The private sector is happy over the law as it will provide a congenial environment in which to open industries to manufacture goods for export

Although belatedly the Parliament has endorsed the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill which would benefit the nation by attracting both private and foreign investment, particularly in export-oriented industries.

The SEZ has been applied in many countries and they have succeeded in boosting their economy. Now that the Bill is endorsed it will become a law after receiving the stamp of assent from the President.

The SEZ will possess the required infrastructure like roads, electricity without stoppage and drinking water and other needed requirements so that the industries can be run smoothly as, most importantly, strikes and protests will not be entertained in the SEZs.

At present, the country is facing serious economic problems. The export based industries are virtually non-existent.After the Bill comes into effect the industries in the SEZ will receive many incentives.

Among them, the industries established there will be exempted from paying income taxes for the first five years after their establishment.

Moreover, those industries that use up to 60 per cent domestic raw materials will get a rebate of 50 per cent in taxes of their income for the next five years and a lucrative 25 per cent income tax exemption for another five years.

If the industries are importing raw materials for export they will be provided with zero customs duty facility.

A one-window service will be in place for the services such as registration, registration in tax net, banking, insurance and freight forwarding. This will facilitate the issuance of certificates of origin for the items that are being exported.

The hassles faced at present will be done away with.

However, the industries operating in the SEZs will compulsorily have to export 75 per cent of their products. These measures would go a long way in enhancing the effete export sector of the country.

At present, most of the industries are finding it difficult to operate due to the power outages and many of them have closed down also due to labour unrest for decades due also to the conflict.

Therefore, the SEZs would play a major role in promoting exports by improving the industrial environment as it suffers from a weak production base. These are believed to be the reason for the country failing to enhance the export of goods.

The new law would also permit the private sector to operate and manage SEZs as the government cannot do it alone. The private sector would be playing an important role also under the public-private partnership model.

At present, the country has one SEZ in Bhairahawa and industries have already been set up here. There are high expectations from the SEZs and 15 more SEZs would be developed in 15 other places throughout the country.

The private sector is happy over the law as this is expected to revive the industrial sector beset with many problems as it will provide a congenial environment in which to open industries to manufacture goods for export.

As the country is almost entirely dependent on imports, the industries operating in the SEZs would be able to carry out exports on a large scale.

Dowry evil

There is no doubt that harassment or torture of brides over low dowry has been increasing over the years, despite the fact the dowry issue has been taken up by a number of non-governmental organizations, political parties and their sister organizations, tougher laws and law-enforcement authorities.

An NGO is reported to have documented 24 cases of dowry over the last six months. The practice of dowry is much stronger in the Tarai area where marriage mores as are in use across the border have exerted deep and wide influence.

It is one of the worst social evils with a powerful economic dimension.

The cases that come to the notice of one or another NGO are just the tip of the iceberg. In cases of harassment of the bride or her family or of torture, the matter becomes serious calling for urgent action.

Unfortunately, the dowry system seems to have been tacitly accepted by society, despite its evil consequences for those who have to pay a heavy price.

Here all sections of society and the government agencies should come together in concerted action.

This said, however, the law-enforcement authorities should be prompt to come into action at the hint of a dowry dispute.