Rupandehi. The closure of small and cottage industries and commercial firms has increased in the district. According to the statistics of the Cottage and Small Industries Office, Bhairahawa, in the financial year 2082/83, the records of 777 industries and commercial firms were deducted in the district. Of these, 322 industries and 455 commercial firms were deducted.

According to Mohan Pariyar, information officer of the office, the process of closing down industries and commercial firms is continuing in the current fiscal year as well. In the fiscal year 2083/84 alone, the records of 81 industries and 127 commercial firms have been deducted. The latest data shows that while new industries and businesses are being registered in the district, the process of closing down old industries and commercial firms is also continuing.

According to the office, 235 industries and 404 commercial firms have been registered in the first two months of the current fiscal year. Although the number of new registrations is significant, the closure of old industries and businesses is a matter of concern about the business condition of the private sector.

As of the fiscal year 2082/83, 20,000 industries and 5,359 commercial firms have been registered in Rupandehi. The office has been carrying out industry and commerce firm registration, renewal, record reduction, skill training and market monitoring.

Information Officer Pariyar said that the office collected Rs 26 million in revenue from the registration and renewal of industries and commercial firms in the last fiscal year. He said that information has been called to conduct 15 types of free skill-oriented training in the current fiscal year with the objective of promoting entrepreneurship and business.

Entrepreneurs have said that the reason behind the closure of industries and businesses in the district is the lack of turnover, lack of return on investment and dissatisfaction with the business environment. Some businessmen have been deducting records even after registering industries or firms but not being able to operate them, while some have to close down their existing businesses.

It is said that some businessmen of Bhairahawa have closed their businesses and gone abroad in search of employment and opportunities. They say that there is no favorable environment for running business in the country and it is difficult to get the return according to the investment.

Although the registration number of industries and commercial firms shows the attraction towards entrepreneurship, the number of firms that are closing down also highlights the challenges of continuing the business. Encouraging the establishment of new enterprises and identifying the problems of the existing industries and businesses and improving the investment environment can be expected to contribute positively to local production, job creation and economic activities.