In the industrial area of Hetaunda district, currently, 127 various types of industries are operational daily. These include not only domestic industries but also multinational companies.
Among the major industries established in the Hetaunda industrial area are food industry companies like United Brewery Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Biscuit Company, Nepal Soap Industry, animal feed processing industry, Nepalpol Products Pvt. Ltd., and wood furniture industries.
Similarly, there are companies such as the Gorakhali Cigar Industry Pvt. Ltd., Hetaunda Dairy Distribution Project, Nepal Tea Industry Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Cooking Oil Production Industry, Nepal Carton Industry Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Bottlers Industry Pvt. Ltd., and Nepal Alcohol Production Industry Pvt. Ltd.
However, six older industries, established two decades ago, have been shut down due to financial crises and lack of raw materials. These include Nepal Synthetic Fabric Industry, Nepal Leather Industry Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Livestock Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Vegetable Ghee, Nepal Polyethylene Plastic Pvt. Ltd., and Nepal Dhana Industry Pvt. Ltd. The Hetaunda Textile Industry, owned by the Nepal government, has also been closed since 2002.
Currently, 12 industries, including multinational companies, are under construction in the industrial area. According to senior officer Ramesh Kumar Nepal, these industries aim to begin production within the next two years, and construction is accelerating.
Around 15,000 people are employed, both directly and indirectly, by the industries currently in operation in this industrial area. The Hetaunda Industrial Area was established on 5th December 2020, with economic aid and technical assistance from the U.S. government.
During the establishment of the industrial area, 3,228 ropanis (land measure) of land were transferred to the Hetaunda Industrial Area Management. As part of the establishment of various industries, 1,961 ropanis of land have been allocated to the respective industry managers, and industries are being operated. The remaining 1,400 ropanis of land are kept in reserve.
In addition to various industries, the industrial area complex houses the Area Police Office, Nepal Bank City Office, Armed Police Base Camp, Provincial Food and Quality Control Office, Provincial Soil Testing Office, Hetaunda Distribution Project, and Provincial Agricultural Seed Office.
Manager Sangita Kunwar mentioned that although security has been ensured in recent years with the establishment of an Armed Police Base Camp, the lack of fencing around the boundaries of the industrial area has created difficulties in safeguarding resources. She also noted that the lack of a budget for building other infrastructure has been problematic for the establishment of additional industries.
Some entrepreneurs had signed land agreements in previous years to set up industries, but these lands have yet to be utilized. The manager Kunwar has requested that necessary decisions be made from higher authorities to resolve the issue.
“Although land agreements were made, no infrastructure has been built for the industries. Only land has been blocked. There have been discussions regarding the utilization of this land. Additionally, the process to reclaim land from the concerned industry managers is moving forward,” she added.
