
November 3: The deposits of commercial banks, which were on a rise from mid-August to mid-October, have started declining continuously from the third week of October, according to the Nepal Bankers…
November 3: The deposits of commercial banks, which were on a rise from mid-August to mid-October, have started declining continuously from the third week of October, according to the Nepal Bankers…
November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and…
November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this…
November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport…
November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to…
November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource…
November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and…
November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal…
November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN…
November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of…
November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been…
November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower…
November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods.…
November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate…
November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt…
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They expect getting this amount back gradually to the banking system after elections.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, deposits decreased by Rs 6.24 billion from October 18 to 24, which further decreased by Rs 17.13 billion from October 25 to 28.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-September to mid-October, the deposits of commercial banks had increased by Rs 61.64 billion to reach Rs 4547.15 billion. By October 28, the amount decreased to Rs 4523.78 biillion. As informed by the association, the bank deposits decreased from mid-July to mid-August, which then increased by Rs 52.15 billion by mid-September.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The deposits of banks decreased before Dashain but they started returning to the system after the festival. However, after the beginning of the election campaign for the House of Representatives and the State Assembly on November 20, deposits decreased by Rs 23.37 billion within the last 2 weeks of October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kiran Kumar Shrestha, CEO of Rastriya Banijya Bank informed that deposits were withdrawn from the banks for the festivals and election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Bank deposits decreased from mid-October due to spending on festivals and increased election activities. After the election, this money will gradually return back to the banking system,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After this election, we are expecting some ease in the situation of lack of liquidity,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although deposits decreased from mid-October, lending of commercial banks on the other hand has increased. Since mid-October alone, the credit flow of banks increased by Rs 5.10 billion. The total loan disbursement of banks reached Rs 4225.40 billion on October 28, which was Rs 4220.32 billion by mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks extended loans of Rs 10.58 billion from mid-July to mid-August, Rs 13.75 billion from mid-August to mid-September and Rs 30.4 billion rupees from mid-September to mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The banks provided loans even though there was no increase in deposits, causing their credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) to increase. According to the association, the average CD ratio of banks was 87.23 percent till October 21, but it increased to 87.58 percent on October 28. According to the instructions of the Nepal Rastra Bank, banks should maintain a CD ratio of less than 90 percent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15981', 'image' => '20221103023651_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 14:35:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16239', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet gives Permission for Two-Way Air Service Agreement with US, Switzerland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. The government gave permission to initiate the necessary process after preliminary agreements for direct flights to the US and Switzerland three months ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that the Federal Aviation Administration of the US has sent a letter for two-way air service agreement for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jagannath Niraula, said that preparation has already been started to begin the process of air service agreement with the two countries following a cabinet decision. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in coordination with the CAAN had taken the proposal in the cabinet after the US and Switzerland showed their interest for two-way flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has also forwarded the process to operate flights to Indonesia and Rwanda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN, Nepal has signed agreement for two-way direct flights with 40 countries so far. Among the 40 countries, commercial flights are being operated regularly to and from 20 countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15980', 'image' => '20221103123004_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 12:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16238', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers Forced to Sell Paddy at Throw-Away Prices', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season. Many of them have already completed harvesting and have stored the required grains. They have already started selling excess of paddy produced this season. However, the farmers are forced to sell paddy at low price because the government is “yet to fix” the minimum support price of paddy this year even though the harvesting season is almost over.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has forced the farmers to sell paddy at throw-away prices. Chhitra Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer from Kailali, informed that they had no option but to sell paddy at scrap value because the government did not fix the minimum support price on time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are selling paddy at throw-away prices because the minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Chaudhary.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We need to sell the paddy so that we can purchase the seeds, fertilizer and ploughing charge required for the winter crop. Therefore, we need to sell the paddy as soon as we finish harvesting,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The local businessmen are purchasing paddy at the rare of Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 per quintal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Businessman Navin Shrestha insists that they are buying paddy at the aforementioned prices because the government has not yet fixed the minimum support price and that the paddy has not dried yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The minimum support price is implemented only after the Provincial Offices of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) receives a circular in this regard after the Council of Minister fixes the support price. Angela Basnet, chief of the Dhangadhi-based Far Western Province Office of the FMTCL, said that they have not received any such circular so far this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Basnet, adding, “We will set up a purchase depot once the minimum support price is fixed by the government.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said that the local businessmen are purchasing paddy on their own at the moment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The production of paddy in Far Western Province is expected to decline this year due to the recent floods. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15979', 'image' => '20221103110435_20220720044056_640px-Rice_Plants_(IRRI).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 11:03:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16237', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines to Conduct Flights through Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is ready to issue permits to the company for self ground handling at GBIA and commercial ground handling at the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Accordingly, the company has announced to conduct regular chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur from the Bhairahawa-based GBIA. Himalaya Airlines said that the company is likely to conduct flights to Kuala Lumpur starting from today (November 3) provided that the aviation regulatory body of Malaysia issues permit for the flights. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Initially, the company plans to conduct two-way flights to Kuala Lumpur from GBIA and later intends to expand to service to other destinations after it acquires commercial ground handling permit at the airport.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The airport officially came into operation on May 16 this year. At present, only Jazeera Airways is running three flights a week at the GBIA. This new airport is expected to ease the air traffic congestion at the TIA.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15978', 'image' => '20221103093603_20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 09:35:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16236', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Swiss Business Delegation Event to be Held in Kathmandu Next Week', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9. Ten companies including Lombardy, Lufthansa, Victorinox, JKB Bank, Roche, etc. from Switzerland will participate in this programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Swiss and Liechtenstein companies participating in the programme will be informed about the potential investment opportunities in Nepal in areas such as health care, insurance, communication, construction engineering, banking, fintech, etc. The first meeting of business delegation of Swiss companies in Nepal is expected to help these companies enter the Nepali market. This programme is organized in collaboration between the Swiss Embassy in Nepal, Switzerland Global Enterprise and Swiss Business Hub, India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is moving from political transition to economic transformation. There are many opportunities for Swiss companies to enter the Nepali market. Switzerland and Nepal have been cooperating since the 1950s. Recently, trade relations between Nepal and Switzerland have becoming stronger. Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller says that Swiss companies can benefit by introducing Swiss technology and expertise in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For a long time, Switzerland has been helping the development of Nepal by investing in areas such as agriculture, rural infrastructure development, technical education and vocational training. Recently, Nepal is becoming an attractive business destination for multinational companies due to the increase in the average income of Nepalese, increasing consumption and rapid urbanization. The Swiss business delegation event will help all types of Swiss companies, big and small, to understand the Nepali market well and get information about investment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a lot of investment potential in Nepal's renewable energy, transportation, other infrastructure construction and engineering sectors. Swiss companies can do business in the fields of engineering and construction equipment, consulting services, hydropower construction, tunneling technology and equipment, ropeway/cable car construction and equipment supply. Similarly, there are ample investment opportunities in aviation and airport infrastructure, food and agriculture sector, sustainable urban development and other sectors as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, there has been a rapid growth in the health care sector of Nepal in the last three decades. With the increase in the number of hospitals and treatment centers in the private sector, the potential for health care, medical technology, pharmaceutical and bio technology here has also increased. Information and communication technology, telecommunication, security printing and biometrics are also other areas with investment potential.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, Nepal's financial sector is relatively well developed. There are plenty of investment opportunities in banking, finance, insurance services and fin-tech. Also, tourism is one of the main pillars of Nepal's economy. It is also an important source of foreign exchange and revenue.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15977', 'image' => '20221102052653_thumb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 17:25:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16235', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'UML Unveils its Election Manifesto with Tall Promises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the last election, the CPN UML had decided to merge with the CPN Maoist Centre which paid off as they secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority in parliament. The two parties ultimately merged after the election but they eventually split after some years due to conflict in power sharing agreement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the last election, KP Sharma Oli took charge of the government. Amid criticism that the Oli government did not work as per the aspirations of the people, the CPN UML on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming election. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The left-wing party has pledged good governance, development, prosperity and equality in its manifesto. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Besides, the party has also announced a dozens of programmes such as Citizenship only for Nepalis; Hunger no Longer; Domestic Production, Foreign Market; Secured Roof: Everyone’s Desire; Choice of Youth: Education; Free Meter: Ten Thousand Litres. Income-generating programmes and distribution of medicines for pressure and sugar also fall under the announcement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the party’s manifesto does not mention how it will manage resources for implementing these programmes. The election manifesto of the CPN UML also includes an ambitious and unattainable plan of increasing the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the current size of Nepal’s economy is Rs 4.8 trillion. In order to increase the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years, the country must attain growth of Gross Domestic Product by 15 percent each year. Only a day before the UML unveiled its election manifesto, the World Bank had projected Nepal’s economy to grow by 5.8 percent in 2022, 5.1 percent in 2023 and 4.9 percent in 2024. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UML election manifesto also mentions that the party will increase the Per Capital Income of Nepal to USD 2400 in the next five years. This target is also unattainable in the next five years. The Per Capital Income of Nepal in the current fiscal year is USD 1300. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The election manifesto also says that the UML will develop 50 new cities in the next five years and complete the construction of all the highways within the same period. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15976', 'image' => '20221102044450_20201119030717_20200305102040_oli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:44:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16234', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Removes Export Duty on Nepal-Bound Paddy and Rice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice. India had imposed a 20 percent duty on the export of paddy and rice in the second week of September while also banning the export of various food items to prevent a possible food crisis amid Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian Department of Revenue issued a notice on Monday stating that no such duty will be charged on exports to Nepal. After India imposed tariffs, local industrialists were worried that there would be a shortage of raw materials for the rice industry in Nepal and the illegal import of rice would thrive.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulse Industry had requested the Government of Nepal and Indian agencies to revoke the duty. Subodh Kumar Gupta, who is the president of both these organizations, welcomed the move of India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta shared, “After India imposed a 20 percent duty on exports, Nepalese rice industries were on the verge of closure. Nepali consumers were forced to buy rice at expensive rates. With this decision of India, the problems of Nepal's industries and consumers have been addressed.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India decided not to charge duty for the annual export of 600,000 metric tons of paddy for Nepal. Last year, the industry of Nepal imported 5.5 million tons of rice from India, according to the data of the association. Based on this data, the industrialists requested India not to levy duty on imports of at least 600,000 tons of rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bishwamitra Prasad Kalwar, the owner of New Om Food Industry said that this decision has given relief to the people of Nepal as the kitchens had became more expensive after India, the largest exporter of paddy and rice, tightened the export. