Import of betel nut as per industry need-Minister Badu

Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Dilendra Prasad Badu said industries would be allowed for importing betel nut as per the need.

At a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR)’s Industry and Commerce and Labour and Consumers Welfare Committee on Friday, Minister Badu said the government has permitted the import of betel nut as per the need of the industry.

He claimed that the government has permitted the import of nuts only for industrial purposes when there was a mounting complaint from industrialists that they did not get the necessary raw materials.

“The government took the decision to allow the import of raw materials only required for the industry after rising complaints. The current problem has resulted in due to opaque decision of the erstwhile government. We are managing the import. No industry would be closed in lack of raw materials”, he added.

The Minister stressed the need to open the import of betel nuts. “The committee had restricted the import for study. Let us get any recommendations of the study. If not let us allow the import”, Minister Badu noted.