A nine-member team from Chengdu that is in the country to explore investment opportunities on Wednesday revealed their plan of setting up manufacturing factories of Chinese firms in Nepal.[break]
Li-Guang, chief of foreign economic cooperation office in Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Commerce, said they were studying the feasibility of establishing branches of Chinese factories in Nepal. “We are ready to invest here provided that the Nepali government assures us of conducive business environment,” Guang said.
He said establishment of Chinese industries in Nepal would greatly contribute in reducing the price of essential goods in the Nepal market as well as make Chinese goods more accessible to Nepali consumers.
The consumption of Chinese products like readymade garments, electronic equipments, mobile phones, herbal tea and footwear, among others, is high in Nepal. Members of the team said they were interested in setting up manufacturing units of these products in Nepal.
The team comprises of Chengdu-based businessmen having interest in real estate, agriculture, dairy, automobile, tea and coffee production, among others. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in South West China.
Speaking at an interaction organized by the Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, the delegates also revealed their plans of investing in solar and wind energy projects.
Trade between Nepal and Chengdu is worth around $20 million a year.
Guang further added that they were keen to seen Nepali enterprises starting up business in Chengdu. “Nepal currently exports handicraft products in small volume to Chengdu. We see a huge market for Nepali products such as garments, handicrafts, carpet, timber products and cheese in Chengdu,” Guang said, requesting Nepali traders to focus on export of those products.
Besides, the authorities in Chengdu have also decided to allocate a separate stall for showcasing Nepalese commercial products in a two-day China-South Asia Fair and Seminar for Economic and Trade Cooperation Project that takes place in Chengdu every year. The event will be held in Chengdu from June 16-18.
Speaking at the program, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, president of International Chamber of Commerce Nepal, requested the Chinese delegates to explore the possibility of joint investment in sectors like hydropower, medicinal herbs, bank, information technology and tourism, among others.
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