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Plans to address industry problems
KATHMANDU, APR 14 -
The Ministry of Industry has proposed three strategic plans to deal with the pressing problems of the industrial sector.
Ministry spokesperson Yam Kumari Khatiwada (Banskota) said that proposals regarding an industrial security force (ISF), labour issues and the power crisis would be forwarded to the cabinet for its immediate attention.
"With regard to the ISF, we have proposed two plans -- industrial security and personal security. Personal security will be based on the threats business executives have been receiving and it will be handled by the chief district officer in each district as per the recommendation of major industrial organisations," she said.
Similarly, the subject of cost sharing for operation of the ISF is being discussed with different ministries. "We are discussing cost sharing of the project that will also incorporate the business sector," she said.
Regarding power, the plan is to supply 16 hours of electricity five days a week to industrial zones. Factories operate two shifts a day of eight hours each. "If the factories plan to operate three shifts a day, they will be allowed to import diesel under productive delivery order (PDO)."
Likewise, factories wishing to import coal will be charged only 1 percent customs duty.
The third issue to be addressed immediately is labour.
"Export oriented services will be categorised as 'essential services' and they will be freed of strikes," Khatiwada said.
Entrepreneurs have been complaining that the government has been ignoring their repeated calls to rescue the business sector from the hard times they have been facing.
On March 30, a business delegation met with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and reminded him about the many pledges made by the government but never fulfilled.
The meeting was the fifth in a series where distressed members of the business community have demanded security and an end to strikes and power outages.
They have been repeatedly saying that the problems being facing by the industrial sector should be treated as national problems.
Posted on: 2010-04-15 07:16
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