Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa on Friday said the country’s economic growth rate would reach eight percent next year.

Speaking at a joint press conference hosted by the Press Chautari and Press Center, Morang here, Minister Thapa expressed hope that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, presented by the government recently, would help bring development and prosperity in the country. He seemed optimistic of the country achieving double-digit economic growth by the next couple of years.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit to India and his State Visit to China this month would consolidate bilateral ties and propel Nepal’s infrastructure development, business and trade through agreements with its two neighbours.

The minister said the high inflation rate and retail prices of some goods were due to the international market forces and not because of the domestic market compulsions. He reiterated that Oli government is committed to good governance and controlling black marketing.

He said the central government had allocated sufficient budget to provincial governments. He promised action against contractors responsible for delays in development projects.Replying to a question on the gold being smuggled in the country through Tribhuvan International Airport, he said, “Authorities are investigating the case. The government will leave no stone unturned to bring the criminals to book.”

He assured of ending the menace of cartels operating in many sectors such as transport, education, health, construction and agriculture and providing quality goods and services to the citizens while promoting fair competition in the market.

He reiterated that the unification between the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is a turn for the better and would usher development and prosperity in Nepal.