February 9: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal has said that the government is planning to promote the sale of domestic liquor by 'branding' the product.

Speaking at a discussion on the promotion of domestic liquor held at the Ministry of Industry on Thursday, Minister Rijal said that the government will ‘brand’ domestic liquor. Minister Rijal said that arrangements will be made to promote the sale of domestic alcohol under the small and domestic industries. He also said that the government will determine production standard and quality of domestic alcohol and make arrangements for sales promotion.

Minister Rijal said that the ministry is doing necessary homework to promote the sale of domestic liquor at the national and international level. The ministry has adopted a policy of 'branding' domestic liquor by preparing quality standards. Accordingly, the ministry also presented the guidelines for the sale and promotion of domestic liquor during the discussion program.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and Law Minister Dhanraj Gurung were also present during the discussion. Finance Minister Dr Mahat said that special attention should be paid to the quality and standards of domestic alcohol.

Law Minister Gurung said that there should be laws to clearly define the production and sale of domestic liquor. Chief Minister of Koshi Province Kedar Karki, Chief Minister of Bagmati Province Shalikram Jamkattel, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Surendraraj Pandey, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary were also present during the discussion.