Panel formed to study feasibility of reviving Hetauda Textile

Kathmandu, September 22

The government has initiated the process to revive Hetauda Textile Factory (HTF).

Ministry of Industry (MoI) has formed eight-member committee to study feasibility of resuming the operations of defunct HTF under the coordination of former member of National Planning Commission (NPC) Puskar Bajracharya.

The committee will be responsible to submit the feasibility study report within 15 days from today, according to MoI officials.

“The committee will basically have to provide suggestions to the government regarding the feasibility of reviving HTF, operation modality of the industry, status of machinery equipment and other infrastructure in the industry, investment options and markets for productions through HTF,” the MoI said in a press note.

The committee comprises Joint Secretary at Ministry of Finance Harisaran Pudasaini, Joint Secretary at MoI Yam Lal Bhusal, representatives from Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and private sector bodies.

Spread over around eight acres of land, HTF holds capacity to produce 36,000 metric tonnes of clothes every year. However, HTF has remained closed since 2000. In 2008 also, the then government had made a vain attempt to reopen the industry.

Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi, however, has vowed to reopen different sick industries of the government, including HTF.

On Sunday, Cabinet had passed MoI’s proposal to revive Nepal Drugs Ltd. MoI also plans to give life to defunct Birgunj Sugar Factory, Gorakhkali Rubber Ltd, Butwal Dhago Karkhana Ltd, Nepal Metal Company, Agriculture Equipment Factory Ltd and Nepal Oriental Magnesite Industry in near future.