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of every commodity has increased. On top of that, when the price of rice, which is the staple food in Nepal, increased, the life of the common people got severely affected. This decision brought relief not only to the industrialists but to the consumers as well,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15975', 'image' => '20221102040045_rice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16233', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Cardamom Gets Halal Certificate ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate. It means that the cardamoms which were earlier exported only to India and Pakistan can now be exported to the Gulf countries. This certificate is a must to export food to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the largest market for Nepali cardamom while Nepal has been exporting cardamoms to Pakistan since the last three years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Cardamom Traders Federation, it takes a long time for Nepali cardamom to reach Pakistan. He said Gulf countries have more opportunities than Pakistan due to price fluctuation. The producers will now export directly to the Gulf countries as they now have the Halal Certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali cardamom is exported under the brand name 'Everest Large Cardamom'. The government issued a trademark for cardamom on July 3, 2016 so that it can be exported under the name of Nepal in the international market. Four later, Pakistan approved the Nepali brand. Last year, 37.5 metric tons of cardamom worth Rs 50 million were exported to Pakistan. Although Nepali cardamom is preferred in Pakistan, the trading process is long (45 days), and the price is low. So, businessmen started looking for a market in the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate, traders will now export it to Qatar under its trademark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is expected that the falling price of cardamom will go up now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Halal Certificate is an organic registeration given by Qatar to products produced according to its standards. To get a Halal Certificate, cardamom must be produced organically, gloves must be worn while harvesting and picking them, and pigs must not be kept in the production area. Nepali farmers have fulfilled these criteria. Only cardamom that meets the standards can be exported to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Everest Large Cardamom got its market after Pakistan registered it. Rajkumar Karki, the former president of the Cardamom Traders Federation, said that Nepali cardamom is still being sold as an Indian product in the world market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Karki, 95 per cent of Nepal's cardamom goes to India. The Nepali cardamom that reached the hands of Indian businessmen are being exported to the Gulf countries with the tag of Indian product.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15974', 'image' => '20221102031915_BlackCardamom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 15:18:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16232', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Wheat and Corn Rise Globally', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 5.5 percent on Monday to USD 8.74 a bushel. Corn futures were up 2.3 percent to USD 6.96 a bushel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Palm oil futures trading in Malaysia also rose amid fears of potential impact on exports of Ukraine sunflower oil, Reuters reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, the CNN said referring to information from an agricultural data firm Gro Intelligence. The two countries that are at war since February 24 are also among the top three global exporters of barley, maize, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia withdrew from the grain deal on Saturday accusing Ukraine and the UK of drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In an earlier report, Reuters had said that bakers and noodle manufacturers are replacing wheat with rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Wheat flour prices are almost at par with rice - automatically there will be shifting," Reuters quoted Franciscus Welirang, chairman of the Indonesian Flour Millers Association, as saying.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15973', 'image' => '20221102011401_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16231', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of Foreign Tourists Increasing at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical place enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site received 10,594 tourists from outside the SAARC region in mid-September to mid-October this year while those from SAARC region stand at 3,178 during the same period, according to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Hanuman Dhoka Conservation Programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During mid-August to mid-September, 3,610 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region had arrived at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square while the number of visitors from SAARC region was 1,893. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square attracted 2,864 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region during mid-July to mid-August while 1,399 tourists from SAARC region visited the site which features the famed nine-storey palace, monuments, open air museum, courtyards and quadrangles, temples and open public spaces among others built during the 15th to 20th century. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The influx of foreign tourists has been increasing satisfactorily post COVID-19 pandemic, according to Programme Chief Roshan Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme covers historical monuments in KMC's ward no 19, 20, 23 and 24. Foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region have to pay Rs 1,000 as entry fee to this area while Rs 150 is charged with tourists from SAARC region. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15972', 'image' => '20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 12:08:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16230', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Embossed Number Plates Fixed on Less than Two Percent of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, the government had decided to fix such number plates six years ago but the embossed number plates have been fixed on less than two percent of the targeted vehicles so far. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had set a target of fixing embossed number plates on 2.5 million vehicles in five years, RSS added. The plates have been placed on 35,000 vehicles only, according to the Department of Transport Management. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are requesting the people to get the embossed number plates installed on their vehicles,” RSS quoted Ishwori Datta Paneru, the spokesperson of the department, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Spokesperson Paneru mentioned that all should install embossed number plate on their vehicles as it is the responsibility of all to follow the laws. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department informed that it is mandatory for all vehicles to fix embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had issued a notice in the Nepal Gazette on November 8, 2021 regarding fixing of the embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The decision to make embossed number plates mandatory has drawn widespread condemnation, especially because the DoTM has not prepared the required infrastructure to deliver the service. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15971', 'image' => '20221102112443_20220608081057_Department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 11:23:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16229', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NICCI, Bangladesh Discuss Investment in Hydropower Sector of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Vice President of NICCI Sunil KC held talks with Salman Rahman, advisor to the government led by Sheikh Hasina, in this regard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The discussion focused on development of hydropower sector and joint investment in this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KC, who is currently in a visit to Bangladesh, also discussed issues such as expanding transmission line between Nepal and Bangladesh, investment commitment in Nepal’s hydropower sector, marketing among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the meeting, Rahman reaffirmed the stance of Bangladesh regarding investment in Nepal by taking the Indian side in confidence. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the occasion, Vice President KC requested Bangladesh to prioritize investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It was informed during the meeting that the private sector of Bangladesh is ready to invest USD 3 billion in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During his Bangaldesh visit, KC also met Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzman Khan, who is an influential leader of the ruling Awami League.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15969', 'image' => '20221101071311_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 19:12:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16227', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Suggests Lifting Import Ban', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. The government had banned the import of 10 items including personal vehicles, expensive mobile phones, readymade liquor, high-capacity motorcycles, playing cards, diamonds, tobacco products, and large-sized televisions since April due to the pressure on foreign exchange reserves. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the ban on the import of 6 out of 10 items has already been lifted from the last week of August, ban on the import of cars, jeep, vans, readymade liquor, motorcycles of more than 150 cc capacity and smartphones worth more than 300 USD still continues.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank suggests that the ban on imports should be removed to strengthen the country’s economy. Releasing the Nepal Development Update report, the bank emphasized on the need to increase the policy interest rate stating that increasing the policy interest rate will discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the World Bank also asked to impose value added tax in the areas where excise duty and customs duty are imposed. In the 51-page report, there are suggestions to reduce the list of items that are currently subsidized by increasing the price, to increase the spending capacity of the local level and the province, to increase the internal consumption of electricity, to cooperate with countries like India and Bangladesh to bring investment in hydropower sector, and to improve the foreign investment policy.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">World Bank’s economist Alice J Brooks said that although there are rumors of Nepal's situation becoming similar to that of Sri Lanka, the reality is rather contrasting. She reassured that even though there were some problems due to the economy weakened by Covid-19 and the high pressure on imports, Nepal’s economy is currently improving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Brooks said that the government's debt is 42 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), imports are decreasing and the positive improvement in foreign exchange reserves shows that Nepal's economy is improving. She said that the foreign exchange reserves are positive as they can sustain imports for at least 7 months. The World Bank suggests that necessary policies should be made in time as climate change has a major impact on Nepal's agriculture and other sectors. The report mentions that the recent changes in weather may affect Nepal's infrastructure and foreign employment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank warned that the impact of climate change has already started to be seen in agriculture and it may directly affect Nepal's hydropower as well. The bank says that global temperature increase will have a direct impact on power plants based on river flow system. As per the World Bank, “Electricity is a sector with great potential in the Nepali economy. Affecting it means directly affecting the economy.” It added that it has been providing financial and policy support in climate change control and is ready to cooperate further.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The micro-fiscal model prepared by the World Bank was also handed over to the Government of Nepal. The World Bank has been using this model to prepare the Nepal Development Update as well as in economic and monetary analysis.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15968', 'image' => '20221101063140_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 18:31:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16226', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Highly Vulnerable to Global Climate Change: Prime Minister Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change. He also mentioned that Nepali people have had to face multi-faceted challenges due to rising temperature and widespread changes in rainfall pattern, increase in disaster and extreme events. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the first meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management on Monday, which was formed as per the provisions of the Environment Act, 2076, PM Deuba said that the government has accorded top priority to climate change and environmental protection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 27th Conference of Parties to the International Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-27) is going to be held in Egypt from November 6 to 18. In this context, Prime Minister Deuba said that Nepal should urge the rich and developed countries of the world to revise their ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emission development strategy to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In this regard, Nepal should lobby with the United Nations Climate Secretariat for active leadership, he said and expressed his commitment to take initiatives to ensure the progress of the 'Santiago Loss and Damage Mechanism' and the demand for a separate loss and damage finance system by putting the loss and damage finance system formally on the agenda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, documents related to the preparations for the COP-27, national prescribed implementation plan, climate finance strategy and action plan prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were presented. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also approved the Council's Meeting Procedures 2079, National Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, Climate Finance Strategy and Action Plan and Nepal's concept paper related to COP-27. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15967', 'image' => '20221101042254_PM deubaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 16:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16225', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Businesses Environment Affected by bad Loans' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery. The association had decided to demand for such law during its 43rd general assembly, urging the government not to allow credit transactions for more than a month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A few months ago, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry also strongly raised this demand in its 46th general assembly. The president of the association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, in the presence of the finance minister drew the minister's attention to the fact that the market had shrunk after the onset of Covid-19 and had been further threatened by credit transactions. He also demanded to bring effective laws to protect the economy from accidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The businessmen have also been demanding stern laws related to loan recovery. Till date, the government has not taken effective steps in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Prasad Lath, president of the Madhes Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has accused the government of being indifferent to solving the problem of credit transaction. The private sector does not fail to give this suggestion to the government every year in the pre-budget discussions. However, Lath complains that the budget has not addressed the demand yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is also not untouched by the global recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Private sector leaders say that its impact is even greater in an import-oriented economy like ours. The import control policy adopted by the government to reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange reserves and the lack of investable funds in the financial sector has led to a decline in production and supply.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta said that while the average production of industries has fallen to 20 to 25 per cent of the total capacity, there is competition in the market to acquire loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no demand in the market. Production has decreased. In such a situation, there is a competition on who will give more credits,'' said Gupta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to entrepreneurs, the lending period has almost doubled in the post-pandemic era. Navneet Agarwal, a businessman, shared that pre-coronavirus payments used to come within three months, but now they have stopped coming even after six months. In the past, it was a situation of getting paid in one to one and a half months after selling the goods. