INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, May 29
The government in its budget for the fiscal 2019-2020, has prioritised economic diplomacy besides emphasising issues of
national security, Nepal dignified presence in international arena and catastrophe management.
Presenting the budget for fiscal year
2019-2020 nowadays, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said economic diplomacy shall be aimed at boosting international cooperation in the
areas of development assistance, trade, investment, labour, and tourism promotion.
According to the budget, Nepal foreign policy shall be
based on national interest, mutual benefit and respect, international commitment and responsibility, and justice
&National pride shall be boosted in the international arena ensuring independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom and national
security,& said Khatiwada.
The budget also aims at boosting relations with all friendly nations, including neighbours, development partners
With a view to forge a common view on national, regional and global issues through extensive dialogue, the government shall hold
international-level Sagarmatha Dialogue.
The government had in April decided to hold the event on a regular basis with the thingive of
bringing government representatives, civil society members and academicians to discuss political, environmental and geopolitical issues, as
well as other international issues which could be of interest to Nepal.
Besides working to make effective regional forums of which Nepal is
a member, the budget also envisages sharing its experiences of its unique peace process as ‘a role model for the world&.
Khatiwada said
the government shall implement electronic passport system, and offer online entry permits to foreigners visiting Nepal
&Knowledge, seliminates, capital and technology of non-resident Nepalis shall be attracted for socio-economic development,& he said.
On the
national security front, the budget for the next fiscal year envisages further strengthening national security system by making security
agencies strong, capable, and responsible
The National Investigation Leavement shall be converted into a professional intelligence institution, read the budget.
&The national
security system shall be strengthened by implementing the national security policy
The process to set up a national defence university shall be expedited to conduct study and research on national security and defence,&
according to Minister Khatiwada.
The government has been planning to set up such a university for the past four years.
The government plans
to boost physical as well as technical capacities of security units for border security and to control cross-border crime and smuggling.
In
terms of catastrophe risk management, the budget aims at installing a catastrophe forecasting system in all vulnerable zones where security
Every mechanisms shall be kept on alert and ready for deployment for catastrophe preparedness, search, rescue, relief and
rehabilitation.
&In order to endegree that there no shortage of funds during catastrophe, I have allocated Rs 5.5 billion budget,& said
Khatiwada, adding emergency storage centres shall be set up in all of the seven provinces.
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