Memorandum Submitted to Former Home Minister by Morang Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, a delegation from the Morang Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) met with former Home Minister and senior Nepali Congress leader Mr. Bal Krishna Khand during his visit to Biratnagar.

The delegation apprised him of the prevailing challenges faced by industrialists and businesspersons and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention and initiation with the government to address these issues.

The delegation was led by former President of MCCI and Central Member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Mr. Navin Rijal, along with former President Mr. Pawan Kumar Sarda and Senior Vice President Mr. Anil Kumar Shah. During the meeting, the team acknowledged that the economic and monetary policies announced for the upcoming fiscal year of Nepal 2082/83 are relatively more industry- and business-friendly compared to previous years.

However, they also highlighted concerns regarding recent tax rate revisions on certain goods and outlined several pressing needs of the industrial and business sectors that require immediate attention.

While presenting the memorandum, Mr. Navin Rijal emphasized the urgent need to reduce Nepal’s excessively high insurance premium rates and to repeal what he described as unfair insurance-related provisions.

He further urged the removal of customs duties imposed on the export of scrap iron dust and broken glass, stating that such duties adversely affect export-oriented industries.

Former President Mr. Pawan Kumar Sarda drew attention to the increased customs duty levied on raw materials—particularly MS (Mild Steel) wire rods—used by wire rod manufacturing industries. He also called for the exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the import of essential cotton-based garments, citing their importance to consumers and domestic trade.

Senior Vice President Mr. Anil Kumar Shah raised concerns over the imposition of a 2% luxury tax on the sale of gold and gold jewelry, as well as the 13% VAT applied to jewelry embedded with precious stones.

He requested Mr. Khand to take initiative at his level to urge the government to reconsider and amend these provisions.

The delegation also included Vice President (Commerce) Mr. Anil Sarda, General Secretary Mr. Sanjay Kumar Shrestha, members of the Executive Committee, invited members, and representatives from the Women Entrepreneurs Committee.