We were recently greeted with the news that Mr. Radesh Pant, a distinguished banker of Nepal, has been appointed the CEO of the new quango, the Investment Board. The concept of the Investment Board sounds like a real hope for the revival of Nepalese economy until one reads the Investment Board Act itself. Although, the “marketing and promotion” function of the board is indeed positive, there is hardly anything the board can do to help foreign investors or remove the inherent obstacles or risks associated with investing in Nepal.

Mr. Radesh Pant, CEO, Nepal Investment Board studied aeronautical engineering at IIT. He went to UCLA Anderson School of Business for his MBA and has worked in many renowned companies in the USA. After spending a decade in the US, he returned to Nepal in 1999. After coming back to Nepal, he became the advisor of Necon Air and joined the Bank of Kathmandu as a director.

When Nepal Airlines Corporation announced a vacancy for 119 positions last month, it received an astounding 23,000 applications . As in the past, the state of affairs was touted as another instance of the severity of unemployment problem in Nepal.

“The Deal Maker” written by Rakesh Wadhwa with Leon Louw is not just about the heroic story of the main protagonist- Sudesh Kumar, his capabilities of making a clever deal for the benefits of the country and his ability to convince people easily through his argument and speech. “The Deal Maker” is mainly about respecting individual freedom and respecting rule of law. It’s about democracy and free market which is the best means for peace and prosperity.