Kathmandu. Kathmandu: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has forwarded homework for operation of one-stop service centre with an objective of providing fast, convenient and coordinated service to national and international investors.

The Board has started preparing to construct this structure with the objective of further improving the investment climate and accelerating investment attraction through quick service delivery.

For this purpose, the Board has assigned Joint Secretary Hemraj Tamang the responsibility of coordinating the one-stop service center while 14 government bodies have appointed ‘contact person’ with authority to make service delivery effective.

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Nepal Rastra Bank, Department of Immigration, Department of Inland Revenue, Department of Industry, Department of Mines and Geology, Department of Customs, Department of Labor and Occupational Security, Department of Electricity Development, Office of Company Registrar and Nepal Telecommunication Authority are the agencies appointing focal persons. The board has said that other agencies can also appoint additional focal persons if it deems necessary.

The Office of the Board has prepared the draft of the work procedure required for operation of one-stop service by coordinating with concerned ministries, departments and bodies, said Chief Executive Officer of the Board Sushil Gyewali. According to him, for the time being, the board has planned to make the service delivery systematic by directly coordinating with the designated focal person.

CEO Gyewali said that the service will be delivered from the same place only after the new office management and work procedure are finalized as the office of the Board was set on fire during the Genji agitation. He said that the use of technology is important because the work is done through ‘automation’ (a technology that automates a task or process with the help of a device, computer or software without human intervention).

During the interaction with the focal persons, Gyawali stressed that all bodies should work with ownership to achieve the national goals related to investment and maintain good governance. “The Investment Board works in coordination with all. Support and cooperation of all bodies is expected in this regard,” he said.

Stating that the investors have been facing difficulties due to the need to visit various agencies, he expressed the belief that the investment related activities would be smooth if the single point service center was implemented effectively.

“The focal person assigned for now will be the single point of contact of the concerned ministries and bodies. They will facilitate in simplifying the files and processes related to the agencies recommended by the Investment Board,” said CEO Gyewali.

Hemraj Tamang, joint secretary at the Investment Board, said that the focal person will help in service delivery as per the Public-Private Partnership Act, 2075, Public and Investment Regulations-2077 and Investment Board’s strategy and business plan. They will also be responsible for providing timely feedback on files and letters received from the Board, acting as a coordinating bridge between the concerned agency and the Board, and acting as an institutional coordinator.