Print ArticleThe woeful story that some Nepalese never fail to repeat is 1. The country is landlocked 2. Population has very low level of skills 3. The country has very few resources.
1. Switzerland is a landlocked country, over the centuries it has built itself into one of the most powerful economies in the world.
2. Population has very low level of skills, agreed but it need not remain that way. Literacy is one step, vocational training is another, education is the third way. Dubai has only 10 per cent natives the balance 90 per cent are from outside working there or doing business. (Like Nepal they also have a rule that any foreign business must have a local partner.)
Today only 15 per cent of Dubai´s GDP is from oil revenues. Under Sheikh Mohammed bin Makhtoum they carefully husbanded oil earnings and developed other sectors. Considering that oil revenues started accruing only in 1967 the country has made huge strides. So using resources is very important.
3. In today´s world it is much easier for a country to get loans than it was in the seventies and eighties. For example India which has huge debts has committed $ 1.2 billion as aid towards Afghanistan alone in the near future. The World Bank, IMF and ADB are there, but funds have to be used wisely. Finally for Nepal, China is another potential source of loans or grants.
So raising resources are not the problem, proper selection of projects and implementation are the problematic areas.
Winner : Nepalese are free to work in India without permits
So the government should allow training facilities in these areas. Recruiters agree that communication skills are the single most important criteria in getting a job.
In India a whole lot of centers training people in English and other soft skills have emerged that fuel the domestic call centre industry and also corporations.
Airtel, Reliance, Hero are either eyeing this sector or have already entered it. There is a small company called MIE (Making India Employable) which has secured venture funding to start training centers around India.
Nepal could actively invite a company to set up shop in the country, rather than wait for just anyone.
While this may benefit only a small section of the population, it acts as a powerful motivator.
´Human export´ is what made the people in the state of Kerala in India rich. They started of by doing menial tasks but moved into other businesses.
Nepal can target it consciously choosing other targets like the middle east and even western nations which have a ´guest worker´ scheme. Guest workers require a minimum work skill set and in some cases language skills.
So Nepal should consciously think of sending more of its population to work in India and other countries as one strategy to boost the nation.
1. Switzerland is a landlocked country, over the centuries it has built itself into one of the most powerful economies in the world.
2. Population has very low level of skills, agreed but it need not remain that way. Literacy is one step, vocational training is another, education is the third way. Dubai has only 10 per cent natives the balance 90 per cent are from outside working there or doing business. (Like Nepal they also have a rule that any foreign business must have a local partner.)
Today only 15 per cent of Dubai´s GDP is from oil revenues. Under Sheikh Mohammed bin Makhtoum they carefully husbanded oil earnings and developed other sectors. Considering that oil revenues started accruing only in 1967 the country has made huge strides. So using resources is very important.
3. In today´s world it is much easier for a country to get loans than it was in the seventies and eighties. For example India which has huge debts has committed $ 1.2 billion as aid towards Afghanistan alone in the near future. The World Bank, IMF and ADB are there, but funds have to be used wisely. Finally for Nepal, China is another potential source of loans or grants.
So raising resources are not the problem, proper selection of projects and implementation are the problematic areas.
Winner : Nepalese are free to work in India without permits
So the government should allow training facilities in these areas. Recruiters agree that communication skills are the single most important criteria in getting a job.
In India a whole lot of centers training people in English and other soft skills have emerged that fuel the domestic call centre industry and also corporations.
Airtel, Reliance, Hero are either eyeing this sector or have already entered it. There is a small company called MIE (Making India Employable) which has secured venture funding to start training centers around India.
Nepal could actively invite a company to set up shop in the country, rather than wait for just anyone.
While this may benefit only a small section of the population, it acts as a powerful motivator.
´Human export´ is what made the people in the state of Kerala in India rich. They started of by doing menial tasks but moved into other businesses.
Nepal can target it consciously choosing other targets like the middle east and even western nations which have a ´guest worker´ scheme. Guest workers require a minimum work skill set and in some cases language skills.
So Nepal should consciously think of sending more of its population to work in India and other countries as one strategy to boost the nation.
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