Small industries in government priority: Badu

BY A STAFF REPORTER, Kathmandu, Apr. 15 : Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has said that micro, cottage and small scale industries are the backbone of the country's economy and the key to economic prosperity.

He made this remark in an interaction with a delegation of the Federation of Nepal, Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) at the Ministry Wednesday.

He said, "Micro, cottage and small industries are in priority of the government. This sector makes the country self-reliant and creates employment. We are ready to discuss what are the problems in this area, and what we should do for the solution.”

"We felt that there are some problems in the promotion of this sector after the adoption of federalism in the country. We have to move forward by addressing the problem through the amendment to existing act and policy," he said.

FNCCI President Umesh Prasad Singh said that effective implementation of the directive 2071 on the use of domestic goods in public entities should be made for the promotion of domestic goods and the development of local industries.

He stressed the need to stop the import of agriculture and other industrial goods which can be produced inside the country.

Stating that the state should provide structure and space for the promotion of locally produced goods and development of domestic industries at the federal and in the provinces for opening export houses, he said that arrangements should be made to keep only domestic goods produced by micro, cottage and small entrepreneurs across the country at the centre. "We request the government to keep the concessional loan programme given to women entrepreneurs, agro-industry and other entrepreneurs at 5 per cent," he said.