Youths joins hands to run footwear industry

TANAHU, August 29: With the idea of 'Let's do something in our country', 25 youths of the district have started a footwear industry. The Byas Gandaki Shoe and Slipper Industry has come into operation as the first branch of Byas Gandaki Multipurpose Company.

Manoj Raut, Managing Director of Industry, said that the industry has been brought into operation by purchasing two ropanis of land in Chure Kholsi of the Byas Municipality-4. According to him, the industry is currently producing 500 to 700 pairs of shoes and slippers daily. The products produced in the industry are being sold in different market areas of Tanahu, Gorkha and Lamjung.

The industry has been brought into operation at a cost of around Rs. 20 million. He said, "About 20,000 products have been produced in the last eight months." Raut said that he was encouraged to get hold of the market in a short period of time.

Footwear sellers are also happy to get the products for a comparatively cheaper price, than importing it from Kathmandu or Narayagadh. As a result of increasing demand, the Industry has been finding it difficult to produce goods as per the demand of the market, said Director Raut.

Secretary of the company Dayaraj Kattel said that there was no weakness in the manufactured goods. We feel that we have succeeded in winning the hearts of all because of good quality and strength, he said.

The company also runs a poultry and commercial vegetable farm. Chair of the company Padma Bahadur Thapa Magar said that 600 local breed poultry are being raised in the farm in the first phase.