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“We Are Trying To Employ Nepalis In Our International Projects”

  5 min 17 sec to read

 
CE construction is one of the leading construction companies in Nepal. Established in 1992, the company has acquired tremendous experience and growth. Presently the company is expanding its foothold in the international construction market too. The Corporate’s Angila Sharma, recently discussed issues surrounding the overall construction scenario of Nepal and the company’s future plans with its Chairman and M.D, Bijay Rajbhandary. Excerpts:
 
What is the business scenario of Nepal’s construction sector?
Nepal is a developing nation and so, it is much occupied in the construction sector to meet its development infrastructural needs. We have contributed a lot to the development of the nation and still have a lot to do. Our priority is to set benchmark for building infrastructures in various development sectors. We believe that construction business has an important role in taking Nepal’s development agenda to the next level. But, matters like political instability obstruct our vision. Basically, construction sector is doing well in Nepal. It is a sector with no limitation for growth.
 
How is the business scenario after the CA elections?
As far as I have seen and known, it is good. We can assess the whole scenario only through economic indicators. Presently the scenario is positive and progressive. We are yet to see the changes that have been promised. For now, I believe that we can expect economic growth.
 
Kathmandu is squeezing at a fast pace. How can the industry expand beyond it? 
Construction is not limited to constructing buildings only. Kathmandu may have the problem of space. But, that makes no difference to the construction sector because it is beyond constructing buildings. Kathmandu is a congested place that faces traffic problems every day. As such, we can invest in constructing roads and flyovers. Construction is not limited to a specific area, it can cover a community or a country. It can also be understood in terms of hydro-electricity production, construction of transmission lines, bridges, health institutions and other infrastructural setup. It is firstly very essential to understand that construction does not simply mean building of houses. Secondly, there is a wide scope for construction business in Nepal which is yet to be explored and utilized.
 
What are your business expansion plans? 
We are planning to take our projects to other cities in Nepal. Along with that, we also have a project named ‘Beyond the Boundaries’ under which we are currently working in Qatar. We are trying to expand our reach in Bhutan and Tibet. Our expansion strategy includes using latest construction technologies that are permitted by the law of that land. As far as the host nation’s policy allows, we are trying to employ Nepali human resources in our international projects. We have pioneered in using latest construction technologies and this, we think, will assist the nation in gaining expertise in construction business sector too. 
 
What new construction technologies are you using? 
Across the world, one of the major technologies used in the construction project cycle is project management. It is important to apply project management tools to complete projects on time. Project completion in Nepal is complex due to demand for quality services within a very limited time period. Project Completion generally consists of planning tools, monitoring tools, methodologies and the application of equipment. 
 
Are the existing real estate policies conducive? What changes would your recommend? 
Policies should be changed periodically corresponding to the needs and demands of time. Recently, government has come up with a policy of 45-days approval of land. Previously, there was no time frame for land approval and transfers and that burdened buyers with interest. This policy has helped in minimizing the burden of interest on the buyers.
 
Government, however, has to come up with new policies which can foster the growth of the construction sector. Government has to pass laws that allow foreigners to buy apartments in Nepal. Apartments and real estate is an unavoidable solution to organize the cities here in Nepal. It has to facilitate us with proper policies for developing essential infrastructure. It should be able to provide subsidies and security to the private sector.
 
Likewise, government land should also be used for infrastructural development. Through active participation of private and public sector, we can build well-organized residential areas that are facilitated with recreational areas and essential services. Existing crowded city areas could be transformed into modern business centres. This needs government’s active participation in dealing with stakeholders and in managing their relocation in new residential areas. This can be achieved only when there is political stability in the country. 
 
What are your ongoing projects? 
Right now, our projects include hotels, shopping complexes, institutional projects and apartments. Similarly, we are working on 15 real estate projects. We are expecting some big projects in the near future.
 
What is your future strategy for the growth of this sector?
We believe that major volume of construction business should be conducted by Nepali people themselves rather than depending upon foreign constructors. For this, we have to prepare them. This requires establishment of training institutes, project management workshops and other practical means of learning. If we train these people properly, we will be able to deliver quality services at minimum prices and that too within a very short span of time. We will be role models in the construction sectors all over the world if we can provide quality training to the manpower in our nation.

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