BARA: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal has emphasized giving priority to the locals in jobs available in 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 priority to the residents of Bara and Parsa districts in employment opportunities in Simara SEZ.
Minister Rijal suggested that there should not be any protests or industrial action inside the SEZ. He said facilities will be provided to the entrepreneurs choosing to run industries from the SEZ.
Kisan Shrestha, a lawmaker from Bara Constituency No. 4, 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% of its production should be lowered to 30%," he said.
Jeetpursimara Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Rajan Paudel 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-metre wide for easy access to the SEZ.
Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Mukunda Prasad Niroula, SEZ executive director Chandika Bhatta, Mayor Paudel, local ward chairpersons, representatives of various political parties and local residents participated in the discussion.
On the occasion, the locals demanded that they should be given priority in employment offerings inside the SEZ while civil society representatives called for the government to facilitate the smooth operation of industries inside the SEZ.
