FNCCI decides to elect president through direct voting

KATHMANDU: The president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) will now be elected through direct election.

A meeting of the executive committee of the apex body of the Nepali private sector held in Kathmandu on Monday unanimously approved an amendment to its constitution, paving the way for the direct election of the president.

The amendment, however, will have to be endorsed by the general assembly of the FNCCI.

FNCCI has been automatically elevating its senior vice president to the position of president while other positions are filled through voting.

“Although many attempts were made in the past to amend the statute for the direct election of the president through various task forces and committees, a lack of consensus meant we were automatically elevating the senior vice president to the position of president,” FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal said after the meeting.

According to Dhakal, the new provision will come into effect from the next term when the incumbent senior vice president is elevated to the position of president.

Anjan Shrestha of Laxmi Group is currently serving as the Senior Vice President of FNCCI. He will automatically be elevated to the position of president once incumbent President Dhakal completes his term.

During the FNCCI election held in 2023, Dhakal had expressed commitment to amending the FNCCI constitution so that the president is elected through voting.

According to Dhakal, there will now be two positions each for senior vice president and female vice president.

A special general assembly of the FNCCI to be held in November is expected to pass the amended constitution.