NAIMA urges Ministry to revise agency registration rules to support automobile sector

KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: A delegation from the Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) met with Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Deepak Kumar Sah on Thursday to address current challenges posed by agency registration regulations on the automotive industry.

During the meeting, NAIMA raised concerns regarding the mandatory 0.5 percent capital deposit required when registering an agency or adding new products, alongside ambiguities surrounding the definition of a “product”. The association highlighted that treating different models under the same brand as separate products forces businesses to deposit distinct fees for each model, tying up substantial capital and placing a heavy financial burden on entrepreneurs.

NAIMA requested that the ministry clearly define the term “product” and remove the requirement for separate deposits for individual models under the same brand, noting that formal written suggestions on the matter had already been submitted previously.

In response, Minister Sah took a positive view of the issues raised and assured the delegation that the ministry would review previous decisions and initiate necessary processes to make agency registration rules more business- and entrepreneur-friendly. NAIMA expressed appreciation for the ministry’s receptive approach and reiterated its commitment to collaborate by providing further data, details, and recommendations during the review process.

The NAIMA delegation included board members Nirakar Shrestha and Udayan Kabra, Strategy and Membership Affairs Committee Convener Akash Golchha, Executive Director Raj Kumar Dulal, and representatives from member companies Shasheela Motors Pvt. Ltd., Omni Motors Pvt. Ltd., Spark Automotives Pvt. Ltd., and Continental Trading Enterprises.