Locals should be prioritised in Simara SEZ: Industry Minister Rijal

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal has emphasised on giving priority to the locals in jobs available in the Simara Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

During a discussion on topics related to Simara SEZ with people’s representatives, industrialists, traders, civil society leaders and locals in Simara on Saturday, he insisted on giving first priority to the residents of Bara and Parsa districts in employment opportunities in Simara SEZ.

The Industry Minister suggested that there should not be any protests and industrial action inside the SEZ. He said facilities would be provided to the entrepreneurs choosing to run industries from the SEZ.

Lawmaker from Bara constituency number 4 Kisan Shrestha suggested providing land inside the SEZ to the industrialists free of cost. “A situation has arisen due to the economic slump in which the industrialists are in a mood to return the land within SEZ that they have leased. So, the land rent should be made free while the provision requiring an industry to export 60 percent of its production should be lowered to 30 percent,” he said.

Jeetpur Simara Sub-metropolitan City Mayor, Rajan Poudel, said the six-lane road linking the East-West Highway and the Birgunj Dry Port Road should be connected and expanded to at least 40 metres wide for easy access to the SEZ.

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ramesh Prasad Niraula, SEZ executive director Chandika Bhatta, mayor Poudel, local ward chairpersons, representatives of various political parties and locals took part in the discussions.

On the occasion, the locals demanded that they should be given priority in employment offerings inside the SEZ while civil society representatives called on the government to facilitate smooth operation of industries inside the SEZ.