KATHMANDU: More than 20,000 big and small industries were closed in the country in recent period due to the unofficial border blockade imposed by India.

Addressing the 36th annual general meeting of the Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here today, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pashupati Murarka, expressed sorrow that the industry operators were compelled to pay interest to banks although the industries remained closed due to the border blockade.

He said, "The industry sector has been mostly hit hard due to the blockade and the Madhes bandh. The government should take initiatives soon to resolve the problem."

Presenting the annual report, LCCI President Ajarman Joshi stressed the need of making economic status of the private sector stronger for the overall development of economic sector of the country.