya and Arjun Pokharel have filed their candidacy independently.

President candidate Buddhacharya is a member of Sangh, Vice President of Commerce and currently Senior Vice President. Owner of Elegance Trade Center, he is also involved in gold and silver business.

Pokharel, the owner of half a dozen organizations including real estate and tourism business, has become a candidate for the president for the third time. Having been defeated twice before, he has also been a member, deputy secretary general and general secretary of the association.

Acharya, who has nominated for the post of chairman along with the panel, is the director of Acharya Suppliers. He has become a member of the association, treasurer, vice president for commerce, and has become a contender for the post of president.

Gautam Pushpanjali, who has nominated along with the panel, is the director of four organizations including Event Center and Supreme Suppliers, which sells lubricants. Gautam, who is the current general secretary of the executive committee, has entered the election field with the determination to become the first woman president in the history of Pokhara's oldest organization Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has also been a member and deputy secretary general.

While there is competition between four people for the post of chairman, the competition for other office bearers is between Acharya and Gautam Panal.

Dinesh Chandra Bastola from the Acharya panel and Tikaram Subedi from the Gautam panel are competing for the senior vice president of the association. Subedi is the current working committee member while Bastola is the vice president for industry.

Lalit Bahadur Kunwar from Acharya panel and Sougat Thapa from Gautam panel are competing for vice president for industry. Both Thapa and Kunwar are current working committee members.

Manoj Kumar Shrestha from Acharya panel and Bhim Gautam from Gautam panel are candidates for vice president for commerce. Gautam is the current working committee member and Shrestha is the treasurer.

Sudip Pradhanang from the Acharya panel and Taranath Dhungana from the Gautam panel are candidates for the post of general secretary. Pradhanang is the current deputy secretary general while Dhungana is a defeated candidate for the post of general secretary.

Devendra Praju from Acharya panel and Jeevan Prakash Shrestha from Gautam panel are competing for treasurer. Both Praju and Shrestha are current working committee members.

There is competition between three people for the position of Deputy Secretary General. Pradeep Rajbhandari from Acharya Panel, Yadav Prasad Pokharel from Gautam Panel and Ramchandra Timilsina from Independent. All three are current executive committee members.

For open members, the competition is between Govinda Bahadur KC, Manohari Paudel, Naveen Napit, Eknarayan Gautam, Ram Prasad Kandel, Durga Baral, Suryaraj Ghimire (Suresh), Kamal Bahadur Sunar, Amrit Pokharel, Bhanubhakt Adhikari, Rameshwar Adhikari, Nirmala Chapagain, Dilip Kumar Shrestha and Hari Prasad Adhikari.

Earlier, Lakshmi Prasad Adhikari, Keshav Dhakal, Lal Prasad Dhakal and Mukti Prasad Paneru were unanimously elected as four members on the objective side and Pitambar Adhikari as one member on the industrial side.

Established in 2011 under the chairmanship of Amrit Prasad Sherchan, Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry currently has 2,731 members.

Published: 20 Bhadra 2083 21:56 Saturday