DAMAK, Dec 29: A team of high-level Chinese officials has visited the proposed site of the ‘China-Nepal Eco Industrial Park’ in Damak Municipality-10 of Jhapa district on Thursday. 

The industrial area spreads across 2,200 bigha [1490 hectares] of land in Damak, Lakhanpur of Kamal Rural Municipality and Kohabara of Gauradaha Municipality.

According to preliminary studies, the total cost is expected to be around Rs 333 billion.

The visiting team was led by Liu Rupeng, chief of Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone. This team comprises the highest level Chinese officials who have visited the park site. 

They visited the site for a field study. After observing the industrial site, they also visited Kakarvitta, which borders with the country’s southern neighbor India. The team then held discussions with the stakeholders. 

Preparations to construct the site are underway since nearly two years.

The industrial park will be modern and eco-friendly and will have factories including those of electric goods, textile, automobile, foods and agriculture as well as factories belonging to multinational corporations. 

The team led by Liu said they held discussions in Damak about making the industrial area a model for the whole South Asia. They said the discussions would act as the stepping stone to accelerate the progress in the construction.

“Industrial development aids in the overall development of the whole nation. China is always ready to extend the necessary help,” said Liu. “This project is under the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and it will be of world-class standards. The completion of the construction of industrial area will deepen Sino-Nepal ties,” he added.

Nanda Kishor Basnet, chairman of the Industrial Area Development Limited, said the northern neighbor is excited to invest in Nepal. “After the team concludes its field visit, another high level team will lay the foundation stone. We are holding discussions on this.”

Of the total 2,200 bigha land needed, the project has already acquired 542 bigha of land, informed Executive Officer Yuvaraj Dahal of Damak Municipality. “Rs 330 million has been set aside for land acquisition. The process will now start immediately, after which the construction work will begin,” he said.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has shown a keen interest in the project, which falls in the district of his constituency from where he was recently re-elected. Not only Oli, his political opponents also have been stressing the need for progress in the project.

 
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