The proposed Nepal-China Friendship Industrial Park in Damak has emerged as a key issue in the Jhapa-5 electoral race after Balen Shah left the project out of his election manifesto.
The multi-billion-rupee industrial park, originally launched as the Damak Industrial Park, is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli had laid its foundation stone in 2021 and has pledged to complete it if re-elected. The project lies in his home constituency, which has drawn national attention since Shah entered the race against him.