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15966', 'image' => '20221101015645_badloan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 13:56:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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They expect getting this amount back gradually to the banking system after elections.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, deposits decreased by Rs 6.24 billion from October 18 to 24, which further decreased by Rs 17.13 billion from October 25 to 28.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-September to mid-October, the deposits of commercial banks had increased by Rs 61.64 billion to reach Rs 4547.15 billion. By October 28, the amount decreased to Rs 4523.78 biillion. As informed by the association, the bank deposits decreased from mid-July to mid-August, which then increased by Rs 52.15 billion by mid-September.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The deposits of banks decreased before Dashain but they started returning to the system after the festival. However, after the beginning of the election campaign for the House of Representatives and the State Assembly on November 20, deposits decreased by Rs 23.37 billion within the last 2 weeks of October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kiran Kumar Shrestha, CEO of Rastriya Banijya Bank informed that deposits were withdrawn from the banks for the festivals and election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Bank deposits decreased from mid-October due to spending on festivals and increased election activities. After the election, this money will gradually return back to the banking system,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After this election, we are expecting some ease in the situation of lack of liquidity,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although deposits decreased from mid-October, lending of commercial banks on the other hand has increased. Since mid-October alone, the credit flow of banks increased by Rs 5.10 billion. The total loan disbursement of banks reached Rs 4225.40 billion on October 28, which was Rs 4220.32 billion by mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks extended loans of Rs 10.58 billion from mid-July to mid-August, Rs 13.75 billion from mid-August to mid-September and Rs 30.4 billion rupees from mid-September to mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The banks provided loans even though there was no increase in deposits, causing their credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) to increase. According to the association, the average CD ratio of banks was 87.23 percent till October 21, but it increased to 87.58 percent on October 28. According to the instructions of the Nepal Rastra Bank, banks should maintain a CD ratio of less than 90 percent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15981', 'image' => '20221103023651_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 14:35:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16239', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet gives Permission for Two-Way Air Service Agreement with US, Switzerland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. The government gave permission to initiate the necessary process after preliminary agreements for direct flights to the US and Switzerland three months ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that the Federal Aviation Administration of the US has sent a letter for two-way air service agreement for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jagannath Niraula, said that preparation has already been started to begin the process of air service agreement with the two countries following a cabinet decision. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in coordination with the CAAN had taken the proposal in the cabinet after the US and Switzerland showed their interest for two-way flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has also forwarded the process to operate flights to Indonesia and Rwanda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN, Nepal has signed agreement for two-way direct flights with 40 countries so far. Among the 40 countries, commercial flights are being operated regularly to and from 20 countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15980', 'image' => '20221103123004_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 12:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16238', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers Forced to Sell Paddy at Throw-Away Prices', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season. Many of them have already completed harvesting and have stored the required grains. They have already started selling excess of paddy produced this season. However, the farmers are forced to sell paddy at low price because the government is “yet to fix” the minimum support price of paddy this year even though the harvesting season is almost over.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has forced the farmers to sell paddy at throw-away prices. Chhitra Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer from Kailali, informed that they had no option but to sell paddy at scrap value because the government did not fix the minimum support price on time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are selling paddy at throw-away prices because the minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Chaudhary.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We need to sell the paddy so that we can purchase the seeds, fertilizer and ploughing charge required for the winter crop. Therefore, we need to sell the paddy as soon as we finish harvesting,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The local businessmen are purchasing paddy at the rare of Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 per quintal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Businessman Navin Shrestha insists that they are buying paddy at the aforementioned prices because the government has not yet fixed the minimum support price and that the paddy has not dried yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The minimum support price is implemented only after the Provincial Offices of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) receives a circular in this regard after the Council of Minister fixes the support price. Angela Basnet, chief of the Dhangadhi-based Far Western Province Office of the FMTCL, said that they have not received any such circular so far this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Basnet, adding, “We will set up a purchase depot once the minimum support price is fixed by the government.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said that the local businessmen are purchasing paddy on their own at the moment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The production of paddy in Far Western Province is expected to decline this year due to the recent floods. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15979', 'image' => '20221103110435_20220720044056_640px-Rice_Plants_(IRRI).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 11:03:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16237', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines to Conduct Flights through Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is ready to issue permits to the company for self ground handling at GBIA and commercial ground handling at the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Accordingly, the company has announced to conduct regular chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur from the Bhairahawa-based GBIA. Himalaya Airlines said that the company is likely to conduct flights to Kuala Lumpur starting from today (November 3) provided that the aviation regulatory body of Malaysia issues permit for the flights. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Initially, the company plans to conduct two-way flights to Kuala Lumpur from GBIA and later intends to expand to service to other destinations after it acquires commercial ground handling permit at the airport.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The airport officially came into operation on May 16 this year. At present, only Jazeera Airways is running three flights a week at the GBIA. This new airport is expected to ease the air traffic congestion at the TIA.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15978', 'image' => '20221103093603_20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 09:35:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16236', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Swiss Business Delegation Event to be Held in Kathmandu Next Week', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9. Ten companies including Lombardy, Lufthansa, Victorinox, JKB Bank, Roche, etc. from Switzerland will participate in this programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Swiss and Liechtenstein companies participating in the programme will be informed about the potential investment opportunities in Nepal in areas such as health care, insurance, communication, construction engineering, banking, fintech, etc. The first meeting of business delegation of Swiss companies in Nepal is expected to help these companies enter the Nepali market. This programme is organized in collaboration between the Swiss Embassy in Nepal, Switzerland Global Enterprise and Swiss Business Hub, India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is moving from political transition to economic transformation. There are many opportunities for Swiss companies to enter the Nepali market. Switzerland and Nepal have been cooperating since the 1950s. Recently, trade relations between Nepal and Switzerland have becoming stronger. Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller says that Swiss companies can benefit by introducing Swiss technology and expertise in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For a long time, Switzerland has been helping the development of Nepal by investing in areas such as agriculture, rural infrastructure development, technical education and vocational training. Recently, Nepal is becoming an attractive business destination for multinational companies due to the increase in the average income of Nepalese, increasing consumption and rapid urbanization. The Swiss business delegation event will help all types of Swiss companies, big and small, to understand the Nepali market well and get information about investment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a lot of investment potential in Nepal's renewable energy, transportation, other infrastructure construction and engineering sectors. Swiss companies can do business in the fields of engineering and construction equipment, consulting services, hydropower construction, tunneling technology and equipment, ropeway/cable car construction and equipment supply. Similarly, there are ample investment opportunities in aviation and airport infrastructure, food and agriculture sector, sustainable urban development and other sectors as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, there has been a rapid growth in the health care sector of Nepal in the last three decades. With the increase in the number of hospitals and treatment centers in the private sector, the potential for health care, medical technology, pharmaceutical and bio technology here has also increased. Information and communication technology, telecommunication, security printing and biometrics are also other areas with investment potential.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, Nepal's financial sector is relatively well developed. There are plenty of investment opportunities in banking, finance, insurance services and fin-tech. Also, tourism is one of the main pillars of Nepal's economy. It is also an important source of foreign exchange and revenue.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15977', 'image' => '20221102052653_thumb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 17:25:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16235', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'UML Unveils its Election Manifesto with Tall Promises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the last election, the CPN UML had decided to merge with the CPN Maoist Centre which paid off as they secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority in parliament. The two parties ultimately merged after the election but they eventually split after some years due to conflict in power sharing agreement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the last election, KP Sharma Oli took charge of the government. Amid criticism that the Oli government did not work as per the aspirations of the people, the CPN UML on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming election. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The left-wing party has pledged good governance, development, prosperity and equality in its manifesto. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Besides, the party has also announced a dozens of programmes such as Citizenship only for Nepalis; Hunger no Longer; Domestic Production, Foreign Market; Secured Roof: Everyone’s Desire; Choice of Youth: Education; Free Meter: Ten Thousand Litres. Income-generating programmes and distribution of medicines for pressure and sugar also fall under the announcement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the party’s manifesto does not mention how it will manage resources for implementing these programmes. The election manifesto of the CPN UML also includes an ambitious and unattainable plan of increasing the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the current size of Nepal’s economy is Rs 4.8 trillion. In order to increase the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years, the country must attain growth of Gross Domestic Product by 15 percent each year. Only a day before the UML unveiled its election manifesto, the World Bank had projected Nepal’s economy to grow by 5.8 percent in 2022, 5.1 percent in 2023 and 4.9 percent in 2024. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UML election manifesto also mentions that the party will increase the Per Capital Income of Nepal to USD 2400 in the next five years. This target is also unattainable in the next five years. The Per Capital Income of Nepal in the current fiscal year is USD 1300. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The election manifesto also says that the UML will develop 50 new cities in the next five years and complete the construction of all the highways within the same period. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15976', 'image' => '20221102044450_20201119030717_20200305102040_oli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:44:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16234', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Removes Export Duty on Nepal-Bound Paddy and Rice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice. India had imposed a 20 percent duty on the export of paddy and rice in the second week of September while also banning the export of various food items to prevent a possible food crisis amid Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian Department of Revenue issued a notice on Monday stating that no such duty will be charged on exports to Nepal. After India imposed tariffs, local industrialists were worried that there would be a shortage of raw materials for the rice industry in Nepal and the illegal import of rice would thrive.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulse Industry had requested the Government of Nepal and Indian agencies to revoke the duty. Subodh Kumar Gupta, who is the president of both these organizations, welcomed the move of India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta shared, “After India imposed a 20 percent duty on exports, Nepalese rice industries were on the verge of closure. Nepali consumers were forced to buy rice at expensive rates. With this decision of India, the problems of Nepal's industries and consumers have been addressed.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India decided not to charge duty for the annual export of 600,000 metric tons of paddy for Nepal. Last year, the industry of Nepal imported 5.5 million tons of rice from India, according to the data of the association. Based on this data, the industrialists requested India not to levy duty on imports of at least 600,000 tons of rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bishwamitra Prasad Kalwar, the owner of New Om Food Industry said that this decision has given relief to the people of Nepal as the kitchens had became more expensive after India, the largest exporter of paddy and rice, tightened the export. