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About CNI

CNI’s origin was based on the widespread belief that the industrial community of Nepal urgently needed an effective representative body that would serve as a true platform to address many issues plaguing the Nepalese industries. There was need for a modern professional body with well-trained and experienced professional staff that would be fully supported by the latest technological advancements. In addition, it had to be well connected with suitable regional and global organizations such as the World Economic Forum and other international Chambers. This body would thus be capable of not only providing useful policy inputs to the government but also ensuring the implementation of the same.

This organization focuses on the businesses which are the substantial sectoral leaders of today’s economy. These would include businesses from all sectors (with local or foreign investments) and would be all-encompassing in terms of geography as well as the nature of the business, be it manufacturing, tourism, financial services, exports, infrastructure, health or education. After much speculation in the country’s business community, the apex body of Nepalese industrialists, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), was established by the captains of Nepal’s Industrial and corporate sector on April 17, 2002.

Since its establishment, CNI has been raising issues like the persistent economic situation imbroglio, need for reforms in financial sector, strengthening of private sector's capabilities, the streamlining of private sector's initiation on development agenda, double digit growth issues and industrialization based on trade competitiveness. It is an organization that works in coordination with other organizations and is increasingly becoming involved in areas where the existing system has failed to deliver. The organization is working along the lines of several organizations in various developing countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. and hopes to hire expertise as well as bilateral support in development of the Confederation, the theme of which is, “Talking Business, Talking Change”.

Vision

To play a lead role in making the country's industrial sector vibrant, resilient as well as globally competitive and to promote an investment-friendly environment to achieve a sustainable double-digit economic growth.

Mission

The primary working area of CNI includes encouraging positive competition and competent management among the industries, promoting domestic and foreign investment and creating employment opportunities in the country's industrial and corporate sectors.

Values

To provide meaningful policy inputs to the government in the area of industrial development, investment and export promotion, trade facilitation, industrial relation being a "Think Tank" of country's economic and industrial sector.

Objectives and Goals

The principal objective of CNI is to encourage positive competition and competent management among the industries while promoting domestic and foreign investment and creating employment opportunities in the country’s industrial and corporate sectors. Apart from this, CNI has identified the following specific goals and is working towards achieving the same:
- To represent the country’s manufacturing and services industries.
- To provide meaningful policy inputs to the government in the area of industrial development, investment and export promotion, trade facilitation, industrial relations, etc.
- To act as a forerunner of major changes in the global economic and business scenarios and possible impacts on Nepal.
- To help in creating an industrial environment conducive to domestic and foreign investment.
- To work closely with the government on policy formulation and implementation issues.
- To enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of Nepalese industries.
- To create opportunities for the country’s industrial growth through specialized services and global linkages.
-To act as a platform of consensus building and networking for Public-Private Partnership in development agendas.
- To develop CNI as a ‘Think Tank’ institution for the management and development of the economic and industrial sectors of Nepal through research and development.

CNI Policies

Economic reforms in the country started in the mid 1980s. The reforms were intensified and augmented in the early 1990s after the restoration of democracy in 1990. Since the early nineties, Nepal has implemented extensive legal and policy reforms to facilitate its integration with the global economy. Like many other developing countries, Nepal also pursued an inward looking and state-led development strategy. However, the impact of these reforms on trade, economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) needs to be strengthened. Political instability, lower literacy rate, under-utilization of available resources, geographical difficulty, etc. are some of the reasons behind Nepal being unable to attract a large number of investors. Unlike other years, this year the Covid 19 pandemic has largely hampered domestic as well as foreign investment performance. Despite these challenges, CNI believes that Nepal can build the economy through its privileged geographical access to two economic giants as its neighboring countries with huge markets, young population, flourishing local entrepreneurial culture and expanded networking and economic diplomacy at national and international levels. With abundant natural resources, Nepal has the potential to attract investment from domestic and foreign investors. Towards this advanced reform in existing policies as well as incentives and reforms for industries of Nepal must be prioritized. With this view, CNI aims to work with the government and development partners to improve the investment climate, investment performance and industrial development. In order to achieve the goal of double digit economic growth, CNI adheres to the following policies while performing its activities: - Foreign Direct Investment is one of the important engines for economic development. However, there is tough competition to attract FDI. CNI, in association with the Government of Nepal, will make an effort to change the mindset of foreign investors from ‘Why Nepal’ to ‘Why Not Nepal’.
- Infrastructure is crucial for investment promotion and industrial development of a country. To develop infrastructure at a faster pace, besides peace and security, CNI will help the Government of Nepal to bring favorable investment policies so that private investment and FDI can be attracted into infrastructure projects.
- Productivity, the most crucial variable for dynamic economic growth and employment creation, is low because the government is not oriented towards productivity enhancement; rather they are focused on cheap labor. CNI will function to enhance industrial relations; increased investment in human resources; paying living wages; introduction of modern technology, and a strategic vision, based on consensus and making stringent labor laws to increase the labor productivity.
- As leaders of the private sector, CNI will focus on increasing productivity through skill development and technology adaptation programs for national economic growth and risk management in the unfolding era of uncertainty, crisis and conflict.
- The cost of transaction and cost of funds should be reduced with utmost urgency to uplift the competitiveness of the Nepalese economy and to ameliorate the investment climate. In this respect, CNI is very sincere and ready to work with the government as well as Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of Nepal, on issues of financial sector reform and capital market development, which in turn will be instrumental in enhancing financial deepening and reducing the cost of capital.

Become a CNI Member

Create a "Prosperous Nepal", wherein this prosperity reaches across the country to all our fellow citizens.

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