KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government is fully confident that effective management and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to fight the pandemic.
In his address to the Kantipur Economic Summit- 2021 virtually today, the Prime Minister said the government was working on the immediate, mid-term and long-term anti-COVID strategies to revive economy hit by the pandemic.
“On the one hand, we are committed to approaching every vaccine manufacturing company in the world for vaccines if necessary and on the other hand we will ensure the just distribution of vaccines,” the Prime Minister said.
As he said, till the COVID-19 Vaccination Weekend, a total of 7.8 people have received at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the situation has been created to vaccinate up to 367 thousand populations in a day.
Additional 10 million doses of vaccines will be arriving in the country by upcoming mid-October and the government has promised to provide vaccines to all eligible citizens by coming mid-April, according to the Prime Minister. “In addition to this, our strategies against COVID-19 will be based on scientific suggestions and the consultations of health experts.”
Relief programme keeping economic stability intact Prime Minister Deuba has said the main policy of the operation of post-vaccine economy would be for keeping the aggregate economic stability intact and preparing the framework of the proper relief programmes.
Last year, interest rates were also reduced due to a slowdown in economic activity and lower demand for loans because of the pandemic. The deduction in interest rate had provided some relief for those investors running business with loans, he added. The PM went on to say that the government would remain attentive towards the prevention of the possibility of the uncontrolled rise in interest rates when economic activities would take a momentum. As he assured, the protection of small investors and entrepreneurs and the promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises through various targeted programmes would be the priorities of the government.
“To create demand for the production of big industries, to ensure loans from financial institutions for individuals involved in informal economy and to ensure regular and better market for agro-products will be areas of government focus,” the head of the government announced.
According to him, the government has announced COVID-19 vaccines and reliefs to the infection-hit sectors including tourism, transport, party palace and departmental stores. The government would focus on creating a preliminary framework for the upliftment of the virus-hit country post infection, COVID-19 vaccines and mid-term economic policy, said the PM.
Speeding up the implementation of roads, carrying out reforms to increase investment in industry sector by amending laws as per need and upgradation of hospitals have been prioritised. The government’s long-term strategy would be based on the conclusions of the study of whole economic and geography affected by COVID-19.
