New cigarette factory of Surya Nepal begins operation

POKHARA, May 23:

Surya Nepal has started production of its different cigarette brand from its new plant in Seratar of Tanahun.

This is the company’s first manufacturing plant in the hilly region. It has invested Rs 4.5 billion in the factory spread over 145 ropanis. It took four years for the company to bring the plant into operation. The new plant employs around 200 people.

Ravi KC, corporate vice president of Surya Nepal, said the new plant has started production. “The plant has started production after soft opening. It will take a few more days to being commercial production,” KC said.

The company is running the factory for 16 hours daily in two shifts. “We can produce 10 million sticks of cigarettes in a day by operating the factory for 16 hours,” KC said, adding that they operate the factory round the clock in the near future. The company had been producing cigarettes from its plant in Simara for the past 22 years.

Surya Nepal taxes worth around Rs 10 billion annually.

“We have established manufacturing plant in the hilly region so that there won’t be any problem in production and distribution of our products if production is affected in our Tarai plant,” KC said, adding that the company would reduce production from its Simara plant by 30-40 percent once the new plants starts full-fledged operation.

Local industrialists say the opening of such a big factory in western Nepal will encourage other investors to open factories in Pokhara and surrounding areas.

Ananda Raj Mulmi, former president of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the opening of Surya Nepal’s manufacturing plant in Tanahun has not only opened the door for other investors but also created employment opportunities for people of the region.

Source: Republica