Finance Minister sees need of cooperative feeling

Kathmandu, Nov 23
Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada has spoken of the need of cooperation rather than the feeling of competition among the federal, province and local levels.
While inaugurating the provincial seminar on the ‘role of province and locals in the promotion of cooperative sector’ organised by the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal here today, he said the public-cooperative-private cooperation was the model of development promoted by Nepal and province and local levels were expected to realise this spirit.
As he said, complementary roles for each other would help meet the goals of inclusive society based on social justice. He took the time to advise the province and local level representatives to encourage opening dairy industries and fruits processing centers in the country.
Federation Chairman Keshav Prasad Badal urged the local representatives not to consider cooperatives, remaining as a backbone of nation’s economy, as a form of NGOs.
Province-3 State Assembly member Pashupati Chaulagai described the cooperatives as a collective body incorporating around four million people from all religions, thoughts, culture, age group and community.
UNDP Nepal representative Renaud Meyer said the international organisation was assisting for the further promotion and expansion of cooperative sector remaining as an effective means for alleviating poverty, for the modernization of agriculture and for addressing the development and food safety issues in Nepal.
National Cooperative Board’s co-chair Daksha Poudel highlighted need of commercialization of cooperatives and enhancing the quality of their services. The two-day seminar organised with the theme of ‘cooperatives for the achievements of sustainable development goals’ is attended by representatives of district coordination committees and local representatives of province 3.