KATHMANDU, AUGUST 28
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has announced that goods imported from abroad will be supplied to markets only after undergoing laboratory testing within the country.
Speaking at the "Investment and Development Summit" held today, Minister Bhandari said imported consumer goods would be released to the market only after lab verification, with the aim of safeguarding public health.
He stated, "We will establish industries and factories of international standards in the country. This will have long-term importance in advancing industrial development as well as in improving people's living standards."
The Minister also shared that preparations are underway to export 77 products under a zero-tariff facility through the Nepal Trade Preference Programme (NTPP), highlighting that the United States is Nepal's second-largest export destination.
Noting that Nepali goods have gained growing recognition in the global market in recent years, Bhandari emphasized that the federal government is committed to ensuring consumer health and safety without compromise.
He further stressed the need for cooperation across all sectors to boost production while preserving Nepal's traditional industries, such as pashmina and carpets, which he described as the country's cultural and economic identity.
Similarly, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah urged the private sector to invest with confidence, assuring that the province has adequate infrastructure for industrial growth. "The provincial government will provide land required for establishing industries in Sudurpaschim. We aim to turn the province's potential into reality through collaboration with the private sector, and everyone's support is vital for this initiative," he said.
Participants at the programme echoed that there should be no delay in mobilizing investment, as Sudurpaschim Province possesses the necessary infrastructure and immense potential for industrial development.
The summit is jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Sudurpaschim Province government.
