Kathmandu. It has been a week since Swarnim Wagle assumed office as Finance Minister of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s single government. During this one week, Finance Minister Wagle has done important works.
In fact, Finance Minister Wagle had taken 3 decisions during his assumption of office. Wagle was the first decision to prepare a 100-day and half-yearly and annual action plan for the implementation of election promises.
Likewise, Finance Minister Wagle had taken the second decision to scrap 15 acts including those recommended in the report of the High Level Economic Reform Suggestions Commission, 2081 BS. His third decision was to prepare a roadmap for comprehensive economic legal reform by prioritizing new bills or their amendments, including protection and promotion of private enterprises and business and facilitation of big development projects.
A Week’s Important Task
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Posting on merit
Finance Minister Wagle appointed 30 undersecretaries on the basis of merit through a ministerial-level decision. A total of 30 revenue sub-secretaries were posted on the basis of merit.
Ministry’s internal briefing
Minister Wagle is taking briefing of important divisions and offices under the Ministry of Finance. He is engaged in regular discussions and interactions.
Wagle has been taking detailed information about the structure and work progress of the offices under the ministry, budget implementation, revenue collection and measures to control revenue leakage. Wagle has already taken briefings of 6 divisions, 2 departments, 2 offices and one authority. The briefing was held by the Budget Division, International Economic Relations Division, Revenue Management Division, Financial Federalism Coordination Division, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Financial Sector Division, Nepal Insurance Authority, Office of Auditor General, Department of Customs and Inland Revenue Department.
Instructions to prevent revenue leakage
Finance Minister Wagle has called a meeting of the High-Level Revenue Leakage Control Committee and directed the security agencies and revenue administration to take effective steps to control revenue leakage. He directed the government to collect revenue without causing any trouble to the service seekers and not only to meet the target of revenue for the current fiscal year but also to collect more revenue than that.
Information about the government’s priorities and policies to the private sector
Prior to this, Wagle had held discussions and interactions with the office-bearers of 3 major organizations of the private sector, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, he apprised the private sector about the new political context and the mandate for the formation of a new government.
Stating that the government would move ahead with a policy to encourage the private sector, Finance Minister Wagle urged the industrialists and entrepreneurs to support the government in a constructive way and increase investment.
Budget Preparation Begins
Finance Minister Wagle for the next fiscal year 2083. A budget writing committee has been formed under the convenorship of Joint Secretary Uttar Khatri to write the budget for the fiscal year 84. The committee is getting complete. In the meantime, he has taken more than 3 dozen ministerial decisions.
Revenue Advisory Interaction Begins
Finance Minister Wagle has started participating in an interaction related to revenue consultation targeting the budget for the coming fiscal year. He was in Birgunj on Friday for an interaction on revenue consultation and monitoring and inspection of the country’s largest customs office.
On the occasion, Finance Minister Wagle inspected the Birgunj Integrated Customs Check Pass Center (ICP) and Inland Revenue Offices, Parsa and Bara and participated in the discussion and interaction organized by Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry to give suggestions on the budget for the coming fiscal year.