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of every commodity has increased. On top of that, when the price of rice, which is the staple food in Nepal, increased, the life of the common people got severely affected. This decision brought relief not only to the industrialists but to the consumers as well,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15975', 'image' => '20221102040045_rice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16233', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Cardamom Gets Halal Certificate ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate. It means that the cardamoms which were earlier exported only to India and Pakistan can now be exported to the Gulf countries. This certificate is a must to export food to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the largest market for Nepali cardamom while Nepal has been exporting cardamoms to Pakistan since the last three years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Cardamom Traders Federation, it takes a long time for Nepali cardamom to reach Pakistan. He said Gulf countries have more opportunities than Pakistan due to price fluctuation. The producers will now export directly to the Gulf countries as they now have the Halal Certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali cardamom is exported under the brand name 'Everest Large Cardamom'. The government issued a trademark for cardamom on July 3, 2016 so that it can be exported under the name of Nepal in the international market. Four later, Pakistan approved the Nepali brand. Last year, 37.5 metric tons of cardamom worth Rs 50 million were exported to Pakistan. Although Nepali cardamom is preferred in Pakistan, the trading process is long (45 days), and the price is low. So, businessmen started looking for a market in the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate, traders will now export it to Qatar under its trademark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is expected that the falling price of cardamom will go up now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Halal Certificate is an organic registeration given by Qatar to products produced according to its standards. To get a Halal Certificate, cardamom must be produced organically, gloves must be worn while harvesting and picking them, and pigs must not be kept in the production area. Nepali farmers have fulfilled these criteria. Only cardamom that meets the standards can be exported to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Everest Large Cardamom got its market after Pakistan registered it. Rajkumar Karki, the former president of the Cardamom Traders Federation, said that Nepali cardamom is still being sold as an Indian product in the world market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Karki, 95 per cent of Nepal's cardamom goes to India. The Nepali cardamom that reached the hands of Indian businessmen are being exported to the Gulf countries with the tag of Indian product.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15974', 'image' => '20221102031915_BlackCardamom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 15:18:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16232', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Wheat and Corn Rise Globally', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 5.5 percent on Monday to USD 8.74 a bushel. Corn futures were up 2.3 percent to USD 6.96 a bushel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Palm oil futures trading in Malaysia also rose amid fears of potential impact on exports of Ukraine sunflower oil, Reuters reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, the CNN said referring to information from an agricultural data firm Gro Intelligence. The two countries that are at war since February 24 are also among the top three global exporters of barley, maize, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia withdrew from the grain deal on Saturday accusing Ukraine and the UK of drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In an earlier report, Reuters had said that bakers and noodle manufacturers are replacing wheat with rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Wheat flour prices are almost at par with rice - automatically there will be shifting," Reuters quoted Franciscus Welirang, chairman of the Indonesian Flour Millers Association, as saying.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15973', 'image' => '20221102011401_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16231', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of Foreign Tourists Increasing at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical place enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site received 10,594 tourists from outside the SAARC region in mid-September to mid-October this year while those from SAARC region stand at 3,178 during the same period, according to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Hanuman Dhoka Conservation Programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During mid-August to mid-September, 3,610 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region had arrived at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square while the number of visitors from SAARC region was 1,893. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square attracted 2,864 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region during mid-July to mid-August while 1,399 tourists from SAARC region visited the site which features the famed nine-storey palace, monuments, open air museum, courtyards and quadrangles, temples and open public spaces among others built during the 15th to 20th century. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The influx of foreign tourists has been increasing satisfactorily post COVID-19 pandemic, according to Programme Chief Roshan Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme covers historical monuments in KMC's ward no 19, 20, 23 and 24. Foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region have to pay Rs 1,000 as entry fee to this area while Rs 150 is charged with tourists from SAARC region. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15972', 'image' => '20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 12:08:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16230', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Embossed Number Plates Fixed on Less than Two Percent of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, the government had decided to fix such number plates six years ago but the embossed number plates have been fixed on less than two percent of the targeted vehicles so far. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had set a target of fixing embossed number plates on 2.5 million vehicles in five years, RSS added. The plates have been placed on 35,000 vehicles only, according to the Department of Transport Management. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are requesting the people to get the embossed number plates installed on their vehicles,” RSS quoted Ishwori Datta Paneru, the spokesperson of the department, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Spokesperson Paneru mentioned that all should install embossed number plate on their vehicles as it is the responsibility of all to follow the laws. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department informed that it is mandatory for all vehicles to fix embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had issued a notice in the Nepal Gazette on November 8, 2021 regarding fixing of the embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The decision to make embossed number plates mandatory has drawn widespread condemnation, especially because the DoTM has not prepared the required infrastructure to deliver the service. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15971', 'image' => '20221102112443_20220608081057_Department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 11:23:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16229', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NICCI, Bangladesh Discuss Investment in Hydropower Sector of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Vice President of NICCI Sunil KC held talks with Salman Rahman, advisor to the government led by Sheikh Hasina, in this regard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The discussion focused on development of hydropower sector and joint investment in this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KC, who is currently in a visit to Bangladesh, also discussed issues such as expanding transmission line between Nepal and Bangladesh, investment commitment in Nepal’s hydropower sector, marketing among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the meeting, Rahman reaffirmed the stance of Bangladesh regarding investment in Nepal by taking the Indian side in confidence. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the occasion, Vice President KC requested Bangladesh to prioritize investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It was informed during the meeting that the private sector of Bangladesh is ready to invest USD 3 billion in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During his Bangaldesh visit, KC also met Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzman Khan, who is an influential leader of the ruling Awami League.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15969', 'image' => '20221101071311_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 19:12:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16227', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Suggests Lifting Import Ban', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. The government had banned the import of 10 items including personal vehicles, expensive mobile phones, readymade liquor, high-capacity motorcycles, playing cards, diamonds, tobacco products, and large-sized televisions since April due to the pressure on foreign exchange reserves. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the ban on the import of 6 out of 10 items has already been lifted from the last week of August, ban on the import of cars, jeep, vans, readymade liquor, motorcycles of more than 150 cc capacity and smartphones worth more than 300 USD still continues.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank suggests that the ban on imports should be removed to strengthen the country’s economy. Releasing the Nepal Development Update report, the bank emphasized on the need to increase the policy interest rate stating that increasing the policy interest rate will discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the World Bank also asked to impose value added tax in the areas where excise duty and customs duty are imposed. In the 51-page report, there are suggestions to reduce the list of items that are currently subsidized by increasing the price, to increase the spending capacity of the local level and the province, to increase the internal consumption of electricity, to cooperate with countries like India and Bangladesh to bring investment in hydropower sector, and to improve the foreign investment policy.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">World Bank’s economist Alice J Brooks said that although there are rumors of Nepal's situation becoming similar to that of Sri Lanka, the reality is rather contrasting. She reassured that even though there were some problems due to the economy weakened by Covid-19 and the high pressure on imports, Nepal’s economy is currently improving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Brooks said that the government's debt is 42 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), imports are decreasing and the positive improvement in foreign exchange reserves shows that Nepal's economy is improving. She said that the foreign exchange reserves are positive as they can sustain imports for at least 7 months. The World Bank suggests that necessary policies should be made in time as climate change has a major impact on Nepal's agriculture and other sectors. The report mentions that the recent changes in weather may affect Nepal's infrastructure and foreign employment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank warned that the impact of climate change has already started to be seen in agriculture and it may directly affect Nepal's hydropower as well. The bank says that global temperature increase will have a direct impact on power plants based on river flow system. As per the World Bank, “Electricity is a sector with great potential in the Nepali economy. Affecting it means directly affecting the economy.” It added that it has been providing financial and policy support in climate change control and is ready to cooperate further.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The micro-fiscal model prepared by the World Bank was also handed over to the Government of Nepal. The World Bank has been using this model to prepare the Nepal Development Update as well as in economic and monetary analysis.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15968', 'image' => '20221101063140_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 18:31:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16226', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Highly Vulnerable to Global Climate Change: Prime Minister Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change. He also mentioned that Nepali people have had to face multi-faceted challenges due to rising temperature and widespread changes in rainfall pattern, increase in disaster and extreme events. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the first meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management on Monday, which was formed as per the provisions of the Environment Act, 2076, PM Deuba said that the government has accorded top priority to climate change and environmental protection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 27th Conference of Parties to the International Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-27) is going to be held in Egypt from November 6 to 18. In this context, Prime Minister Deuba said that Nepal should urge the rich and developed countries of the world to revise their ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emission development strategy to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In this regard, Nepal should lobby with the United Nations Climate Secretariat for active leadership, he said and expressed his commitment to take initiatives to ensure the progress of the 'Santiago Loss and Damage Mechanism' and the demand for a separate loss and damage finance system by putting the loss and damage finance system formally on the agenda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, documents related to the preparations for the COP-27, national prescribed implementation plan, climate finance strategy and action plan prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were presented. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also approved the Council's Meeting Procedures 2079, National Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, Climate Finance Strategy and Action Plan and Nepal's concept paper related to COP-27. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15967', 'image' => '20221101042254_PM deubaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 16:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16225', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Businesses Environment Affected by bad Loans' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery. The association had decided to demand for such law during its 43rd general assembly, urging the government not to allow credit transactions for more than a month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A few months ago, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry also strongly raised this demand in its 46th general assembly. The president of the association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, in the presence of the finance minister drew the minister's attention to the fact that the market had shrunk after the onset of Covid-19 and had been further threatened by credit transactions. He also demanded to bring effective laws to protect the economy from accidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The businessmen have also been demanding stern laws related to loan recovery. Till date, the government has not taken effective steps in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Prasad Lath, president of the Madhes Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has accused the government of being indifferent to solving the problem of credit transaction. The private sector does not fail to give this suggestion to the government every year in the pre-budget discussions. However, Lath complains that the budget has not addressed the demand yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is also not untouched by the global recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Private sector leaders say that its impact is even greater in an import-oriented economy like ours. The import control policy adopted by the government to reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange reserves and the lack of investable funds in the financial sector has led to a decline in production and supply.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta said that while the average production of industries has fallen to 20 to 25 per cent of the total capacity, there is competition in the market to acquire loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no demand in the market. Production has decreased. In such a situation, there is a competition on who will give more credits,'' said Gupta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to entrepreneurs, the lending period has almost doubled in the post-pandemic era. Navneet Agarwal, a businessman, shared that pre-coronavirus payments used to come within three months, but now they have stopped coming even after six months. In the past, it was a situation of getting paid in one to one and a half months after selling the goods. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15966', 'image' => '20221101015645_badloan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 13:56:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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They expect getting this amount back gradually to the banking system after elections.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, deposits decreased by Rs 6.24 billion from October 18 to 24, which further decreased by Rs 17.13 billion from October 25 to 28.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-September to mid-October, the deposits of commercial banks had increased by Rs 61.64 billion to reach Rs 4547.15 billion. By October 28, the amount decreased to Rs 4523.78 biillion. As informed by the association, the bank deposits decreased from mid-July to mid-August, which then increased by Rs 52.15 billion by mid-September.