Paudel promises to expedite contractor payments

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has expressed commitment to release pending payments to construction entrepreneurs soon.

Speaking with a delegation led by Ravi Singh, the president of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal (FCAN), at the finance minister on Friday, Paudel acknowledged that the delay in releasing payments to construction entrepreneurs has sent a wrong message. Paduel said he has held discussions with secretaries of the concerned ministry for the immediate release of payments to construction entrepreneurs.

“The government and the construction entrepreneurs are on the same boat; there’s no alternative but to move forward through cooperation,” Poudel said. He added that other issues faced by the construction sector would be addressed gradually.

On the occasion, FCAN President Ravi Singh requested Minister Poudel to provide subsidies to the construction industry similar to those given to agriculture and water resources sectors.