Source: The Kathmandu Post 23th Sept. 2005

In the first ever concrete efforts for restoring peace by bringing the warring factions to a negotiating table, leading industrialists and businessmen today launched 'National Business Initiative' (NBI).

The NBI, which has incorporated thirteen leading business organization, also aims to create conducive environment for a sustainable settlement of the conflict. "NBI is a voluntary association which aims to create synergy and bring all membership business organizations under one roof to make consolidated efforts toward peace building process," said Padma Jyoti, coordinator of the NBI executive committee.

Announcing the launch of the Initiative amid a function here today, he said that the goal of the NBI was to achieve sustainable peace in Nepal through just socio-economic growth. "It is also a commitment demonstrated by the Nepali private sector to play a constructive role in peace building in the country," states a statement issued on the occasion.

In a bid to express the private sector's solidarity to the NBI peace building and equitable socio-economic development initiative, the NBI also organized a peace rally in Kathmandu with a slogan Jagau shanti ka lagi jutau (Let's wake up and unite for peace).

The rally was participated by around 300 senior business leaders, representatives of chambers of commerce, various membership business organizations, professional organizations, civil society and human right activists. It started from Bhuikhel of Swayambhu and concluded after encircling the Swayambhu stupa.

NBI Coordinator Jyoti, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandi Raj Dhakal, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, President of Hotel Association of Nepal Narendra Bajracharya, President of Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, Sukunta Lal Hirachan and President of Nepal Film Producers Association Ashok Sharma, among others, expressed solidarity and commitment to the nine principles of NBI on creation of peaceful society through equitable socio-economic development.

Addressing the rally, Jyoti said that although business community cannot play a role of the principal actor in political settlement of conflict, it can act as a facilitator and make significant contributions towards peace building process,? he said.

Broadly welcoming the recently declared unilateral ceasefire of the Maoists, he, however, raised a question over its sustainability. He also said that NBI will pay a due consideration in minimizing key factors like extreme poverty, faulty distribution of resources and weak social justice which has fuelled the conflict. Armin Hofmann, principal advisor of the GTZ-PSP/RUFIN shared Sri Lankan experience where the private sector played a lead role in peace building efforts and said that business community can also play such role in Nepal.

He also said that a stable and vibrant economy can't be achieved as long as the conflicts continue in the country.