February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country. The development of industrial area was halted after the establishment of Gajendra Narayan Singh Industrial Area in 2011.
Five years after identifying new industrial areas within the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the laid foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim province on Monday, February 22. Prime Minister Oli will also be laying the foundation stone of Damak Clean Industrial Park, in his home district, Jhapa on 28th February. Similarly, Lekharj Bhatta, Minister for industry, Commerce and Supplies is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Naubasta Industrial Areas in Banke of Lumbini province on February 23.
Minister Bhatta will also be laying the foundation stone of Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Makwanpur of Bagmati province on 26 Feb. Likewise, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Finance, will be lay the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi district.
The estimated cost of these five industrial areas is said to be Rs 179 billion, according to Nandakishwar Basnet, chairman of the Industrial District Management Limited. A cabinet meeting in 2072 had decided to build industrial areas in these districts. Menwhile Damak Clean Industrial Park was announced in April, 2072. To construct infrastructure in those industrial areas, The government has initiated the task of laying foundation stone to expedite the construction of these industrial areas.
These five industrial areas will be providing direct and indirect employments to 182,000 individuals. The Daiji Chela Industrial Area, which has gone into construction phase on Monday has provided 100 plots to small, middle and large industries. IDML has planned to construct necessary infrastructure within five years and seek for proposals from interested industrialists within one month. The government is prioritizing industries running on locally made raw materials in these industrial areas.
Likewise, Naubasta Industrial Area will also be completed in five years. Mayurdhap and Motipur industrial areas and Damak Clean Industrial Park to be constructed with investment from Nepal and China, will also have their infrastructure prepared in five years.
To promote industrial activities in these areas, IDML is providing full rent waiver for five years. Similarly, IDML is also seeking subsidy with the government on water, energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines. IDML also plans to facilitate in providing loan to the industries.
