10 Industrial Zones Provide Direct Employment to 20,000 People

Kathmandu. Around 20,000 people have received direct employment from industries operating in 10 industrial zones across the country.

According to the Economic Survey of Fiscal Year 2082/083, out of 706 industries operating within these industrial zones, which are spread across approximately 6,016 ropanis of land, 638 industries were in operation as of the end of Falgun. Within the industrial zones, 26 industries are under construction, 16 are closed, and there are 26 other organizations.

Ten industrial zones – Balaju, Patan, Bhaktapur, Hetauda, Dharan, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Butwal, Birendranagar, and Gajendranarayan Singh – are in operation in all seven provinces. The industrial zones were established with the objective of providing land, industrial buildings, roads, electricity, water, drainage, and other necessary basic infrastructure for industries in one place to promote industrial development in the country.

The Economic Survey mentions that the Industrial Enterprise Act, 2076, the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2075, the Company Act, 2063, and the Special Economic Zone Act, 2073 have been amended to make them investment-friendly, thereby improving the economic and business environment and facilitating industries and investment.

The Startup Enterprise Policy 2081 and the Startup Enterprise Loan Operation Procedure, 2081 have been approved to encourage interested entrepreneurs with the latest knowledge, technical skills, and capabilities to participate in 'startup' enterprises.

A Business Promotion Center has been established for the development and promotion of startup enterprises. Under the Startup Enterprise Loan Program, out of five thousand 158 proposals received in the last fiscal year, 661 proposals were recommended and loans were disbursed to 600 entrepreneurs, as stated in the Economic Survey. As of Falgun in the current fiscal year, 10,244 proposals have been received.

In terms of industrial intellectual property, 70,970 trademarks, 90 patents, and 320 designs were registered as of the end of Falgun.

Highest Chinese Investment Approved

Among the projects approved for foreign investment as of the end of Falgun, Chinese investment accounts for the highest proportion based on total investment. During that period, China's investment was 48 percent, India's was 17.9 percent, and investment from other countries was 34.1 percent.