Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad has said that Nepal should first focus on maintaining political stability and then engage in ways to bring about rapid economic growth for overall development of the country.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Nepal Business Conclave 2014 organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the capital on Sunday, Dr Mahathir made this remark in response to a question whether the first priority of a country should be political stability or economic growth to bring about development and prosperity.

“Only after the country attains political stability would rapid economic development be possible,” he said.

The distringuished Malaysian statesman had arrived in Nepal on Saturday, leading an eleven member Malayaisan delegation to take part in the conference being organised with the objective of providing businessmen from around the world to look for an opportunity to find suitable projects for investment in Nepal.

Dr Mahathir further said that after some degree of political stability is achieved, people should set aside communality and racial discrimination so as to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the country.

“It was also very difficult for us to industrialise Malaysia. But we managed to attract foreign investments as well as skills and technology. As a result Malayasia is now home to many multinational companies and gives employment to over 3 million foreign workers,” Dr Mahathir, who held the post of Prime Minister of Malayasia for 22 years in a political career spanning almost 40 years, said.

He further advised the Nepalese government to focus on providing skill-oriented and vocational education/training to its citizens and create an able workforce who can make important contribution in nation building.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya, political party leaders, senior government officials, intellectuals, national and foreign dignitaries including leaders of various sectors were among those who keenly listened to Dr Mahathir’s key note speech at the conference.