CHITWAN, Dec 12: The production of tiles has begun in Nepal by using domestic raw materials. A factory has been established in Jitpur Simara Sub-metropolis-8 for the production.

Two entrepreneurs who have long been importing foreign tiles and hardware materials into the country have jointly ventured into the sector through a factory in Simara. They came up with the idea to set up the factory in Nepal after carrying out an in-depth study on tile manufacturing in India.

The production has been introduced in the market since this year. Nepal Ceramic Industries Pvt Ltd has produced Nepaovit brand of tiles.

According to managing director of the company, Manoj Rauniyar, almost 50 percent of the clay used for tile production is of Nepal. He shared that the industry had a plan to manufacture the tiles completely based on Nepali clay and sand after some months.

Different types of clay have been brought from Bara, Makawanpur and Dolakha districts and used for manufacturing tiles after completing tests. However, the color and glaze used for tiles have been imported from foreign countries.

In the first initial months, clay as a raw material was completely imported from Rajasthan, he said, adding later Nepali clay was explored for the same.

He said, "Only 32 percent of Indian clay was melted using 1,200 degrees centigrade temperature while it was 45 percent on the supply of the same heat. Nepali clay was found exquisite for tile production".

The company’s Chairman Shambhunath Jha claimed that their production surpasses the quality of Indian tiles being imported in Nepal. He shared his plan to diversify the production of tiles that can be used for walls.

The factory stretching over a land of five bighas and 12 katthas was established at the cost of over Rs 1.5 billion. As many as 400 people are getting direct employment at the factory.

Chair Jha added, "The factory will help make Nepal self-reliant in tile manufacturing.” He urged the government to lend support in managing raw materials and marketing

 
• Tiles_production
 
• Jitpur_Simara
 
• domestic_raw_materials