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The deposits of banks decreased before Dashain but they started returning to the system after the festival. However, after the beginning of the election campaign for the House of Representatives and the State Assembly on November 20, deposits decreased by Rs 23.37 billion within the last 2 weeks of October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kiran Kumar Shrestha, CEO of Rastriya Banijya Bank informed that deposits were withdrawn from the banks for the festivals and election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Bank deposits decreased from mid-October due to spending on festivals and increased election activities. After the election, this money will gradually return back to the banking system,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After this election, we are expecting some ease in the situation of lack of liquidity,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although deposits decreased from mid-October, lending of commercial banks on the other hand has increased. Since mid-October alone, the credit flow of banks increased by Rs 5.10 billion. The total loan disbursement of banks reached Rs 4225.40 billion on October 28, which was Rs 4220.32 billion by mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks extended loans of Rs 10.58 billion from mid-July to mid-August, Rs 13.75 billion from mid-August to mid-September and Rs 30.4 billion rupees from mid-September to mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The banks provided loans even though there was no increase in deposits, causing their credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) to increase. According to the association, the average CD ratio of banks was 87.23 percent till October 21, but it increased to 87.58 percent on October 28. According to the instructions of the Nepal Rastra Bank, banks should maintain a CD ratio of less than 90 percent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15981', 'image' => '20221103023651_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 14:35:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16239', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet gives Permission for Two-Way Air Service Agreement with US, Switzerland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. The government gave permission to initiate the necessary process after preliminary agreements for direct flights to the US and Switzerland three months ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that the Federal Aviation Administration of the US has sent a letter for two-way air service agreement for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jagannath Niraula, said that preparation has already been started to begin the process of air service agreement with the two countries following a cabinet decision. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in coordination with the CAAN had taken the proposal in the cabinet after the US and Switzerland showed their interest for two-way flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has also forwarded the process to operate flights to Indonesia and Rwanda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN, Nepal has signed agreement for two-way direct flights with 40 countries so far. Among the 40 countries, commercial flights are being operated regularly to and from 20 countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15980', 'image' => '20221103123004_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 12:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16238', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers Forced to Sell Paddy at Throw-Away Prices', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season. Many of them have already completed harvesting and have stored the required grains. They have already started selling excess of paddy produced this season. However, the farmers are forced to sell paddy at low price because the government is “yet to fix” the minimum support price of paddy this year even though the harvesting season is almost over.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has forced the farmers to sell paddy at throw-away prices. Chhitra Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer from Kailali, informed that they had no option but to sell paddy at scrap value because the government did not fix the minimum support price on time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are selling paddy at throw-away prices because the minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Chaudhary.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We need to sell the paddy so that we can purchase the seeds, fertilizer and ploughing charge required for the winter crop. Therefore, we need to sell the paddy as soon as we finish harvesting,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The local businessmen are purchasing paddy at the rare of Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 per quintal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Businessman Navin Shrestha insists that they are buying paddy at the aforementioned prices because the government has not yet fixed the minimum support price and that the paddy has not dried yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The minimum support price is implemented only after the Provincial Offices of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) receives a circular in this regard after the Council of Minister fixes the support price. Angela Basnet, chief of the Dhangadhi-based Far Western Province Office of the FMTCL, said that they have not received any such circular so far this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Basnet, adding, “We will set up a purchase depot once the minimum support price is fixed by the government.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said that the local businessmen are purchasing paddy on their own at the moment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The production of paddy in Far Western Province is expected to decline this year due to the recent floods. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15979', 'image' => '20221103110435_20220720044056_640px-Rice_Plants_(IRRI).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 11:03:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16237', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines to Conduct Flights through Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is ready to issue permits to the company for self ground handling at GBIA and commercial ground handling at the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Accordingly, the company has announced to conduct regular chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur from the Bhairahawa-based GBIA. Himalaya Airlines said that the company is likely to conduct flights to Kuala Lumpur starting from today (November 3) provided that the aviation regulatory body of Malaysia issues permit for the flights. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Initially, the company plans to conduct two-way flights to Kuala Lumpur from GBIA and later intends to expand to service to other destinations after it acquires commercial ground handling permit at the airport.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The airport officially came into operation on May 16 this year. At present, only Jazeera Airways is running three flights a week at the GBIA. This new airport is expected to ease the air traffic congestion at the TIA.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15978', 'image' => '20221103093603_20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 09:35:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16236', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Swiss Business Delegation Event to be Held in Kathmandu Next Week', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9. Ten companies including Lombardy, Lufthansa, Victorinox, JKB Bank, Roche, etc. from Switzerland will participate in this programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Swiss and Liechtenstein companies participating in the programme will be informed about the potential investment opportunities in Nepal in areas such as health care, insurance, communication, construction engineering, banking, fintech, etc. The first meeting of business delegation of Swiss companies in Nepal is expected to help these companies enter the Nepali market. This programme is organized in collaboration between the Swiss Embassy in Nepal, Switzerland Global Enterprise and Swiss Business Hub, India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is moving from political transition to economic transformation. There are many opportunities for Swiss companies to enter the Nepali market. Switzerland and Nepal have been cooperating since the 1950s. Recently, trade relations between Nepal and Switzerland have becoming stronger. Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller says that Swiss companies can benefit by introducing Swiss technology and expertise in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For a long time, Switzerland has been helping the development of Nepal by investing in areas such as agriculture, rural infrastructure development, technical education and vocational training. Recently, Nepal is becoming an attractive business destination for multinational companies due to the increase in the average income of Nepalese, increasing consumption and rapid urbanization. The Swiss business delegation event will help all types of Swiss companies, big and small, to understand the Nepali market well and get information about investment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a lot of investment potential in Nepal's renewable energy, transportation, other infrastructure construction and engineering sectors. Swiss companies can do business in the fields of engineering and construction equipment, consulting services, hydropower construction, tunneling technology and equipment, ropeway/cable car construction and equipment supply. Similarly, there are ample investment opportunities in aviation and airport infrastructure, food and agriculture sector, sustainable urban development and other sectors as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, there has been a rapid growth in the health care sector of Nepal in the last three decades. With the increase in the number of hospitals and treatment centers in the private sector, the potential for health care, medical technology, pharmaceutical and bio technology here has also increased. Information and communication technology, telecommunication, security printing and biometrics are also other areas with investment potential.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, Nepal's financial sector is relatively well developed. There are plenty of investment opportunities in banking, finance, insurance services and fin-tech. Also, tourism is one of the main pillars of Nepal's economy. It is also an important source of foreign exchange and revenue.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15977', 'image' => '20221102052653_thumb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 17:25:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16235', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'UML Unveils its Election Manifesto with Tall Promises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the last election, the CPN UML had decided to merge with the CPN Maoist Centre which paid off as they secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority in parliament. The two parties ultimately merged after the election but they eventually split after some years due to conflict in power sharing agreement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the last election, KP Sharma Oli took charge of the government. Amid criticism that the Oli government did not work as per the aspirations of the people, the CPN UML on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming election. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The left-wing party has pledged good governance, development, prosperity and equality in its manifesto. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Besides, the party has also announced a dozens of programmes such as Citizenship only for Nepalis; Hunger no Longer; Domestic Production, Foreign Market; Secured Roof: Everyone’s Desire; Choice of Youth: Education; Free Meter: Ten Thousand Litres. Income-generating programmes and distribution of medicines for pressure and sugar also fall under the announcement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the party’s manifesto does not mention how it will manage resources for implementing these programmes. The election manifesto of the CPN UML also includes an ambitious and unattainable plan of increasing the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the current size of Nepal’s economy is Rs 4.8 trillion. In order to increase the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years, the country must attain growth of Gross Domestic Product by 15 percent each year. Only a day before the UML unveiled its election manifesto, the World Bank had projected Nepal’s economy to grow by 5.8 percent in 2022, 5.1 percent in 2023 and 4.9 percent in 2024. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UML election manifesto also mentions that the party will increase the Per Capital Income of Nepal to USD 2400 in the next five years. This target is also unattainable in the next five years. The Per Capital Income of Nepal in the current fiscal year is USD 1300. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The election manifesto also says that the UML will develop 50 new cities in the next five years and complete the construction of all the highways within the same period. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15976', 'image' => '20221102044450_20201119030717_20200305102040_oli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:44:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16234', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Removes Export Duty on Nepal-Bound Paddy and Rice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice. India had imposed a 20 percent duty on the export of paddy and rice in the second week of September while also banning the export of various food items to prevent a possible food crisis amid Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian Department of Revenue issued a notice on Monday stating that no such duty will be charged on exports to Nepal. After India imposed tariffs, local industrialists were worried that there would be a shortage of raw materials for the rice industry in Nepal and the illegal import of rice would thrive.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulse Industry had requested the Government of Nepal and Indian agencies to revoke the duty. Subodh Kumar Gupta, who is the president of both these organizations, welcomed the move of India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta shared, “After India imposed a 20 percent duty on exports, Nepalese rice industries were on the verge of closure. Nepali consumers were forced to buy rice at expensive rates. With this decision of India, the problems of Nepal's industries and consumers have been addressed.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India decided not to charge duty for the annual export of 600,000 metric tons of paddy for Nepal. Last year, the industry of Nepal imported 5.5 million tons of rice from India, according to the data of the association. Based on this data, the industrialists requested India not to levy duty on imports of at least 600,000 tons of rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bishwamitra Prasad Kalwar, the owner of New Om Food Industry said that this decision has given relief to the people of Nepal as the kitchens had became more expensive after India, the largest exporter of paddy and rice, tightened the export. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of every commodity has increased. On top of that, when the price of rice, which is the staple food in Nepal, increased, the life of the common people got severely affected. This decision brought relief not only to the industrialists but to the consumers as well,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15975', 'image' => '20221102040045_rice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16233', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Cardamom Gets Halal Certificate ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate. It means that the cardamoms which were earlier exported only to India and Pakistan can now be exported to the Gulf countries. This certificate is a must to export food to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the largest market for Nepali cardamom while Nepal has been exporting cardamoms to Pakistan since the last three years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Cardamom Traders Federation, it takes a long time for Nepali cardamom to reach Pakistan. He said Gulf countries have more opportunities than Pakistan due to price fluctuation. The producers will now export directly to the Gulf countries as they now have the Halal Certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali cardamom is exported under the brand name 'Everest Large Cardamom'. The government issued a trademark for cardamom on July 3, 2016 so that it can be exported under the name of Nepal in the international market. Four later, Pakistan approved the Nepali brand. Last year, 37.5 metric tons of cardamom worth Rs 50 million were exported to Pakistan. Although Nepali cardamom is preferred in Pakistan, the trading process is long (45 days), and the price is low. So, businessmen started looking for a market in the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate, traders will now export it to Qatar under its trademark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is expected that the falling price of cardamom will go up now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Halal Certificate is an organic registeration given by Qatar to products produced according to its standards. To get a Halal Certificate, cardamom must be produced organically, gloves must be worn while harvesting and picking them, and pigs must not be kept in the production area. Nepali farmers have fulfilled these criteria. Only cardamom that meets the standards can be exported to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Everest Large Cardamom got its market after Pakistan registered it. Rajkumar Karki, the former president of the Cardamom Traders Federation, said that Nepali cardamom is still being sold as an Indian product in the world market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Karki, 95 per cent of Nepal's cardamom goes to India. The Nepali cardamom that reached the hands of Indian businessmen are being exported to the Gulf countries with the tag of Indian product.