Kathmandu [Nepal], July 14 – Nepal has accelerated efforts to revive the long shut Hetauda Textile Industry, with trial production expected to begin within two months as part of the government’s plan to restore the state-owned factory.
A government task force on Monday submitted a report to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav outlining progress made so far and a roadmap for the mill’s long-term operation.
According to the ministry, the Nepal army has already begun repairing machinery and preparing for trial production using funds allocated by the Ministry of Finance. The government has set a two month deadline for the army to launch the initial production phase.
The Finance Ministry earlier released Rs 33 million to the Nepal Army’s Directorate of Military Materials Production to support preparatory work. Technical teams have since been deployed to the factory where they are cleaning the premises, procuring raw materials and repairing old machines needed for the trial run.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure has also proposed an additional Rs 50 million to repair factory buildings and other infrastructure. While the Hetauda Industrial District Management Office has completed repairs to the plant’s electrical system.
The report states that the initial phase will rely on refurbished existing machinery. Based on the outcome of the trial production the government will prepare a detailed project report to assess the investment, legal and policy measures required to restore the factory to full scale commercial operation.
Receiving the report Minister Yadav said reopening the Hetauda Textile Industry once one of Nepal’s major state-owned manufacturing enterprises remains a government priority and pledged to ensure coordination and support to meet the trial production deadline.
