SEZ bill sees passage through parliamentary committee

Kathmandu / July 5: The Commerce, Industry and Consumer Welfare Committee under the Legislature-Parliament today endorsed a bill drafted for establishment of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and its effective operation.

The meeting deliberated on the proposed amendments on the bill before it was passed. The bill will now be tabled before a main parliamentary session. It envisages promoting export through the process of industrialization and run SEZ. The bill was introduced at the parliament by the then Minister for Industry, Mahesh Basnet.

It has been hoped that the establishment of SEZ will contribute to reducing trade deficit in the country. As per the legislation, the government will make an announcement of establishment of SEZ and give permission to the investors to run industries.

The people enlisted as job holders in such sector will be entitled to better facilities than employees working in other areas, but will be barred from organizing strikes and undertaking such activities against the interest of the industry.

The government has already completed the construction of necessary infrastructure for establishment of SEZ in Bhairahawa, but it has not come into operation due to lack of necessary regulations. Apart from this, necessary preparations have started for setting up SEZ in Biratnagar, Jumla and Paanchkhaal.

Committee Chairman, Bhismaraj Angdambe, shared his belief that the bill will shore up the support for the industrial sector – distraught with political and various other reasons – to gather pace.

At the meeting, Industry Minister, Som Prasad Pandey, said additional steps would be taken for operating SEZ once the bill sees passage at the House.

Steps have been taken for establishment of modern industrial sectors in Murtiya of Sarlahi, Damak of Jhapa, Lamki of Kailali, Hetauda of Makawanpur, Motipur of Rupendehi, Naubasta of Banke, Birendranagar of Surkhet and Daiji of Kanchanpur, Minister Pandey added.

The industries established in SEZ will be entitled to special facilities than other industries, and will be able to export 75 per cent of its production. RSS