Chairman Deepak Shrestha and Managing Director Amrit Pd Dwa with Brand Ambassador Rajesh Hamal (Center).




By Shruti Sonthalia


Nepatop, a manufacturing company of plastic water-storage tanks, compost bins, water pumps, pipes and fittings among other polythene-based products, was established in the year 1999 by Chairperson Deepak Shrestha and Managing Director Amrit Prasad Dwa. Friends prior to being colleagues, the duo got their acumen together to form what stands today as a respectable ISO certified company.

Assuring as the tagline “Sab thikthak!” sounds, the journey of Nepatop as a business venture has indeed been alright. Major issues that pose challenge include the increasing rate of currency exchange which has nearly doubled since the time of the company’s birth. This of course adds to the cost of raw materials the company has to import.

Other challenges include availability of labour – the lack of which can hamper the company’s progress. Nepatop, nevertheless, is sailing fine with 300 workers today. Shrestha, who believes that Nepalis ought to support their home economy instead of going abroad for opportunities, observes the changing patterns in human resource in his company: “Initially we had to hire engineers and trainers from abroad but today, I am proud to say that we have a strong Nepali manpower to complete the job,” he says.

Nepatop started business by producing water storage tanks, has indeed been alright. Major issues that pose challenge include the increasing rate of currency exchange which has nearly doubled since the time of the company’s birth. This of course adds to the cost of raw materials the company has to import.

Other challenges include availability of labour – the followed by water pumps, PPR pipes and fittings, HDPE pipes, UPVC pipes and fittings, and a new product is expected by 2014. The company aims to satisfy its customers by maintaining good quality and providing after-sale services, which is also a part of its marketing strategy. Additionally, Nepatop products are advertised in style with Rajesh Hamal as their brand ambassador.

The company has four workstations three in the capital itself and one in Nuwakot, covering an area of 60,000 square feet all fully automatic plants producing 20- 25 metric tonne of goods per day. The market share for each of its products is different-the company has 75 percent of the market in PPR pipes, 16- 18 percent in water tanks, 25 percent in UPVC and less than 2-3 percent in HDPE.

In terms of production capacity, the company still needs to achieve another 20- 25 percent of the current amount produced. But with 17 distribution channels in place countrywide, Nepatop seems to have good infrastructure in place to assure a steady progress in the future. Shrestha mentions that the company is one of the largest tax payers in the country. But on a more positive note, he forecasts with believable confidence that Nepatop will be the largest producers of plastic pipes and fittings by 2020.