Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey on Monday stressed the need for ushering the country forward on a path of self-dependence.

At an interaction on 'Condition of Nepal's industries during blockade' held by Media International here in the capital city, Minister Pandey insisted on introducing new views and planning in agriculture and hydro power sector, and urged the neighbouring country to facilitate Nepal's transit facility.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)'s Industry Committee Chairman Umeshlal Shrestha, National Trade Association Chairman Nayan Bahadur Chhetri and Remittance Association Chairman Devi Prasad Bhattachan said the industrial sector had incurred a whopping loss of Rs 200 billion in the agitation ongoing in the Madhes for the last hundred days. They appealed to the government to create an environment allowing the industries to resume operation.

The Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal senior Vice Chairman Deepak Prasad Dahal attributed the problems emerging in the medicine sector to the government's open market policy.

On the occasion, coffee traders pointed out that they were facing difficulties in processing produced coffee due to shortage of raw materials.

Footwear Association Vice Chairman Krishna Prasad Funyal said the lack of raw materials had forced the shutdown of many companies while Nepal Bottled Water Association Chairman Subash Bhandari said 50 per cent of water industries were shut due to shortage of fuel products. RSS