The Centre for Organizational Development organized a roundtable discussion on “Post-Budget Dialogue: Assessing the Impact on Nepal’s Public Enterprises” on 2082 Asar 17. This discussion aimed to foster in-depth discussion on the post-budget impact on public enterprises, including the impact of current policies and programs, existing challenges, and potential reform strategies. The roundtable talk brought together twenty-nine top-level officials, including CEOs, Deputy CEOs, General Manager, Deputy General Managers, Joint Secretaries, etc. from 3 ministries—Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; and Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and 15 public enterprises to share experiences and explore actionable recommendations to strengthen governance, performance, management efficiency and accountability in public enterprises. The event was chaired by the Executive Director of NASC, Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini. Mr. Pudasaini presented the thematic paper on the topic. Former Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Mr. Suresh Pradhan was invited as a commentator. Mr. Binod Kumar Bista, department head of Management Learning Group moderated the session. At the beginning of the program, Mr. Bista welcomed the experts and participants by highlighting the objectives, rationale, and importance of the program.

Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini delivered a comprehensive thematic presentation on the current status, key issues, and challenges facing Nepal’s public enterprises. He also analyzed the government’s policy direction for public enterprise management as outlined in the FY 2082/83 national budget. In his presentation, he emphasized the underlying rationale for establishing and sustaining public enterprises, identified critical success factors relevant across contexts, and proposed actionable recommendations and reform strategies aimed at enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness. The presentation was followed by an engaging discussion, during which participants raised pertinent issues and questions that were thoughtfully addressed by the experts.

Mr. Pradhan, commented on the thematic paper, stressing the importance of economic and political factors in PEs performance. He emphasized the necessity of strategic partnerships in the areas of public procurement, investment, technology, and management. Mr. Pradhan also identified the bureaucratic mindset in PEs management as a core obstacle and raised concerns over increasing unfunded liabilities, which pose growing fiscal risks. He concluded by underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing the systemic issues within public enterprises.

In the closing remarks, Executive Director of NASC, Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini reiterated that the effective management of public enterprises requires collective effort and sustained commitment from all stakeholders. He expressed appreciation for the constructive inputs provided by the expert and participants, noting that such dialogues are crucial for informed decision-making in the public sector.