Industry Ministry Unveils 39-Point Action Plan with Five-Month Deadline

The government has rolled out a 39-point reform roadmap to accelerate industrial growth, boost trade competitiveness, and strengthen public service delivery within the next five months.

According to the state-run national news agency RSS, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha unveiled the action plan titled Immediate Reform Plan for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Public Service Delivery–2082 (2025) to “promote the development and expansion of the industrial sector”.

The plan includes 20 actions for the industrial sector, eight for commerce, and 11 for the supply sector. Minister Kumar Sinha, a former Supreme Court justice, announced that the plan will be implemented within the next five months, RSS further reported.

According to the ministry, the action plan—endorsed by a ministerial-level meeting—focuses on measures that can bring immediate improvements to service delivery in line with the changing context. RSS reported that the plan was formulated through intensive discussions with concerned agencies and stakeholders and is expected to create a conducive industrial environment and pave the way for economic growth.

The ministry has set specific deadlines for the completion of each task: seven by mid-November (Kartik), 11 by mid-December (Mangsir), one by mid-January (Poush), 18 by mid-February (Magh), and two by mid-March (Falgun). Some tasks will be carried out continuously throughout this period.

According to RSS, the ministry stated that the plan is objective and achievable, aligning with the goals outlined in the ministry’s budget and programs.

Key initiatives include drafting the Company Bill, 2082 (2025) to improve the business environment and attract investment, and implementing the Micro-Enterprise Development Plan for Poverty Alleviation by updating the 2077 operating guidelines.

The plan also seeks to formulate the Bhagat Sarbajit Craft Enterprise Development Operating Procedure, 2082, to facilitate the operation of the Bhagat Sarbajit Craft Enterprise Development Program included in the current fiscal year’s budget. The initiative aims to preserve and promote traditional and indigenous occupations of the Dalit community while creating employment and income opportunities.

To encourage entrepreneurship and start-ups, the ministry plans to establish a Business Promotion Centre and facilitate collateral-free loans at a 3 percent interest rate for start-ups. Proposals from entrepreneurs will be invited and shortlisted by mid-January.

Similarly, the ministry plans to draft the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2082 (2025) to streamline policy and legal processes related to mining and geology. Other goals include preparing a National Productivity Master Plan, improving foreign investment approval processes, and digitizing old company records.

The plan also envisions simplifying company registration and deregistration procedures, revising the Company Directives for investor convenience, and ensuring transparency in industrial service delivery and lease transfers.

To promote industries in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the plan proposes reducing the land lease rate from Rs 20 to Rs 5 per square meter per month.

In the area of multilateral trade, the plan includes reviewing Nepal’s trade policy at the WTO, formulating an Integrated Strategy on Trade in Services, and preparing a strategic plan for Nepal’s graduation from the least developed to a developing country.

It also mentions virtual consultations with Nepali missions abroad on trade and investment issues, maintenance and operation of dry ports in Bhairahawa, Kakarbhitta, Timure, Tatopani, and Biratnagar, and meetings of bilateral trade mechanisms with China and Australia.

The ministry will also prepare and enforce the E-Commerce Directive, 2082, fully digitalize import licensing, and publish monthly analyses of essential commodity prices to ensure transparency.

To promote domestic products, the ministry will develop and operate an online portal titled “Nepali Production” in collaboration with the private sector. The plan also includes installing flow meters at Nepal Oil Corporation depots, setting up a toll-free complaint system, strengthening market monitoring, and maintaining 25,000 metric tons of food grains in the National Food Security Reserve and 8,000 metric tons in the SAARC Food Bank.