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15974', 'image' => '20221102031915_BlackCardamom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 15:18:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16232', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Wheat and Corn Rise Globally', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 5.5 percent on Monday to USD 8.74 a bushel. Corn futures were up 2.3 percent to USD 6.96 a bushel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Palm oil futures trading in Malaysia also rose amid fears of potential impact on exports of Ukraine sunflower oil, Reuters reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, the CNN said referring to information from an agricultural data firm Gro Intelligence. The two countries that are at war since February 24 are also among the top three global exporters of barley, maize, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia withdrew from the grain deal on Saturday accusing Ukraine and the UK of drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In an earlier report, Reuters had said that bakers and noodle manufacturers are replacing wheat with rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Wheat flour prices are almost at par with rice - automatically there will be shifting," Reuters quoted Franciscus Welirang, chairman of the Indonesian Flour Millers Association, as saying.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15973', 'image' => '20221102011401_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16231', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of Foreign Tourists Increasing at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical place enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site received 10,594 tourists from outside the SAARC region in mid-September to mid-October this year while those from SAARC region stand at 3,178 during the same period, according to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Hanuman Dhoka Conservation Programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During mid-August to mid-September, 3,610 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region had arrived at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square while the number of visitors from SAARC region was 1,893. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square attracted 2,864 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region during mid-July to mid-August while 1,399 tourists from SAARC region visited the site which features the famed nine-storey palace, monuments, open air museum, courtyards and quadrangles, temples and open public spaces among others built during the 15th to 20th century. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The influx of foreign tourists has been increasing satisfactorily post COVID-19 pandemic, according to Programme Chief Roshan Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme covers historical monuments in KMC's ward no 19, 20, 23 and 24. Foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region have to pay Rs 1,000 as entry fee to this area while Rs 150 is charged with tourists from SAARC region. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15972', 'image' => '20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 12:08:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16230', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Embossed Number Plates Fixed on Less than Two Percent of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, the government had decided to fix such number plates six years ago but the embossed number plates have been fixed on less than two percent of the targeted vehicles so far. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had set a target of fixing embossed number plates on 2.5 million vehicles in five years, RSS added. The plates have been placed on 35,000 vehicles only, according to the Department of Transport Management. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are requesting the people to get the embossed number plates installed on their vehicles,” RSS quoted Ishwori Datta Paneru, the spokesperson of the department, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Spokesperson Paneru mentioned that all should install embossed number plate on their vehicles as it is the responsibility of all to follow the laws. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department informed that it is mandatory for all vehicles to fix embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had issued a notice in the Nepal Gazette on November 8, 2021 regarding fixing of the embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The decision to make embossed number plates mandatory has drawn widespread condemnation, especially because the DoTM has not prepared the required infrastructure to deliver the service. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15971', 'image' => '20221102112443_20220608081057_Department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 11:23:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16229', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NICCI, Bangladesh Discuss Investment in Hydropower Sector of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Vice President of NICCI Sunil KC held talks with Salman Rahman, advisor to the government led by Sheikh Hasina, in this regard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The discussion focused on development of hydropower sector and joint investment in this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KC, who is currently in a visit to Bangladesh, also discussed issues such as expanding transmission line between Nepal and Bangladesh, investment commitment in Nepal’s hydropower sector, marketing among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the meeting, Rahman reaffirmed the stance of Bangladesh regarding investment in Nepal by taking the Indian side in confidence. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the occasion, Vice President KC requested Bangladesh to prioritize investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It was informed during the meeting that the private sector of Bangladesh is ready to invest USD 3 billion in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During his Bangaldesh visit, KC also met Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzman Khan, who is an influential leader of the ruling Awami League.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15969', 'image' => '20221101071311_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 19:12:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16227', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Suggests Lifting Import Ban', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. The government had banned the import of 10 items including personal vehicles, expensive mobile phones, readymade liquor, high-capacity motorcycles, playing cards, diamonds, tobacco products, and large-sized televisions since April due to the pressure on foreign exchange reserves. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the ban on the import of 6 out of 10 items has already been lifted from the last week of August, ban on the import of cars, jeep, vans, readymade liquor, motorcycles of more than 150 cc capacity and smartphones worth more than 300 USD still continues.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank suggests that the ban on imports should be removed to strengthen the country’s economy. Releasing the Nepal Development Update report, the bank emphasized on the need to increase the policy interest rate stating that increasing the policy interest rate will discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the World Bank also asked to impose value added tax in the areas where excise duty and customs duty are imposed. In the 51-page report, there are suggestions to reduce the list of items that are currently subsidized by increasing the price, to increase the spending capacity of the local level and the province, to increase the internal consumption of electricity, to cooperate with countries like India and Bangladesh to bring investment in hydropower sector, and to improve the foreign investment policy.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">World Bank’s economist Alice J Brooks said that although there are rumors of Nepal's situation becoming similar to that of Sri Lanka, the reality is rather contrasting. She reassured that even though there were some problems due to the economy weakened by Covid-19 and the high pressure on imports, Nepal’s economy is currently improving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Brooks said that the government's debt is 42 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), imports are decreasing and the positive improvement in foreign exchange reserves shows that Nepal's economy is improving. She said that the foreign exchange reserves are positive as they can sustain imports for at least 7 months. The World Bank suggests that necessary policies should be made in time as climate change has a major impact on Nepal's agriculture and other sectors. The report mentions that the recent changes in weather may affect Nepal's infrastructure and foreign employment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank warned that the impact of climate change has already started to be seen in agriculture and it may directly affect Nepal's hydropower as well. The bank says that global temperature increase will have a direct impact on power plants based on river flow system. As per the World Bank, “Electricity is a sector with great potential in the Nepali economy. Affecting it means directly affecting the economy.” It added that it has been providing financial and policy support in climate change control and is ready to cooperate further.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The micro-fiscal model prepared by the World Bank was also handed over to the Government of Nepal. The World Bank has been using this model to prepare the Nepal Development Update as well as in economic and monetary analysis.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15968', 'image' => '20221101063140_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 18:31:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16226', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Highly Vulnerable to Global Climate Change: Prime Minister Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change. He also mentioned that Nepali people have had to face multi-faceted challenges due to rising temperature and widespread changes in rainfall pattern, increase in disaster and extreme events. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the first meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management on Monday, which was formed as per the provisions of the Environment Act, 2076, PM Deuba said that the government has accorded top priority to climate change and environmental protection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 27th Conference of Parties to the International Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-27) is going to be held in Egypt from November 6 to 18. In this context, Prime Minister Deuba said that Nepal should urge the rich and developed countries of the world to revise their ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emission development strategy to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In this regard, Nepal should lobby with the United Nations Climate Secretariat for active leadership, he said and expressed his commitment to take initiatives to ensure the progress of the 'Santiago Loss and Damage Mechanism' and the demand for a separate loss and damage finance system by putting the loss and damage finance system formally on the agenda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, documents related to the preparations for the COP-27, national prescribed implementation plan, climate finance strategy and action plan prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were presented. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also approved the Council's Meeting Procedures 2079, National Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, Climate Finance Strategy and Action Plan and Nepal's concept paper related to COP-27. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15967', 'image' => '20221101042254_PM deubaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 16:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16225', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Businesses Environment Affected by bad Loans' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery. The association had decided to demand for such law during its 43rd general assembly, urging the government not to allow credit transactions for more than a month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A few months ago, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry also strongly raised this demand in its 46th general assembly. The president of the association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, in the presence of the finance minister drew the minister's attention to the fact that the market had shrunk after the onset of Covid-19 and had been further threatened by credit transactions. He also demanded to bring effective laws to protect the economy from accidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The businessmen have also been demanding stern laws related to loan recovery. Till date, the government has not taken effective steps in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Prasad Lath, president of the Madhes Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has accused the government of being indifferent to solving the problem of credit transaction. The private sector does not fail to give this suggestion to the government every year in the pre-budget discussions. However, Lath complains that the budget has not addressed the demand yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is also not untouched by the global recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Private sector leaders say that its impact is even greater in an import-oriented economy like ours. The import control policy adopted by the government to reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange reserves and the lack of investable funds in the financial sector has led to a decline in production and supply.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta said that while the average production of industries has fallen to 20 to 25 per cent of the total capacity, there is competition in the market to acquire loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no demand in the market. Production has decreased. In such a situation, there is a competition on who will give more credits,'' said Gupta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to entrepreneurs, the lending period has almost doubled in the post-pandemic era. Navneet Agarwal, a businessman, shared that pre-coronavirus payments used to come within three months, but now they have stopped coming even after six months. In the past, it was a situation of getting paid in one to one and a half months after selling the goods. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15966', 'image' => '20221101015645_badloan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 13:56:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16240', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank Deposits Start Declining since mid-October', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The deposits of commercial banks, which were on a rise from mid-August to mid-October, have started declining continuously from the third week of October, according to the Nepal Bankers Association.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 3: The deposits of commercial banks, which were on a rise from mid-August to mid-October, have started declining continuously from the third week of October, according to the Nepal Bankers Association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bankers suspect that bank deposits started to decrease due to the upcoming elections as well as big festivals like Tihar and Chhath which concluded recently. They expect getting this amount back gradually to the banking system after elections.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, deposits decreased by Rs 6.24 billion from October 18 to 24, which further decreased by Rs 17.13 billion from October 25 to 28.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-September to mid-October, the deposits of commercial banks had increased by Rs 61.64 billion to reach Rs 4547.15 billion. By October 28, the amount decreased to Rs 4523.78 biillion. As informed by the association, the bank deposits decreased from mid-July to mid-August, which then increased by Rs 52.15 billion by mid-September.