Next budget would be development focused: minister koirala

Kathmandu, June 10: Minister for Finance, Shankar Koirala, has said that the next budget would be development focused.

            At a programme organised by the Finance Ministry and Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON) here today, Minister Koirala said that the budget would not be influenced from any political ideology and slogans.

            He said high priority would be given to energy, infrastructure development, tourism and export-oriented activities in the budget.

            The Finance Minister said that poverty alleviation, increasing employment, investment-friendly environment, increasing foreign investment and economic good governance would be the main goal of the budget.  

            He further said that there is a challenge that economic growth rate should be seven per cent every year to make Nepal a developed country within 2022.

            On the occasion, Finance Secretary, Shantaraj Subedi, said that revenue collection is increased by more than eight billion rupees in the current fiscal year as compared to previous fiscal year and added that now emphasis should be given on capital expenditure.

            Subedi said that preparation of the draft of foreign assistance policy is underway.

            Similarly, Chairman of SEJON, Pradeep Chaulagain, said that the budget should take a concrete step for the economic good governance and stability in the country.

            Economic journalists, who participated in the programme, suggested financial reform and mobilization of communities in the budget. RSS