KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has said protecting authorized investment, assets and income generated in a valid way is the major responsibility of the government.

During discussions with representatives from 20 large taxpayers (multinational companies) today at the Finance Ministry, the Minister said the government stands with them, urging them to further explore the investments scope, bring about more new products and introduce more new technologies in Nepal.

“We strongly believe that we have to build a ground in which investors feel secured that their assets are safe, the rules are stable, the tax system is predictable, and the state stands as their partner,” the Minister said, adding that without building that trust, large investment will not come and industries will not expand. Only if that trust is built, the economic transformation will be possible, he asserted.

Finance Minister Dr Wagle described the meeting not only as an official sitting, but also an opportunity to foster deeper trust, collaboration and commitments between the government and the private sector which is contributing significantly to the nation-building.

He also pledged to establish a ‘response desk’ in the Ministry to address concerns raised by the investment communities.

“We wish to create an atmosphere in which the society could feel pride in the success of industrialists, investors could feel secured, taxpayers could feel respected and youth entrepreneurship could be motivated.”

Being adhered to such belief, we are in the mission for making Nepal an investment-friendly, business-friendly, and production-oriented economy, he said.

Those present in the discussions on behalf of the taxpayers’ side were representatives from Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Ncell Axiata Limited, Aarti Strips Pvt. Ltd., Gorkha Brewery Pvt. Ltd., Himalaya Airlines Pvt. Ltd., Hongshi Shivam Cement Pvt. Ltd., Doosan Enerbility Co., Ltd, Dabur Nepal Private Limited, Bottlers Nepal (Terai) Ltd., Unilever Nepal Limited, Asian Paints (Nepal) Pvt. Ltd., Power Construction Corporation of China, Ltd., Gorkha Lahari Pvt. Ltd., Huaxin Cement Narayani Pvt. Ltd., New Hope Agro Business Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Wellhope Agri-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Varun Beverages Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Turkish Airlines Pvt. Ltd., Bhotekoshi Power Company Pvt. Ltd. and Berger Jenson & Nicholson (Nepal) Pvt. Ltd. were present on the occasion.