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The deposits of banks decreased before Dashain but they started returning to the system after the festival. However, after the beginning of the election campaign for the House of Representatives and the State Assembly on November 20, deposits decreased by Rs 23.37 billion within the last 2 weeks of October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kiran Kumar Shrestha, CEO of Rastriya Banijya Bank informed that deposits were withdrawn from the banks for the festivals and election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Bank deposits decreased from mid-October due to spending on festivals and increased election activities. After the election, this money will gradually return back to the banking system,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After this election, we are expecting some ease in the situation of lack of liquidity,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although deposits decreased from mid-October, lending of commercial banks on the other hand has increased. Since mid-October alone, the credit flow of banks increased by Rs 5.10 billion. The total loan disbursement of banks reached Rs 4225.40 billion on October 28, which was Rs 4220.32 billion by mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks extended loans of Rs 10.58 billion from mid-July to mid-August, Rs 13.75 billion from mid-August to mid-September and Rs 30.4 billion rupees from mid-September to mid-October.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The banks provided loans even though there was no increase in deposits, causing their credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) to increase. According to the association, the average CD ratio of banks was 87.23 percent till October 21, but it increased to 87.58 percent on October 28. According to the instructions of the Nepal Rastra Bank, banks should maintain a CD ratio of less than 90 percent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15981', 'image' => '20221103023651_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 14:35:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16239', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet gives Permission for Two-Way Air Service Agreement with US, Switzerland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The government of Nepal has given permission in principle for two-way air service agreement with the US and Switzerland. The government gave permission to initiate the necessary process after preliminary agreements for direct flights to the US and Switzerland three months ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that the Federal Aviation Administration of the US has sent a letter for two-way air service agreement for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jagannath Niraula, said that preparation has already been started to begin the process of air service agreement with the two countries following a cabinet decision. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in coordination with the CAAN had taken the proposal in the cabinet after the US and Switzerland showed their interest for two-way flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has also forwarded the process to operate flights to Indonesia and Rwanda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN, Nepal has signed agreement for two-way direct flights with 40 countries so far. Among the 40 countries, commercial flights are being operated regularly to and from 20 countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15980', 'image' => '20221103123004_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 12:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16238', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers Forced to Sell Paddy at Throw-Away Prices', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Farmers of Kailali are currently busy harvesting paddy this season. Many of them have already completed harvesting and have stored the required grains. They have already started selling excess of paddy produced this season. However, the farmers are forced to sell paddy at low price because the government is “yet to fix” the minimum support price of paddy this year even though the harvesting season is almost over.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has forced the farmers to sell paddy at throw-away prices. Chhitra Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer from Kailali, informed that they had no option but to sell paddy at scrap value because the government did not fix the minimum support price on time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are selling paddy at throw-away prices because the minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Chaudhary.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We need to sell the paddy so that we can purchase the seeds, fertilizer and ploughing charge required for the winter crop. Therefore, we need to sell the paddy as soon as we finish harvesting,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The local businessmen are purchasing paddy at the rare of Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 per quintal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Businessman Navin Shrestha insists that they are buying paddy at the aforementioned prices because the government has not yet fixed the minimum support price and that the paddy has not dried yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The minimum support price is implemented only after the Provincial Offices of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) receives a circular in this regard after the Council of Minister fixes the support price. Angela Basnet, chief of the Dhangadhi-based Far Western Province Office of the FMTCL, said that they have not received any such circular so far this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The minimum support price has not been fixed yet,” said Basnet, adding, “We will set up a purchase depot once the minimum support price is fixed by the government.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said that the local businessmen are purchasing paddy on their own at the moment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The production of paddy in Far Western Province is expected to decline this year due to the recent floods. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15979', 'image' => '20221103110435_20220720044056_640px-Rice_Plants_(IRRI).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 11:03:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16237', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines to Conduct Flights through Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 3: Himalaya Airlines is making preparations to operate flights from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is ready to issue permits to the company for self ground handling at GBIA and commercial ground handling at the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Accordingly, the company has announced to conduct regular chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur from the Bhairahawa-based GBIA. Himalaya Airlines said that the company is likely to conduct flights to Kuala Lumpur starting from today (November 3) provided that the aviation regulatory body of Malaysia issues permit for the flights. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Initially, the company plans to conduct two-way flights to Kuala Lumpur from GBIA and later intends to expand to service to other destinations after it acquires commercial ground handling permit at the airport.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The airport officially came into operation on May 16 this year. At present, only Jazeera Airways is running three flights a week at the GBIA. This new airport is expected to ease the air traffic congestion at the TIA.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-03', 'modified' => '2022-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15978', 'image' => '20221103093603_20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-03 09:35:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16236', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Swiss Business Delegation Event to be Held in Kathmandu Next Week', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: The “Swiss Business Delegation Event” is all set to be organized at the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu from November 7 to 9. Ten companies including Lombardy, Lufthansa, Victorinox, JKB Bank, Roche, etc. from Switzerland will participate in this programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Swiss and Liechtenstein companies participating in the programme will be informed about the potential investment opportunities in Nepal in areas such as health care, insurance, communication, construction engineering, banking, fintech, etc. The first meeting of business delegation of Swiss companies in Nepal is expected to help these companies enter the Nepali market. This programme is organized in collaboration between the Swiss Embassy in Nepal, Switzerland Global Enterprise and Swiss Business Hub, India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is moving from political transition to economic transformation. There are many opportunities for Swiss companies to enter the Nepali market. Switzerland and Nepal have been cooperating since the 1950s. Recently, trade relations between Nepal and Switzerland have becoming stronger. Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller says that Swiss companies can benefit by introducing Swiss technology and expertise in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For a long time, Switzerland has been helping the development of Nepal by investing in areas such as agriculture, rural infrastructure development, technical education and vocational training. Recently, Nepal is becoming an attractive business destination for multinational companies due to the increase in the average income of Nepalese, increasing consumption and rapid urbanization. The Swiss business delegation event will help all types of Swiss companies, big and small, to understand the Nepali market well and get information about investment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a lot of investment potential in Nepal's renewable energy, transportation, other infrastructure construction and engineering sectors. Swiss companies can do business in the fields of engineering and construction equipment, consulting services, hydropower construction, tunneling technology and equipment, ropeway/cable car construction and equipment supply. Similarly, there are ample investment opportunities in aviation and airport infrastructure, food and agriculture sector, sustainable urban development and other sectors as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, there has been a rapid growth in the health care sector of Nepal in the last three decades. With the increase in the number of hospitals and treatment centers in the private sector, the potential for health care, medical technology, pharmaceutical and bio technology here has also increased. Information and communication technology, telecommunication, security printing and biometrics are also other areas with investment potential.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, Nepal's financial sector is relatively well developed. There are plenty of investment opportunities in banking, finance, insurance services and fin-tech. Also, tourism is one of the main pillars of Nepal's economy. It is also an important source of foreign exchange and revenue.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15977', 'image' => '20221102052653_thumb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 17:25:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16235', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'UML Unveils its Election Manifesto with Tall Promises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The main opposition party CPN UML has unveiled its election manifesto which includes over two dozen plans without any resource backup. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the last election, the CPN UML had decided to merge with the CPN Maoist Centre which paid off as they secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority in parliament. The two parties ultimately merged after the election but they eventually split after some years due to conflict in power sharing agreement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the last election, KP Sharma Oli took charge of the government. Amid criticism that the Oli government did not work as per the aspirations of the people, the CPN UML on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming election. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The left-wing party has pledged good governance, development, prosperity and equality in its manifesto. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Besides, the party has also announced a dozens of programmes such as Citizenship only for Nepalis; Hunger no Longer; Domestic Production, Foreign Market; Secured Roof: Everyone’s Desire; Choice of Youth: Education; Free Meter: Ten Thousand Litres. Income-generating programmes and distribution of medicines for pressure and sugar also fall under the announcement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the party’s manifesto does not mention how it will manage resources for implementing these programmes. The election manifesto of the CPN UML also includes an ambitious and unattainable plan of increasing the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the current size of Nepal’s economy is Rs 4.8 trillion. In order to increase the size of Nepal’s economy to Rs 10 trillion in the next five years, the country must attain growth of Gross Domestic Product by 15 percent each year. Only a day before the UML unveiled its election manifesto, the World Bank had projected Nepal’s economy to grow by 5.8 percent in 2022, 5.1 percent in 2023 and 4.9 percent in 2024. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UML election manifesto also mentions that the party will increase the Per Capital Income of Nepal to USD 2400 in the next five years. This target is also unattainable in the next five years. The Per Capital Income of Nepal in the current fiscal year is USD 1300. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The election manifesto also says that the UML will develop 50 new cities in the next five years and complete the construction of all the highways within the same period. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15976', 'image' => '20221102044450_20201119030717_20200305102040_oli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:44:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16234', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Removes Export Duty on Nepal-Bound Paddy and Rice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: India has removed the export duty on Nepal-bound paddy and rice. India had imposed a 20 percent duty on the export of paddy and rice in the second week of September while also banning the export of various food items to prevent a possible food crisis amid Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian Department of Revenue issued a notice on Monday stating that no such duty will be charged on exports to Nepal. After India imposed tariffs, local industrialists were worried that there would be a shortage of raw materials for the rice industry in Nepal and the illegal import of rice would thrive.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulse Industry had requested the Government of Nepal and Indian agencies to revoke the duty. Subodh Kumar Gupta, who is the president of both these organizations, welcomed the move of India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta shared, “After India imposed a 20 percent duty on exports, Nepalese rice industries were on the verge of closure. Nepali consumers were forced to buy rice at expensive rates. With this decision of India, the problems of Nepal's industries and consumers have been addressed.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India decided not to charge duty for the annual export of 600,000 metric tons of paddy for Nepal. Last year, the industry of Nepal imported 5.5 million tons of rice from India, according to the data of the association. Based on this data, the industrialists requested India not to levy duty on imports of at least 600,000 tons of rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bishwamitra Prasad Kalwar, the owner of New Om Food Industry said that this decision has given relief to the people of Nepal as the kitchens had became more expensive after India, the largest exporter of paddy and rice, tightened the export. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of every commodity has increased. On top of that, when the price of rice, which is the staple food in Nepal, increased, the life of the common people got severely affected. This decision brought relief not only to the industrialists but to the consumers as well,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15975', 'image' => '20221102040045_rice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 16:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16233', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Cardamom Gets Halal Certificate ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 2: Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate. It means that the cardamoms which were earlier exported only to India and Pakistan can now be exported to the Gulf countries. This certificate is a must to export food to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the largest market for Nepali cardamom while Nepal has been exporting cardamoms to Pakistan since the last three years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Cardamom Traders Federation, it takes a long time for Nepali cardamom to reach Pakistan. He said Gulf countries have more opportunities than Pakistan due to price fluctuation. The producers will now export directly to the Gulf countries as they now have the Halal Certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali cardamom is exported under the brand name 'Everest Large Cardamom'. The government issued a trademark for cardamom on July 3, 2016 so that it can be exported under the name of Nepal in the international market. Four later, Pakistan approved the Nepali brand. Last year, 37.5 metric tons of cardamom worth Rs 50 million were exported to Pakistan. Although Nepali cardamom is preferred in Pakistan, the trading process is long (45 days), and the price is low. So, businessmen started looking for a market in the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since Nepali cardamom has received the Halal Certificate, traders will now export it to Qatar under its trademark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is expected that the falling price of cardamom will go up now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Halal Certificate is an organic registeration given by Qatar to products produced according to its standards. To get a Halal Certificate, cardamom must be produced organically, gloves must be worn while harvesting and picking them, and pigs must not be kept in the production area. Nepali farmers have fulfilled these criteria. Only cardamom that meets the standards can be exported to the Gulf countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Everest Large Cardamom got its market after Pakistan registered it. Rajkumar Karki, the former president of the Cardamom Traders Federation, said that Nepali cardamom is still being sold as an Indian product in the world market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Karki, 95 per cent of Nepal's cardamom goes to India. The Nepali cardamom that reached the hands of Indian businessmen are being exported to the Gulf countries with the tag of Indian product.