KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Business leaders have expressed their serious concern over deteriorating industrial security in the country.

They have also urged the government to make needful security arrangement so that businesses and industrial enterprises can operate without any hurdles.

“Industrial security is a most to bring new investments and for continuity of existing investment,” Umesh Lal Shrestha, chairman of Industrial Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said, speaking at an interaction with security agencies in Kathmandu on Friday.

The interaction was organized by FNCCI.

Informing that security threat has become a major problem for industries in Tarai areas, Shrestha said: “Only around 3,500 Armed Police Force (AFP) personnel have been deployed in different industrial areas and industrial corridors, which is very low. As doing business is our right, the government should uphold our right by creating an environment where industries can operate safely.”

Likewise, Senior Vice President of FNCCI, Bhawani Rana, said that industrial security was the base for a prosperous economy. “Economic growth will be possible only if there is growth in investment and industrial sector. The government, therefore, should assure businesses and industrial sector that their investment will be safe in Nepal,” he added.

On the occasion, Rabi Raj Thapa, former AIG of Armed Police Force, said that industrial security was a growing concern in the world and added that security threats have to be dealt with by fostering synergy among all stakeholders. “We should first indentify the types of security threats they industrial sector is seeing. Once the threats are identified, stakeholders should look for possible measures to cope with such threats,” he added.

Similarly, Deputy Inspector General of APF, Pushpa Ram KC, said that APF has deployed its three battalions for industrial security.

Speaking at the program, Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police Bhog Bahadur Thapa said that Nepal Police has been working in coordination with APF to provide security in industrial areas and corridors across the country.

 
• industrial security
 
• new investments
 
• federation of nepalese chambers of commerce and industry