11 garment factories shut in 10 yrs

NAWALPARASI, Sept 24 :

As many as 11 garment factories in Nawalparasi district shut operations over the past decade, thanks to recurring labor problems, power shortage, and frequent strikes and bandas. Most of them were export-oriented.

According to officials of Nawalparasi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, more than Rs 3 billion had been invested into those factories.
Gaindakot-based Silver Textile Industry, which was established in 1991, shut operations in 2010.

 “In the initial years, we were doing brisk business and getting orders from many developed countries,” Deepak Sapkota, owner of Silver Textile Industry, said. “But labor woes and power crisis took toll on the factory. I was left with no option but to sell the factory for scrap.”
Sapkota had sold all machineries and equipment to Jagadama Steel Factory.

The garment factories were compelled to shut operations even though they were getting good orders for cotton towel and small handkerchief from countries like Canada, USA, Germany and Bangladesh.

Though the government, through the budget for fiscal year 2013/14, announced to set up industrial estate in the district, industrialists say nothing has been done to revive those closed units.

Baijanath Jaisawal, president of Nawalparasi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, accused the government of showing indifference toward closure of garment factories established at an investment of billions of rupees.

Most of those garment factories were based in Mukundapur and Gaidakot.

Source: Republica