Kathmandu, June 18: Russia has expressed formal readiness to help revive the long-shuttered Birgunj Sugar Factory, provided the Government of Nepal submits an official proposal with a prioritized list of needs. Russian Ambassador Alexey Surovtsev conveyed this commitment to Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, signaling potential technical and investment support.Ambassador Surovtsev stated that Moscow is fully prepared to restore the idle Birgunj Sugar Factory and the Janakpur Cigarette Factory. The Russian side is awaiting a formal request from the Government of Nepal to begin discussing technical studies and investment modalities.
Originally established in 1964 as a turnkey gift from the Soviet Union, the Birgunj Sugar Factory historically played a massive role in Nepal’s agricultural industrialization, employing thousands and crushing up to 1,500 metric tonnes of sugarcane daily.
The mill, located in Birgunj (Parsa district), has remained completely shut down since February 2003 following privatization attempts and declining sugarcane cultivation.
Earlier, in 2023, when the then National Assembly chairman of Nepal was in a visit to Russia, Russia has proposed to help Nepal in 13 development projects.
Russia had asked for detailed project proposal from Nepal for about 13 development projects that could be constructed and operated with the Russian assistance and cooperation.
The projects include electric railways, highways, cancer hospital for children and increasing quota for Nepali students to study in Moscow.
Russian Embassy in Nepal had urged in writing to the then chairman of National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina for the proposals of the projects as discussed during Chair Timilsina’s visit to Russia on 19-24 April 2023.
During his Russia visit, NA Chair Timilsina had held talks with Chairs of Russia’s upper house the federal assembly as well as the lower house Duma and also with the Russian deputy Prime Minister.
As per the discussion then held, Russia has showed interest in providing assistance for the East-West electric railway, constructing railways in Kathmandu similar to the one in Moscow, Pokhara-Ridi road that goes through Parbat.
Russia has showed interest in and urged for proposals to build cancer hospital for children in Kathmandu and Pokhara where in the initial phase Russian doctors will also provide services.
Russia had expressed readiness to increase the number of scholarships to Nepali students to 150-200 from existing 18 for medical and engineering studies.
In addition to chemical feritliser and wheat, Russian had asked for proposal for exporting petroleum products directly to Nepal.
However, the then Nepal government didn’t respond the Russian proposal that time.
People’s News Monitoring Service.
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