February 9: Dabur Nepal, a multinational company operating in Nepal, is making an additional investment of Rs 9.68 billion. 

The Investment Board has approved the additional investment proposed by Dabur Nepal. Prior to the second wave of Covid-19, the company had sought permission from the board to increase its investment in Nepal. According to the board officials, the proposal of Dabur Nepal, which produces beverages, beauty and health products, to invest Rs 9.68 billion has been approved. 

The Investment Board is responsible to approve and facilitate any investment above Rs 6 billion in Nepal. Accordingly, Dabur Nepal took permission from the board. Sushil Bhatta, chief executive officer of the board, informed that after discussing the company's proposal, the board meeting on Tuesday approved the investment. 

The contribution of Dabur Nepal in the country’s export trade is 5.34 percent. In Nepal, 97.5 percent share of Dabur Nepal is owned by Dabur International Limited and the remaining 2.5 percent is owned by a Nepali partner. Dabur, who came to Nepal in 2047, has been producing goods including juice in Nepal and exporting them to India. Dabur has given priority to increasing the production capacity of the commodities that have more potential for export. 

The main products of Dabur are Real Juice, Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Red Toothpaste, Dabur Hajmola, Dabur Amla Hair Oil, Dabur Honey, Dabur Glucose D, Gulabari, Fem, Prostyle, Odonil and hand wash. 

Dabur Nepal said that they have been collaborating with farmers for the production of herbal plants. Recently, Dabur Nepal’s income has been increasing in Nepal. In 2020, the company earned Rs 8.93 billion from Nepal. Due to the coronavirus, there was a slight decline in revenue this year as compared to 2019. In 2019, the company had earned a revenue of Rs 9 billion. 

Abhaya Gorkhali, marketing head of Dabur Nepal, informed that some portion of the investment approved on Tuesday will be invested in new products. 

He said that the investment would be spent on new products, machines and maintenance of old ones in the next two to four years and also to add existing juice production plants. In addition, he said the company plans to expand the capacity of the current juice plant by adding new lines to juice production, replacing old machines and investing in new products. 

Meanwhile, the Investment Board is set to become a member of a global public-private partnership. The board has decided to become a member of the World Association of PPP Units and Professionals in Switzerland. The association had committed to provide free membership to the Board. The Investment Board is confident that it will receive technical assistance on PPP related knowledge and best practices after getting the membership.