Ministry of Industry (MoI) is studying the prospect of establishing industrial estates in Kanchanpur, Dang, Udaypur, Surkhet, Kaski and Kapilvastu.Talking to Republica, Minister for Industry Mahesh Basnet said new industrial estates are being established to encourage the private sector for industrial development. "We have not been able to establish new industrial estates in the past 25 years," Basnet said, adding: "Of the six proposed industrial estates, three might start operation within the next fiscal year itself."
At present, there are 12 industrial estates -- Balaju, Patan, Hetauda, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Dharan, Bhaktapur, Birendrangar, Butwal, Dhangadhi, Rajbiraj, and Dhankuta -- in the country.
Basnet said he was optimistic that establishment of new industrial estates will give a momentum to development of industrial sector.
MoI officials said they will give priority to unused government land while establishing industrial estates. "We have requested the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to allocate Rs 700 million for establishment and promotion of new industrial estates," an official of MoI said.
Minister Basnet said the government was planning to open at least one industrial estate in every district. "We will start a campaign of establishing at least one industrial estate in each district from the next fiscal year," he said, adding, "We will also encourage private sector to set up new industrial estates. The government will extend them all possible support."
Meanwhile, industrialists have welcomed the government decision of establishing new industrial estates. "This had to be done long before. However, it is good to hear that the government is finally starting works to set up new industrial estates," Pashupati Murarka, acting president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), told Republica.
He further said that opening of new industrial estates would draw more investment and give a boost to industrial sector.
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