KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has assured construction entrepreneurs that their complaints regarding overdue payments from the government will be addressed soon.

In a meeting with the office-bearers of the Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) at his office in Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Minister Poudel reassured them that there will be no room for complaints regarding outstanding payments.

The newly appointed Minister Poudel also pledged to resolve the longstanding electricity fee dispute between industrialists and the Nepal Electricity Authority concerning the 'dedicated feeder’ and 'trunk line' in accordance with prevailing law.

He mentioned that the Head of the Government has already outlined the government's stance on the 'dedicated feeder and trunk line dispute' and urged construction entrepreneurs not to panic about this matter.

Minister Poudel emphasized that the government will not create any liabilities through illegal means and will avoid such efforts if any arise.

He further stated that the government, as the guardian of the private sector, is always ready to listen to the problems and complaints of the private sector and seek solutions.

"The incumbent government will not let the trust and confidence of the private sector be broken," he vowed, urging the delegation to move ahead with high morale and contribute to nation-building with confidence.

Minister Poudel acknowledged that his biggest challenge as the Minister for Finance is to raise the morale of the private sector and the general public, which he noted has been waning lately.

He expressed concerns over the decreasing demand and exports, along with the recent dip in revenue collection and capital expenditure.

The finance minister also expressed the government's readiness for legal, structural, and practical reforms to boost the morale of the private sector and enhance the construction sector.

He sought suggestions from construction entrepreneurs on how the government can facilitate supportive policies,, He added that the government has adopted a policy of facilitating, supporting, and collaborating with the private sector.

Minister Poudel assured that the government is aware of the inconveniences faced by the private sector regarding policy implementation and legal arrangements and will consider making laws more flexible and easy to address these issues.

He expressed his belief that the monetary policy to be rolled out by the Nepal Rastra Bank in the next fiscal year would address the existing issues of the financial sector.