Bhanu Bhakta Acharya

Hetauda, March 26:

Exports from Hetauda district has witnessed a steep decline of 33 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal year. Export volumes had picked up with the establishment of national and multi-national companies after the adoption of an open and liberal market economy in the country. But, business has been affected by years of bandhs, strikes, blockades and industrial insecurity. The first six months of the last fiscal year saw exports worth Rs 73,74,87,019 but during the same period this fiscal year it has been only worth Rs 55,50,21,562. Uttam Sharma, chairman of Makawanpur Chambers of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) attributed the slow down to the breach in commerce treaty by India, prevailing political instability and change in industrial and commercial policies following the change in the government. In the first six months of the last fiscal year, 13 factories had exported products to India and other countries. This year, 17 factories have managed to do it.

Despite the increase in the number of factories exporting goods, business has slowed down by 32.87 per cent. The first half of the fiscal year 2059-60 had seen a surge of 20.38 per cent increase in export in comparison to fiscal year 2058-59. Exported items included leather, toothpaste, toothbrush, copper wire, bamboo parket, gravel, vegetable ghee, plastic bags, beer and slippers among others. The factories to begin export from this fiscal year are Jaya Ganesh Crusher Factory, Makawanpur Aggregate Industries, Om Crusher Factory, Sri Manakamana Crusher Factory, Shambhu Gravel Factory and Ammani Industries Pvt Ltd.