Nepal Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal Says Distribution Overlooked in Early Economic Reform Phase

Kathmandu — Nepal’s Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal has said that issues of distribution and redistribution were sidelined during the initial phase of the country’s economic reform process.

Speaking at an interaction program, Aryal said the 2080s in the Nepali calendar (beginning 2023) were regarded as the starting point of economic reform, but policy discussions remained largely focused on economic growth.

He said production and economic expansion were treated as immediate priorities at the time, resulting in limited attention to other key issues linked to growth.

Aryal stated that even now, a clear position has not been established on distribution and redistribution alongside economic growth. He emphasized that while growth remains important, clarity is still lacking on how its benefits should be allocated within society.

The Chief Secretary also noted that traditional approaches to industrial transformation have been adopted almost as a policy mantra in reform discussions.