[icernet] Nepal jitters over foreign media investment

[Arul Selvan]

  Nepal's laws and long-term official policy on media do not permit 
foreign investment in the print media. That, perhaps, was the reason why 
APCA investment came through the back door. The long-term communication 
policy of the government is comparatively liberal for the electronic 
media, where foreign investment of up to 25 percent is 
permitted. Critics of the government policy think it unsuitable in this 
age of globalization. Free media associations that advocate for the free 
movement of media persons and media products also find the idea of 
regulating investment in the media somewhat foolish. According to them, 
restrictive measures automatically discourage investment useful to 
create gainful employment opportunities, and broaden the base of tax 
revenue. Investment should also be invited from countries in Asia, 
Europe and America as this will help institutionalize political 
plurality in Nepal, they argue.

Source:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EA21Df02.html