Govt plans to bring Janakpur Cigarette Factory back into operation

Kathmandu / July 27: Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu has said that the government is preparing to bring the Janakpur Cigarette Factory back into operation. Minister Badu said this on wednesday while talking to the media after inspecting the Janakpur Cigarette Factory, which has been closed for a long time.

He said that after studying the machines of the closed cigarette factories, which were operated under the ownership of the government and earned a name, the machines that are working will be put into operation. Minister Badu said that the government has plans to increase the capacity of the factories to increase national production, run them at full capacity, and open new factories.

He mentioned that the old factories will be run at their full capacity and the government will attract domestic and foreign investors by giving various concessions to open new factories and bring the old ones owned by the government into operation either by collaborating with the private sector or leasing it out to the private sector.

Minister Badu said that Biratnagar Jute Mills, Janakpur Cigarette Factory, Hetauda Textile Industry, Butwal Yarn Industry, Gorkha Rubber Industry etc which are owned by the government are now closed. He insisted that there is a need to bring the closed factories back into operation to improve the country’s economic situation, reduce trade deficit, and replace imports.

Minister Badu said that it is necessary to increase national production at a time when the country is becoming more and more dependent on imports. He claimed that imports can be reduced if the country’s production increases. Minister Badu said that now both the private sector and the government should establish export-based industrial units.