Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat asked automobile traders to start thinking of manufacturing motor vehicles in the country instead of importing.
Addressing the 37th annual general meeting of Nepal Automobiles Dealers’ Association (NADA), here today, he asked the traders to shift their focus from automobiles to infrastructure projects like hydropower too.
Government’s first priority is to expand the road network, he said, adding that the tax issues will be dealt later. Saying that the government was positive to slashing customs duty on public transportation rather than on private cars and motorcycles, he said that the added vehicles in a small cities is not a god idea.
“Public transportation and taxi services are worse in the cities,” he said, informing that the government’s decision to formulate plans to improve them.
President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradip Jung Pandey, on the occasion, asked the government to reduce customs duty on motor vehicles as it is the highest in the world.
Likewise. NADA president Shekhar Golchha said that the government has been discouraging domestic automobile sector by imposing higher taxes.