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15974', 'image' => '20221102031915_BlackCardamom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 15:18:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16232', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Wheat and Corn Rise Globally', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war, the CNN reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 5.5 percent on Monday to USD 8.74 a bushel. Corn futures were up 2.3 percent to USD 6.96 a bushel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Palm oil futures trading in Malaysia also rose amid fears of potential impact on exports of Ukraine sunflower oil, Reuters reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, the CNN said referring to information from an agricultural data firm Gro Intelligence. The two countries that are at war since February 24 are also among the top three global exporters of barley, maize, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia withdrew from the grain deal on Saturday accusing Ukraine and the UK of drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In an earlier report, Reuters had said that bakers and noodle manufacturers are replacing wheat with rice.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Wheat flour prices are almost at par with rice - automatically there will be shifting," Reuters quoted Franciscus Welirang, chairman of the Indonesian Flour Millers Association, as saying.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15973', 'image' => '20221102011401_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16231', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of Foreign Tourists Increasing at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 2: The number of foreign tourists visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a place of historical, archeological and religious value in the capital, is increasing of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical place enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site received 10,594 tourists from outside the SAARC region in mid-September to mid-October this year while those from SAARC region stand at 3,178 during the same period, according to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Hanuman Dhoka Conservation Programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During mid-August to mid-September, 3,610 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region had arrived at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square while the number of visitors from SAARC region was 1,893. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square attracted 2,864 foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region during mid-July to mid-August while 1,399 tourists from SAARC region visited the site which features the famed nine-storey palace, monuments, open air museum, courtyards and quadrangles, temples and open public spaces among others built during the 15th to 20th century. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The influx of foreign tourists has been increasing satisfactorily post COVID-19 pandemic, according to Programme Chief Roshan Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme covers historical monuments in KMC's ward no 19, 20, 23 and 24. Foreign tourists from outside the SAARC region have to pay Rs 1,000 as entry fee to this area while Rs 150 is charged with tourists from SAARC region. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15972', 'image' => '20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 12:08:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16230', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Embossed Number Plates Fixed on Less than Two Percent of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 2: The placing of embossed number plates, which is considered vital for the safety of vehicles, has been sluggish. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, the government had decided to fix such number plates six years ago but the embossed number plates have been fixed on less than two percent of the targeted vehicles so far. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had set a target of fixing embossed number plates on 2.5 million vehicles in five years, RSS added. The plates have been placed on 35,000 vehicles only, according to the Department of Transport Management. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are requesting the people to get the embossed number plates installed on their vehicles,” RSS quoted Ishwori Datta Paneru, the spokesperson of the department, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Spokesperson Paneru mentioned that all should install embossed number plate on their vehicles as it is the responsibility of all to follow the laws. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department informed that it is mandatory for all vehicles to fix embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government had issued a notice in the Nepal Gazette on November 8, 2021 regarding fixing of the embossed number plates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The decision to make embossed number plates mandatory has drawn widespread condemnation, especially because the DoTM has not prepared the required infrastructure to deliver the service. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-02', 'modified' => '2022-11-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15971', 'image' => '20221102112443_20220608081057_Department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-02 11:23:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16229', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NICCI, Bangladesh Discuss Investment in Hydropower Sector of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">November 1: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) held discussions with representatives of Bangladesh regarding bilateral investment in the hydropower sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Vice President of NICCI Sunil KC held talks with Salman Rahman, advisor to the government led by Sheikh Hasina, in this regard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The discussion focused on development of hydropower sector and joint investment in this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KC, who is currently in a visit to Bangladesh, also discussed issues such as expanding transmission line between Nepal and Bangladesh, investment commitment in Nepal’s hydropower sector, marketing among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the meeting, Rahman reaffirmed the stance of Bangladesh regarding investment in Nepal by taking the Indian side in confidence. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the occasion, Vice President KC requested Bangladesh to prioritize investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It was informed during the meeting that the private sector of Bangladesh is ready to invest USD 3 billion in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During his Bangaldesh visit, KC also met Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzman Khan, who is an influential leader of the ruling Awami League.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15969', 'image' => '20221101071311_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 19:12:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16227', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Suggests Lifting Import Ban', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Stating that Nepal’s situation is not as dire as that of Sri Lanka, the World Bank has suggested removing the ban on the import of the some luxury goods. The government had banned the import of 10 items including personal vehicles, expensive mobile phones, readymade liquor, high-capacity motorcycles, playing cards, diamonds, tobacco products, and large-sized televisions since April due to the pressure on foreign exchange reserves. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the ban on the import of 6 out of 10 items has already been lifted from the last week of August, ban on the import of cars, jeep, vans, readymade liquor, motorcycles of more than 150 cc capacity and smartphones worth more than 300 USD still continues.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank suggests that the ban on imports should be removed to strengthen the country’s economy. Releasing the Nepal Development Update report, the bank emphasized on the need to increase the policy interest rate stating that increasing the policy interest rate will discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the World Bank also asked to impose value added tax in the areas where excise duty and customs duty are imposed. In the 51-page report, there are suggestions to reduce the list of items that are currently subsidized by increasing the price, to increase the spending capacity of the local level and the province, to increase the internal consumption of electricity, to cooperate with countries like India and Bangladesh to bring investment in hydropower sector, and to improve the foreign investment policy.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">World Bank’s economist Alice J Brooks said that although there are rumors of Nepal's situation becoming similar to that of Sri Lanka, the reality is rather contrasting. She reassured that even though there were some problems due to the economy weakened by Covid-19 and the high pressure on imports, Nepal’s economy is currently improving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Brooks said that the government's debt is 42 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), imports are decreasing and the positive improvement in foreign exchange reserves shows that Nepal's economy is improving. She said that the foreign exchange reserves are positive as they can sustain imports for at least 7 months. The World Bank suggests that necessary policies should be made in time as climate change has a major impact on Nepal's agriculture and other sectors. The report mentions that the recent changes in weather may affect Nepal's infrastructure and foreign employment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The World Bank warned that the impact of climate change has already started to be seen in agriculture and it may directly affect Nepal's hydropower as well. The bank says that global temperature increase will have a direct impact on power plants based on river flow system. As per the World Bank, “Electricity is a sector with great potential in the Nepali economy. Affecting it means directly affecting the economy.” It added that it has been providing financial and policy support in climate change control and is ready to cooperate further.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The micro-fiscal model prepared by the World Bank was also handed over to the Government of Nepal. The World Bank has been using this model to prepare the Nepal Development Update as well as in economic and monetary analysis.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15968', 'image' => '20221101063140_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 18:31:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16226', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Highly Vulnerable to Global Climate Change: Prime Minister Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is at high risk due to regional and global climate change. He also mentioned that Nepali people have had to face multi-faceted challenges due to rising temperature and widespread changes in rainfall pattern, increase in disaster and extreme events. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the first meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management on Monday, which was formed as per the provisions of the Environment Act, 2076, PM Deuba said that the government has accorded top priority to climate change and environmental protection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 27th Conference of Parties to the International Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-27) is going to be held in Egypt from November 6 to 18. In this context, Prime Minister Deuba said that Nepal should urge the rich and developed countries of the world to revise their ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emission development strategy to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In this regard, Nepal should lobby with the United Nations Climate Secretariat for active leadership, he said and expressed his commitment to take initiatives to ensure the progress of the 'Santiago Loss and Damage Mechanism' and the demand for a separate loss and damage finance system by putting the loss and damage finance system formally on the agenda. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, documents related to the preparations for the COP-27, national prescribed implementation plan, climate finance strategy and action plan prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were presented. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also approved the Council's Meeting Procedures 2079, National Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, Climate Finance Strategy and Action Plan and Nepal's concept paper related to COP-27. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15967', 'image' => '20221101042254_PM deubaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 16:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16225', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Businesses Environment Affected by bad Loans' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 1: Two years ago, Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association had requested the government to introduce a law on debt recovery. The association had decided to demand for such law during its 43rd general assembly, urging the government not to allow credit transactions for more than a month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A few months ago, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry also strongly raised this demand in its 46th general assembly. The president of the association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, in the presence of the finance minister drew the minister's attention to the fact that the market had shrunk after the onset of Covid-19 and had been further threatened by credit transactions. He also demanded to bring effective laws to protect the economy from accidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The businessmen have also been demanding stern laws related to loan recovery. Till date, the government has not taken effective steps in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Prasad Lath, president of the Madhes Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has accused the government of being indifferent to solving the problem of credit transaction. The private sector does not fail to give this suggestion to the government every year in the pre-budget discussions. However, Lath complains that the budget has not addressed the demand yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal is also not untouched by the global recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Private sector leaders say that its impact is even greater in an import-oriented economy like ours. The import control policy adopted by the government to reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange reserves and the lack of investable funds in the financial sector has led to a decline in production and supply.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gupta said that while the average production of industries has fallen to 20 to 25 per cent of the total capacity, there is competition in the market to acquire loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no demand in the market. Production has decreased. In such a situation, there is a competition on who will give more credits,'' said Gupta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to entrepreneurs, the lending period has almost doubled in the post-pandemic era. Navneet Agarwal, a businessman, shared that pre-coronavirus payments used to come within three months, but now they have stopped coming even after six months. In the past, it was a situation of getting paid in one to one and a half months after selling the goods. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-11-01', 'modified' => '2022-11-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15966', 'image' => '20221101015645_badloan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-11-01 13:56:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25