Kathmandu, December 3:

A special taskforce to discuss policymaking for the establishment of industry, tax facility, and smooth supply of electricity will be formed soon.

During the 184th Industrial Promotion Board meet, Minister for Industry Asta Laxmi Shakya said the Industrial Promotion Board with the participation of different departments, trade unions and women will definitely contribute to discourage disagreement and establish positive environment.

The meeting between representatives of industries and academies also concluded after the progress briefing and idenifying solutions to problems. Presidents and managing directors of different companies like Janakpur Cigarette Factory Ltd, Udaypur Cement Industry Ltd, Hetauda Cement Industry Ltd, Nepal Orinda Magnetite Pvt Ltd, Nepal Medicine Ltd, Butwal Fiber Factory Ltd, Gorkhali Rubber Ltd, Nepal Industrial Development Corporation

(NIDC) and Industrial Sector Management Ltd, tabled their progress reports and spoke of the problems they were facing.

“To resolve industrial problems, there is a need for perfect plans and policymaking which will be effective and surely rewarding,” said Minister Shakya.

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry Tana Gautam urged the companies and industries to aim higher and develop ambitious plans and projects so as to achieve targeted success. Minister Shakya urged all sectors to actively participate in order to help develop the industrial sector.

However, the industries are being closed due to labour dispute, despite the minister’s continuous assurance. Industry ministry has been formed after the Maoist-led government came to power on August 18. The entrepreneurs have been long urging successive governments to form a separate ministry to look after the industry as ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies has been unable to devote time to industrial development.

But after being a separate ministry also it has been not able to work for the development of industries as in the recent days hundreds of industries have pulled their shutter down.

Though the budget for fiscal year 2008-09 has promised to make Investment Promotion Board (IPB) -- more powerful and functional -- under the chairmanship of prime Minister to promote the foreign investment, possibility of foreign investor is slim as nearly all the domestic industries are facing various troubles.