Kathmandu, Aug 8: The reform measures initiated by the current government have started showing promising results in the revival of ailing national industries and corporations. It has shown that industries can be revived and made competitive provided honest efforts are made, concerned laws are implemented, backed by collaborative efforts of all sides.
The reforms initiated in Nepal Aushadhi Limited, Hetauda Textile Industry, Nepal Airlines Corporation, Dairy Development Corporation and Singha Durbar Baidhyakhana have shown that the revival of ailing national industries and corporations is possible.
“When intentions are clear with a sense of honesty towards one’s responsibility, then new doors of reform open even in challenging situations,” Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said in a social media post this morning. The new government has been facilitating, motivating and coordinating, prioritizing how to make national industries and corporations vibrant and competitive.
Prime Minister Shah has also thanked continuous ‘teamwork’ that led to proper implementation of laws, giving promising results in some ailing national industries and corporations.
Sharing the reform efforts and achievements made in the three state-owned-and-run Corporations, Prime Minister Shah has mentioned that Nepal Aushadhi Limited has sold medicines worth Rs. 23.8 million in the last four months. The increase in drug sales has been achieved after the company achieved the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘Good Manufacturing Practice’ (GMP) standards.
A target of selling drugs worth Rs. 30 million has been set in the current fiscal year. In the 100-point agenda issued by the government regarding governance reforms, the company has set a target of producing 98 types of drugs in the next three years.
In line with the same target, the company has set a target of producing 37 types of drugs this year, and preparations have reached the final stage to produce 25 types of drugs. The company is currently producing 11 types of drugs.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Army has been given the responsibility of pilot production to re-operate the Hetauda Textile Industry. After the pilot production, the government will operate the industry, Prime Minister Shah has said.
Likewise, the national flag carrier, the Nepal Airlines Corporation has earned Rs. 6.27 billion from Chaitra to Asad of the last fiscal year. This is Rs. 1.10 billion more than the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
During this period, NAC’s seat utilization (occupancy) has increased to 86 per cent, a rise by 6 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
In addition, the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) has reduced the payment cycle from eight months to two to three months, prioritizing the payment of farmers’ pending arrears. The arrears, which were Rs. 720 million earlier, have now been reduced to Rs. 350 million.
After the reform efforts began, DDC’s daily sales have increased by 35 per cent. Revenue collection has also increased from an average of Rs. 6 million per day to Rs. 9 million.
The Corporation has been saving Rs. 30 million a year alone by stopping the facility of free ghee and milk to all its employees, which was against the law promoted by the previous governments.
Prime Minister Shah has also shared that the DDC is preparing to export ghee to Gulf countries and butter and curd to China soon. It may be noted that a social media post by the Prime Minister promoting ‘Yak Cheese’ produced by the DDC had gone viral, having a spiraling effect on the daily sales of the DDC products nationwide.
In the similar manner, Singha Durbar Baidhyakhana Development Committee has produced and marketed Ayurvedic medicines worth Rs. 111.6 million since the formation of the government.
Baidhyakhana is moving towards becoming self-sufficient in the production of 35 types of medicines that are distributed free of charge. Currently, 105 types of Ayurvedic medicines are being produced, and the target is to produce 150 types of medicines in the current fiscal year.
This improvement in national industries and corporations has strengthened the belief that new life can be breathed into other industries that have been ailing for a long time.
