August 29: The industries of Bara-Parsa, that have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, are now trying to claw back to normal business. However, entrepreneurs are worried by the prospect of third wave of Covid-19.

According to the president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Subodh Kumar Gupta, the industrialists are worried that if the third wave of pandemic strikes, there will be another ban or prohibitory order which will cripple their businesses.

Recalling that the ban imposed during the second wave of coronavirus was relatively easy for the industry to operate but the market was closed, Gupta said, “Even if goods are produced, they cannot be sent to the market due to the ban. The product will be stored in the warehouse.”

Industrialists say that after the market closes, even ready-made products would be kept in warehouses because they cannot be sold. Another problem is that there won’t be any new demand and production will come to a halt. Gupta argues that such a situation will destabilize the whole economy.

Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says that the facilitation in import of raw materials and transportation of finished goods will not give the expected results when there is no demand in the market.

“We are forced to cut production when we can’t send the products to the market,” he told New Business Age.

Entrepreneurs say that although transportation was eased during the second wave of coronavirus compared to the first wave, most of the production was shut down due to the closure of the market. Industrialists say that even the production of very essential goods in Bara-Parsa was limited to 20 to 25 percent.

Even though there was no nationwide ban at that time, trade was halted as prohibitory order was imposed in most parts of the country.

At present, the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor is operating at 70 to 80 percent capacity. The industries that were hit by the pandemic in March 2020, were badly affected again by the second wave in April 2021.

At present, an average of 3,000 people are being infected each day and 25 to 30 people are dying due to the virus since the ban was eased. Health experts say a third wave could break out at any moment.  Anup Agrawal, chairman of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum Birgunj, says that the entrepreneurs are worried that their business will be halted again.

He said that in order to keep the country’s economy afloat even during the pandemic, the entrepreneurs and workers working at the forefront should be fully vaccinated so that this will reduce the concern of their health security.

Gupta is of the view that since the third wave is likely to occur in the near future, it will create more problems for the economy along with industry and trade.