Far Western province investment and development conference uncertain after Gen-z movement

Dhangadhi: The Far Western Province Investment and Development Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Mangshir, has fallen into uncertainty following the destruction of provincial infrastructure during the Gen-z Movement.

The provincial government had planned to host the conference on Mangshir 1 and 2 in Dhangadhi, with preparations ongoing for the past three years. However, the recent unrest has derailed those efforts.

Minister of State for Economic Affairs Prakash Bahadur Bam confirmed that the event is unlikely to take place. “Due to the recent situation, there is no way to organize the conference,” he said. “After seeing such destruction, foreigners will not come to invest.”

The provincial government had aimed to attract both domestic and foreign investment to boost prosperity in the Far Western Province. But Bam noted that the years of preparation are now on the verge of being wasted. “There will be no investment conference now because many things will make it difficult,” he added.

Earlier, on Jestha 21, the government had organized a pre-conference and identified nine priority sectors for investment. Work had also begun on drafting new laws and amending existing ones to create an investment-friendly environment.

However, Dr. Tara Prasad Joshi, coordinator of the Policy and Law Amendment Recommendation Subcommittee under the organizing committee, said the situation no longer supports the event. “I don’t think that foreign investors will come to invest after seeing this situation in the country,” he stated, adding that the likelihood of holding the conference is minimal.

The Genji Movement left key provincial institutions, including the Sudurpaschim Province Assembly, the Chief Minister’s Office, the Council of Ministers’ Office, and several ministries, severely damaged by arson. With 90 percent of the Provincial Assembly infrastructure destroyed, Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari said sessions cannot be held until reconstruction is completed, halting the process of passing or amending laws essential for the investment conference.