Construction has begun on the new Surya Nepal garment manufacturing facility in Biratnagar. The factory will produce garments for Surya Nepal's domestic John Players brand. Construction will end by November 2007 and once fully operational, the plant could generate employment for 2,000 people from the Biratnagar area. Surya Nepal's garment industry currently employs over 500 people, nearly 90 percent of them women.