Hetauda, July 27 : All industries in the Hetauda Corridor have finally reopened with the recent lifting of the four months long national lockdown imposed against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hetauda Corridor Management Ltd Office said all 111 industries are now back to business, albeit not fully. All factories except those for manufacturing biscuits, noodles, bakery items, poultry food, dairy products and drinking water had remained shut during lockdown. Now, they have resumed operatiosn with the nullification of the lockdown.
At present, industries relating to the manufacturing of essential goods (food) are delivering 80 percent of the total capacity while other industries producing chemical substances, construction materials, machinery and plastic run in 50 percent of the capacity.
Limited availability of raw materials, imbalance between production and demand and lack of required number of work force are among the challenges the industries are facing in the post-lockdown period, said office Chief Rajendra Kandel. Investors are in stress due to financial issue and the disturbed supply chain, according to him. Demand and supply chain is not encouraging after the annulment of the lockdown, forcing the manufactures to store goods in warehouses, it is said.
Before the lockdown, around 5,000 workers would work in the corridor and many of them did not turn back after lockdown. Ninety-percent workers were outside from Hetauda. The corridor has an investment of Rs 5.5 billion from the private sector while Rs 900 million is invested by the government in it.
