The meeting of Industrial Promotion Board held on Sunday took the decision to this effect. So far, local firms had been importing raw materials from abroad and assembling prefab houses."We have announced to issue license to prefabricated houses manufacturing industries," Minister for Industry Mahesh Basnet told Republica, adding, "The decision is aimed at addressing increasing demand for prefabricated houses in the country after the earthquake."
According to Basnet, opening of prefab housing manufacturing industries in the country will help to bring down cost of prefabricated houses. "Such industries will produce necessary raw materials needed for prefabricated buildings build such houses as per the demand of customers," added Basnet.
Basnet also informed that such industries will be allowed to open plant outside Ring Road and that they would be recognized as manufacturing industries.
Meanwhile, Basnet also said that the government has already approved foreign investment proposal of a Pakistani company to open prefabricated houses manufacturing industry. "Besides, Panchyakanya Group has also showed its interest to invest in such industry," added Basnet.
The meeting also approved a proposal to introduce chimney-less 'Habla Zig-Zag Kiln Technology' in Nepal.
The earthquake of April 25 and aftershocks have damaged many brick kilns across the country, according to brick kiln operators.
The meeting also decided to recognize sand washing plants, popularly known as 'Firfire' as industries.
"All these decisions are believed to give pace to reconstruction in earthquake-hit areas," Maheshwor Neupane, director general of Department of Industry (DoI), said.
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