Chitwan. Chitwan: As many as 383 industries registered with the Office of Industry and Commerce in Chitwan have been closed in a year.

According to Shaktiman Kumal, information officer at the office, most of the closed industries are agro-based industries. A total of 199 industries have been closed. He informed that 74 manufacturing, 74 service-oriented and 36 tourism-based industries have been closed. According to him, 331 new industries have been registered in the same period. Of these, 140 are agro-based, 114 service-oriented, 62 productive and 15 tourism-oriented industries.

Of the industries in the district, 2,390 have been renewed. Of these, 118 have increased capital and eight have changed the level. He informed that 524 businesses have been closed in the commerce sector. In the commerce sector, 377 new businesses have been registered and operating. He said that 3,111 businesses have been renewed. According to Kumal, 203 entrepreneurs have increased their capital while 34 have added their objectives.

He said that with the increase in the number of people going abroad for higher education, the practice of registering and closing down industries and businesses has increased. He said that the practice of closing down the industry has increased as it has to wait for five years to close down.