Business Leaders Back Bardaghat SME Village Plan to Boost Industry and Jobs in Nawalparasi

Nawalparasi: Business leaders and investors have expressed confidence that the proposed Bardaghat SME Village could play a pivotal role in expanding industry and creating employment opportunities in Nawalparasi.

The view was shared during an interaction programme organised by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), in coordination with local business associations and its Youth Entrepreneurs Forum.

CNI Acting President Nirvana Chaudhary said the SME Village should be developed as a pilot industrial model to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He noted that the presence of established large industries and improving infrastructure in the district provides a favourable environment for further industrial expansion. He also stressed that industrial villages could help address land investment challenges faced by new enterprises.

Former Government Secretary Arjun Pokharel said the initiative aligns with the “one local unit, one industrial village” concept and underlined the importance of private sector collaboration for its success.

Former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha highlighted the role of industrial villages in tackling unemployment and promoting industrialisation. He said increased private sector investment would be essential to generate jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Speakers also pointed to Bardaghat’s proximity to the Indian border, road connectivity, electricity supply and access to financial institutions as key advantages. Concerns were raised over the declining contribution of manufacturing to Nepal’s GDP, with calls for stronger policy support for production-based industries.

More than 100 entrepreneurs and business representatives attended the programme, reflecting growing private sector interest in the proposed SME Village.