KATHMANDU: Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) President Birendra Raj Pandey has identified policy instability and legal complexities as the primary obstacles to the country’s economic development.

Speaking at the 28th annual general meeting of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON) on Friday, he stated that conflicting laws and regulations governing industrial operations have increased business costs and uncertainty.

Pandey urged Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle to repeal or amend outdated and irrelevant economic laws. He highlighted that increasing capital expenditure, accelerating project implementation, improving the environment for private investment, and stimulating market demand remain the key challenges at present.

He emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of the implementation status of programs announced by the government through policies and budgets, as well as their impact on the economy. He stated, ‘Economic journalism has been bringing the problems faced by industrialists, government policies, implementation weaknesses, market trends, and economic possibilities into public debate based on facts.’

Pandey noted that CNI views economic journalism as a crucial partner in policy reform and economic transformation rather than just a medium for news dissemination. Regarding the organization’s approach, he added, ‘CNI is continuously active as a leading institution in taking the voice of Nepal’s industrial and private sector to the policy-making level. We have made policy research, evidence-based suggestions, public-private dialogue, and continuous advocacy for reform our working style.’

The CNI president also highlighted the organization’s initiatives in areas including industrial development, investment promotion, export expansion, production growth, job creation, infrastructure development, digital transformation, energy, and tourism. He acknowledged that the government’s recent steps toward repealing and reforming old laws are positive.