The preparation for Nepal Business Conclave-2014 is complete and Nepal is ready to welcome former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad as the key note speaker in the inaugural ceremony on Sunday.

“We are eager to welcome the engineer of Malaysia’s economic development,” said president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Suraj Vaidya here today.

The two-day Nepal Business Conclave-2014 – on March 23-24 – hosted jointly by the FNCCI and the government is aimed at attracting domestic as well as foreign investors. “A few members of Mahathir’s team have already arrived,” he said, adding that Mahathir steered Malaysia towards prosperity from a political situation similar to Nepal’s and that his remarks would hold a big significance.

Mahathir transformed a poor agrarian Malaysian economy into an economically developed country in a generation, Vaidya said. “Malaysia has come along a long way over the past 30 years, and we can learn many things from the Malaysia.”

During his stay in Nepal, Mahathir will meet political and business leaders, is  likely to have a mountain flight and a brief visit to the tourist city Pokhara.

The conclave will also see governor of China’s Hunan Province LI Jiheng as one of the speakers.

Vaidya also informed that a 35-member Malaysian delegation led by president of Perbadanan Putrajaya, Tan Sri Dato Aseh Bin Che Mat; 33 investors from China; eight companies from the United Kingdom; and seven companies from Canada are also participating in the two-day event that is also expected to see some six bilateral investment agreements in education, tourism and agriculture sectors.

FNCCI is also showcasing 53 potential investment projects – Nepal Investment Project Profile – to the investors. Of the 53 projects roughly totaling to Rs 215 billion; 12 are infrastructure projects, 10 agro, 10 hydropower projects, eight tourism, seven service, five manufacturing and one mine and minerals, he added.

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