RS. 328 MILLION FINNISH ASSISTANCE

RS. 328 MILLION FINNISH ASSISTANCE

Kathmandu, 6 Dec.; Finland Monday extended a Rs. 328 million assistance to implement the Strengthening of Environment Administration and Management of the Local Level in Nepal (SEAM-N).
Officials of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of visiting Finnish International Development Assistance Minister Heidi Hautala and Finance Minister Barshaman Pun.
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20 GOVT. OFFICIALS PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING IN KOREA

Kathmandu, 6 Dec.: Twenty mid-career officials flew for South Korea Monday to participate in a National Economic Development Strategy Training.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Nepal is the main organizer of the training.
Joint secretaries, under-secretaries and section officers from the ministries of finance, commerce, industry, National Planning Commission and the Tribhuvan University are in the group.
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CAPITAL’S MINIMUM TEMPERATURE MONDAY MORNING 9 DEGREES CELSIUS

Kathmandu, 6 Dec.: Minimum temperature recorded in the capital Monday morning was 9 degrees Celsius.
Maximum temperature during the day is expected o rise of 31 degrees Celsius.
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GOVT. TO HAVE RELOOK AT PRIVATIZATION,
Kathmandu, 6 Dec.: The government is going to evaluate the current situation of privatised public entities to get the clear picture of privatisation and its impact, The government has brought the Public Enterprises Direction Board (Formation and Working

Procedure) Directive released today [Tuesday], The Himalayan Times reports

However, lawmakers are not clear whether it is a major economic policy departure of Maoist-led government or ambiguous clause to 'please' donor communities."It is too early to comment either the Maoist-led government is back tracking the free market economy or is really committed to privatisation," Public Accounts Committee member Deep Kumar Upadhyay said, adding that it will, however, show whether Maoists wants restructuring of Public Enterprises or not.

Another lawmaker and former finance minister Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani said that the government should clarify its stand on privatisation through its economic principles.

Appearing before Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under Legislature Parliament today, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said that the government will start a fresh appointment of executive chieves in all the Public Enterprises, according to the Board that has been brought to manage public enterprises in an effective way. "The Directives of the Board will be effective from today [Monday]."The new Directives has clearly mentioned that the government will form a Executive Chief Appointment Recommendation Committee — led by chairman of Public Service Commission or its member — under the Board.

However, experts said that the motive behind introducing new Directives is not clear enough. "Implementing the Directives will be difficult,” Upadhyay said, adding that the government should show readiness to end political interference at first. Formation of compatible laws according to new Directives is a big challenge to the government for its implementation, according to Lohani.

However, Prime Minister pledged to amend laws according to the new Directives. The government is also preparing to formulate new Act to make it compatible to the new Director, he informed the PAC. The new Directives has introduced the provision of Performance Evaluation Committee to assess performance of executive chives. "The evaluation committee will be led by vice-chair at the National Planning Commission,” it said, adding that there will be a five-member board for policy formation, restructuring, monitoring and evaluation of public entities. The government, in its budget for the current fiscal year and last one too, had pledged to form a separate High Level Public Enterprises Management Board.

A committee led by PAC member Upadhyay had earlier recommended the government for liquidation of three public enterprises, merger of some nine public companies and adopt Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in some cases. The new Directives has mandated the board to study and recommend the government on the restructuring, merger or liquidation.

Political bickering, incompetent human resources, over staffing and corruption have hit the public enterprises.

Public Procurement Act problematic

Existing Public Procurement Act is much problematic for Public Enterprises to enhance their competitiveness, according to Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai. "Public Procurement Act is not conducive for public entities,” he said, adding that Gorakhkali Rubber Udhyog was closed due to adverse effect of Public Procurement Act. Public Enterprises have to face hurdles even to purchase raw materials, he informed. "The government has seriously internalised the problems and will amend the Act soon."
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MAOIST CHIEF CLAIMS BIG NEIGHBOURS
Kathmandu, 6 Dec.: Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today [Monday] claimed that he has received full support from both the neighbours, India and China, for broader Lumbini development project initiated by him, The Himalayan Times reports.

Dahal today interacted with representatives of Buddhist communities.

Dahal, who leads the committee, told participants of the meeting that the panel, which has six members now, will be expanded to an 11-member team and would include Buddhist experts and women. The commitment from Dahal came in response to calls from Buddhist representatives that the team be made inclusive.
“Once we develop a master plan and convince the world that peace has been restored in the country, money would keep pouring in for Lumbini. So, we are focusing on drafting a master plan, not on collecting funds,” said Dahal.
Minister for Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Gopal Kirati said on Monday said that head of states of 16 Buddhist countries besides UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be arriving in Nepal in March. However, date and plan for an international conference are yet to be worked out. He added that Buddhist organisations and international experts from across the world would be invited to attend the conference. The conclave, according to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal will help promote the Visit Lumbini Year-2012, which was announced last week in Lumbini
(Note: Maoist chief met Buddhist leaders amidst announced plans of Buddhists Wednesday to protest on street the appointment to the Limbini body.)
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