The Nepal Weekly 
September 10, 2024
Pradip Lal Shrestha, chairman STC
The Nepal Weekly: What will be the role of Salt Trading, as a public-private partnership, in promoting the welfare of consumers in the present changing context ?
Pradip Shrestha: Although it is a business establishment, we are more concerned to fulfilling our social responsibility. We are supplying salt to our customers at a rate cheaper than in neighbouring India, from where we are importing the item. I think salt is available at the cheapest price in Nepal as compared to other SAARC countries. We are providing salt at a cheaper price not only in the urban areas, but also in the remote villages and mountainous regions. For instance, salt is available in India for a minimum price of IRs. 20, (NRs. 32) per kg where as in Nepal we are supplying salt for Rs. 26 per kg at present. Because salt is an essential commodity and we are aware of our social responsibility to make salt available at a cheaper price to our customers.
TNW: What initiatives have you taken after assuming the responsibility of chairman of and what are your future plans ?
Shrestha: We are working out plans on how to move forward for the upliftment of STC and protecting the interest of the consumers. We are focusing on expansion and strengthening of our business in the recent period. Our turn over has increased considerably. In the last fiscal year we have succeeded in achieving 40 percent increment in turn over compared to the previous year.
TNW: What about Gorakhkali Rubber Industries?
Shrestha: The rubber industry was running well so long as it operated under our management. When Laxmi Das Manandhar was the chairman of STC, the industry was making profit. However, it had to be closed after the government took the management from our hand. Butawal Spinning Mill, where we invested money, was also running well under the STC’s management. But later it was closed after the government took the responsibility from us.
TNW: Don’t you think that other organizations may also get inspiration from STC to operate businesses under private-public partnership ?
Shrestha: They should have learnt from us to do business under PPP model. But at the moment STC is the only successful business establishment operating under public-private-partnership model. All other organizations running under PPP model have been shut down except STC. If the government had taken the full responsibility of running the establishment, STC would have been closed long before. We are surviving because, we have more public shares than those owned by the government.
TNW: How is STC working towards ensuring smooth supply of sugar during the upcoming festivals?
Shrestha: Currently we are supplying sugar to our customers at a reasonable price. We are also trying to bring more sugar before Dashain so as to ensure smooth supply of the item. The process for importing sugar has already been initiated keeping in view the upcoming festivals. We are working towards ensuring that sugar wouldn’t go to the hands of the black marketers during the festival.
TNW: How would you strike a balance between providing service to the people and at the same time safeguarding the interest of the shareholders?
Shrestha: We are doing the business by striking a balance between the two, giving dividends to the shareholders and providing service to the general public as well. As you might be aware that we are operating in minimum profit by fulfilling our social responsibility as well.
