PM Deuba vows to address citizenship issue

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has assured to address the issue of citizenship that the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) is raising for long.

Inaugurating a seminar organised here today by the NRNA on ‘Citizenship, Voting Right, Investment and Foreign Employment’, PM Deuba vowed to finalise the issue of citizenship by holding discussions with all stakeholders. “I want to reassure you to address this issue after coordination with all sides,” the PM stated while adding that the government was sensitive to the demands raised by the NRNA.

PM Deuba also said the government would facilitate the NRNs for their easy travel to Nepal and protection of their investment and property.

Appealing to the Nepali diaspora across the world to discharge their responsibility toward the motherland, PM Deuba urged the NRNs to put their capital, knowledge and skills earned abroad for the development of Nepal.

Likewise, Deuba highlighted that Nepali products’ export would be promoted if NRNs use Nepali goods in the foreign countries.

PM Deuba urged the NRNs to bring in foreign capital in Nepal by coordinating and co-working with Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad.

The ceiling of the minimum amount of FDI in Nepal is reduced to Rs 20 million from the upcoming from Rs 50 million of the previous fiscal years and approval of FDI up to Rs 100 million will be done through an automated system, the PM said.

Furthermore, the PM added that Nepali migrant workers have been brought under the ambit of social security in the Social Security Fund.

On the occasion, the PM lauded the roles of NRNs played for the rescue and relief of victims in the time of Gorkha Earthquake as well as in the time of COVID through the delivery of medical supplies.

Also speaking at the event, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka shared that the government was working to establish Special Economic Zone to encourage the investments of the NRNs.

Minister Khadka asked the NRNs to invest in Nepal’s hydropower, agriculture, tourism, communication, education, and health care sectors, and also to reap benefits from the investment.

Executive Chairman of NRNA Kul Acharya, Chairman Dr Badri KC, Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bharatraj Paudyal, Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Nilima Dhungana Timsina, senior vice-president of FNCCI Chandra Dhakal and others expressed their opinions on different issues of NRNs, diaspora community, their investment and related areas.