Vaidhya new FNCCI Prez

KATHMANDU, April 13: Suraj Vaidya has been elected the new president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Vaidya beat his contender Ajad Shrestha securing 59 percent of the votes cast.

After being elected to the topmost post of the apex business body, Vaidya appealed to Shrestha and his panel to join hands in strengthening the business community and addressing private sector´s concerns thereby contributing to industrial and economic advancement.

“We face immense problems and challenges. Hence, the differences seen during the election campaign should not be continued,” said Vaidya.

Vaidya succeeds Kush Kumar Joshi and will lead the FNCCI for the next three years. Two of the FNCCI vice-presidents have been elected from the Vaidya panel, while another vice-president is from the Shrestha panel.

FNCCI also got a female vice president for the first time in its history. Bhawani Rana from the Vaidya panel has been elected vice president from district/municipal chambers. She defeated Nirak KC from the Shrestha panel.

Likewise, Pradeep Jung Pandey from Shrestha panel was elected vice president from commodity associations, defeating Kiran Saakha from the Shrestha panel. Pashupati Murarka representing Vaidya panel has been elected vice president from associate members. He defeated Pradeep Man Vaidhya from the Shrestha panel by 61 votes.

Joshi said the first executive meeting of FNCCI will nominate a senior vice president. The meeting has been scheduled for April 15. Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar and Krishna Prasad Tamrakar are in fray for the post.

The 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the country´s apex business body on Tuesday elected 47 executive members, including senior office-bearers, through election. Thirteen executive members were elected unopposed.

According to the FNCCI election committee, a total of 569 representatives were eligible to cast their votes for the elections of the president, three vice presidents, 16 associate members, 14 district/municipal members, 12 commodity members and 14 zonal members. However, three associate members abstained from voting.

Executive members from Sagarmatha and Koshi zones were elected through elections. However, executive members from the remaining 12 zones and a member from bi-national chambers were elected unanimously.

Kush Kumar Joshi, outgoing FNCCI president, handing over the official pin to the newly elected president asked the latter to shoulder the responsibility without any sense of victory and defeat. “I will always be ready to help the newly formed executive committee,” he Joshi.

A total of 102 candidates had fielded their candidacies for the 60-member executive team, including the president. As per the FNCCI statue, district and zonal chambers have 50 percent weight in their votes, while commodity groups and associates have 20 and 30 percent, respectively.