Kathmandu. Prime Minister BalendraShah has directed government agencies to use domestic products. The Prime Minister’s Office has urged all government agencies to use domestic products and services based on the directives of the Prime Minister and consultation with domestic entrepreneursand entrepreneurs. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, this step has been taken to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of the existing law related to public procurement.

Issuing a letter, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has requested all public bodies including federal ministries, commissions, secretariats, provincial governments, local levels and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to give priority to Nepali products in their procurement process.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the government has taken this initiative to strictly adhere to the existing legal provisions with the objective of increasing the contribution of domestic production to the national economy, to replace the increasing imports, to promote the domestic production, to protect local skills and enterprises and to create employment in the country.As per the request, Nepali handicraft products should be used as far as possible in government office meetings, ceremonies, koseli, gifts and decoration materials. 

Similarly, domestic production should be given first priority while purchasing stationery, printing materials, furniture, furnishings, construction materials, machinery tools and equipment, agricultural and animal products, and food and beverages.It has been clarified that domestic goods should be purchased by assuring the standards of availability, quality, price and safety of the goods subject to the Public Procurement Act, 2063 BS and other prevailing legal provisions. 

Also, public bodies must mention the issue of giving priority to domestic production while preparing the tender documents. For the effective implementation of this provision, the heads of the bodies concerned should regularly monitor the purchase of domestic goods while the ministries should inspect it on a quarterly basis to ensure the use of domestic goods.