Trip to Kathmandu-Sharjaha- Kabul:

Nahakul K.C.; Kabul

21/02/2011

Recently I was travelling to Nepal for my annual leave and R&R (rest and recreation leave which is provided to international employee working in non family duty stations). The trip was made via new route via Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs. This trip was able to manage due to recent flight schedule of Air Arebia. This trip was able to make same day reach to Kathmandu Nepal. Where I was able to save two travel days, when I used to travel via Delhi route. Thanks to Air Arebia.

Delhi-India route is better transit points for Nepalese travelers despite some minor misbehave of Indian Immigration Officers. There is no need visa and outside of the airport we can travel easily. Our food, culture and traditions is similar there is good environment. There are a lot of budget hotels and Karol Bagh and PahadGunj.

This trip of Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs encouraged to me write some feelings due two reasons; one was our foreign policy and lack of business competency of Nepalese private sectors and second one is about Nepalese labor market out of the Nepal. First let me take an opportunity to brief about the Nepalese private sectors and government neglected to tap opportunities with tie-up business relationship with Afghanistan. Being SAARC member and neighboring countries there are more potentialities for business opportunities in the minerals, labor and other bi-lateral issues. Here are more than 40000 ex Gurkhas, security staff and logistical workers and 200 plus professionals of various sectors are serving to the Afghan government, American and private companies. Second one; what I observed in this trip all most all seats (275 seater airbus) was full of Nepalese labors form various middle east countries, Doha, Dubai, UAE and Afghanistan. This author rarely found professionals are travelling by this airbus. Most of the labor class people from Nepal and pilgrims were traveling from Kabul to Sharajaha who were visiting to Karbala.

It shows more opportunities and threat for country like Nepal. The labor market has opportunity to get income and send remittances to the Nepal and their families. This remittance is one of the strong back bond economic strengthen of the country. But many labors are sharing their feelings and pain which they felt in their working countries. There are fundamental issues how government of Nepal can prepare to send trend and skills labor in to these labor markets. Now, Nepal is ruled by the pro communist parties, which are principally disagreed to send Nepalese youths abroad for the labor markets. What is their plan to stop them in Nepal and how??? So Nepalese communists should be clear before talking radical issues among the youths they should think twice.

We are just seeing to Afghanistan as War Zone country, but there private sector of Afghanistan is becoming stronger day by day. Six private companies are managing international flights and domestics. Where in Nepalese private sector is able to manage domestic flights except by Buddha Air.

My advices are to government of Nepal to learn from Afghanistan and Arabian countries, to promote private airlines for the promotion of tourism and to make success of Tourism Year 2011. In the longer national flagship airlines needs to be none politicized which is very much important to make success of the counties. This is the time for Public Private Partnership to promote this sector.