Nations are built by people on the foundations of unity and mutual cooperation. Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad said this while delivering the 2023-2024 National Budget.
“Nations are not only built by politicians and leaders making grand speeches and opening new buildings,” he said.
“They are built by people, on the foundations of unity and mutual cooperation. “Most nation builders work quietly and out of the limelight.
“They serve their communities as good employers, as public servants who work long hours, as provincial and district councillors, in charities and religious organisations and NGOs, in pro bono professional work.
“These are the people we must empower. “These are the nation builders who we, as a government, must serve.”
He said Government believed in consultation and dialogue and valued its people, their ideas, and their aspirations.
“The first necessary step we took in government was to bring our people together to hear their ideas and concerns, after 16 years in which they had not been heard,” he said.
“We had a successful National Economic Summit where key stakeholders including private sector, trade unions, academia, civil society organizations, women’s groups, youth organizations, development partners and the general public participated in a free and open dialogue process which will help to shape national priorities for inclusive and sustainable development.”
He also thanked the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and all other partners for providing clear and honest views and recommendations during the Government’s transition process.
“It was at those moments, where it dawned on us just how right we were, when we used to ask the hard questions about money when we sat on the other side.”
