Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, has said that Nepal needs to shift away from its current development model.
Speaking at the 9th edition of the NewBiz Conclave & Business Excellence Awards, organised by New Business Age in Kathmandu on Thursday, Adhikari, the special guest, said the prevailing model has failed to deliver results and must be reconsidered. “We need to rethink the development model,” he stated.
Adhikari also emphasised the need to bring greater efficiency to both the public and private sectors, adding that this would require a structural shift in the country’s approach to development.
Earlier in the day, former Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal, delivering the keynote, called for a new wave of home-grown, structural reforms to revive investor confidence and accelerate economic growth. As Chair of the High-Level Economic Reforms Recommendation Commission, Khanal laid out key governance and legal barriers impeding economic momentum—from opaque political financing to outdated, restrictive laws.
The conclave also featured a high-level panel discussion centred on the theme “Driving Growth Through Reform.” Panellists included Gagan Thapa, Member of Federal Parliament and General Secretary of the Nepali Congress; Jabbor Kayumov, CEO of Ncell; Moushumi Shrestha, Executive Director of Shreenagar Agro Group of Companies; and Bal Krishna Joshi, founder of Leapfrog Technology. The session was moderated by advocate Semanta Dahal.
Organised by New Business Age with Asian Paints as the title sponsor, this year's event recognises excellence in nine categories. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award would also be provided to an individual with exceptional contributions to the development of trade and commerce in the country.
