Benefits of Economic Liberalization in Growth and Development of Industry: With Reference to Butwal Industrial Area of Nepal

Abstract

Economic liberalization policy is important to speed up the development activities. Nepal has been following the policy of economic liberalization since the mid-1980s which was accelerated with the start of 1990s. Nepal adopted economic liberalization to minimize public expenditure burden of loss-making public enterprises, mobilize private savings, investments, and FDI (Foreign Domestic Investment) as well as to meet Multilateral Donors conditions of economic reform. The study was conducted to identify the benefit of economic liberalization in industrial growth and development in Nepal. The study was conducted in the Butwal area of Province 5. It was a cross-section study based on the quantitative design. There was total 385 respondents selected from among the industrialists, traders, and bankers. The result shows that there were positive impactson the various economic indicators of industry like quantitative restrictions in trade had been removed, bilateral trade agreement facilitated free flow of goods and services, deregulated the monopoly of market, controlling in price structure, privatization of public services, flexibility in the exchange rate, elimination of import license and quotas, liberalization of foreign investments, High and sustained growth through market-based resource allocation, infusion of competition in the economy, reduction of state domination, and encouragement of private participation in economic activities were the added advantages of liberalization. There was significant difference in the response of industrialists, traders and bankers on benefit of economic liberalization in industrial growth and development in Nepal such as promotion of free trade, deregulation of the monopoly market, elimination of subsidies, price controls and other more benefits.