September 5: Hoteliers of Nagarkot, a hill station on the outskirts of Kathmandu, are upbeat about the prospect of tourism revival as the local authorities have stepped up vaccination drive in the area which is a major tourism hub of the…
September 5: Hoteliers of Nagarkot, a hill station on the outskirts of Kathmandu, are upbeat about the prospect of tourism revival as the local authorities have stepped up vaccination drive in the area which is a major tourism hub of the…
September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the…
September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation…
September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation…
September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966.…
September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus…
September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two…
September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall.…
September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical…
September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining…
September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his…
September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the…
September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program.…
September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar.…
September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19…
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The coronavirus infection rate is also decreasing. With this, we are hopeful of gradual recovery of pandemic-battered tourism enterprises,” RSS quoted the committee’s secretary and Mount Everest Hotel’s operator, Pradeep Jung Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stakeholders claim that the successful vaccination drive has imparted a message that Nagarkot is ‘safe’ for tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Gokul Lamichhane, operator of Maryland Hotel, said inflow of domestic tourists is increasing lately at hotels that have been operational adopting health safety protocol. “Arrival of tourists on weekends and holidays is on the rise. We are optimistic to welcome more external tourists with the decline in the infection rate of coronavirus.” he added. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13657', 'image' => '20210905031122_287692_14103114370023105375.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 15:10:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Expedite Big Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA is moving ahead with 835 MW Dudhkoshi reservoir, 1,061 MW Upper Arun and 210 MW Chainpur Seti semi-reservoir hydropower projects. All three projects are currently in the final stages of detailed study. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the detailed engineering of the three hydropower projects has been finalized, tender notices for the construction have been prepared, access roads, land acquisition, discussions with domestic investors and international donors for financial management have been taken forward hand on hand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The construction of reservoir and semi-reservoir projects is being given high priority to maintain the balance between daily and seasonal demand and supply of electricity and to export excess electricity to neighboring countries," Ghising said, adding, "We are working hard to complete all the pre-construction works within a year and then begin the construction." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that they are discussing with the European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Korean Exim Bank for investment in Dudhkoshi, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We will raise money by issuing shares to the general public. This way the return from the project will reach to the level of citizens," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The estimated base cost of Dudhkoshi is $1.53 billion (approximately Rs. 178 billion) and the total cost including construction and interest during the construction period is estimated to be around $2 billion. Among the studied reservoir projects, Dudhkoshi is considered to be relatively cheap and attractive in terms of cost and energy production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Studies have shown that the projects in Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu will generate 1.36 billion and 2.8 billion units of energy respectively in winter and rainy season out of 3.44 billion units of energy annually. The project has already published public notice for the construction of access road and acquisition of about 13,000 ropanis of land in Khotang area above the dam construction site. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that the semi-reservoir Upper Arun would be given high priority and would be promoted as a 'game changer' project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Under the People's Hydropower Program, in a 4-digit input capacity (1061 MW) and the largest ever project being constructed by NEA, there will be 49 percent public shares," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The federal, province and local governments will also invest in the project. The estimated cost of the project, which can be operated at full capacity for six hours a day in the six months of winter when electricity demand is high, is about USD 1.2 billion excluding interest during the construction period. NEA plans to raise 30 percent of the total cost from self-capital and 70 percent from loans. The project will generate 4.53 billion units of energy annually. NEA has moved ahead with the 30 MW Ikhuwa Hydropower Project, which is also a project included in People's Hydropower Program, to be a part of Upper Arun. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chainpur Seti in Bajhang will be promoted as a game changer project in the far western region. The project to be constructed under the People's Hydropower Program will have the investment of federal, province and local governments, project affected people and ordinary citizens across the country. According to NEA, tender notices are being prepared for the construction of the project in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. The project, which can run at full capacity for six hours in winter, will generate 1.16 billion units of energy annually. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13656', 'image' => '20210905121041_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 12:10:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Years On, Fate of MCC Still Hangs in the Balance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After five years of negotiations, the then government led by Nepali Congress had signed the agreement with the MCC in Washington in September 2017. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The then Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Jonathan G Nash, acting chief executive of MCC, had signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Four years down the line, the MCC grant agreement has become a topic of hot debate but the implementation part has not moved forward. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The two countries had also signed Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) in 2019 to implement the agreement. The then Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada and Vice Chairman of the MCC Compact Operation Department Anthony Welcher had signed the PIA back in 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the agreement, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the United States had agreed to provide US$500 million in grants for two projects, and that the Government of Nepal would contribute $130 million for these projects.</span></span> The fund would be utilized for road construction and repair and electricity production and construction of transmission lines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of US$ 45 million was allocated for financial management of the projects which would cover the expenses of employees, administrative works, purchase of computer, monitoring, feasibility study as well as design and other office overhead costs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has expressed its commitment to implement the agreement by completing all the procedures, the project has not moved ahead because it cannot be fully implemented without it being endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Experts have raised concerns that the delay in implementation of the project in the last four years due to the dispute among political party leaders has given a wrong message to the investors. They also informed that the delay has only increased the cost of the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The former government led by KP Oli had presented the MCC agreement in parliament for endorsement one and a half years ago. However, the fate of the agreement still hangs in the balance as the parliament is undecided about the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that the agreement has been put on hold due to political dispute among the leaders. This does not give a positive message to the investors, argues Mahat.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">UML Chairman KP Oli, who was in favour of endorsing the agreement while he was leading the government, is not in a wait-and-watch mood. Oli has accused the incumbent government of trying to endorse the agreement by keeping other parties in the dark. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ruling Maoist Centre is not in favour of endorsing the MCC agreement in its current form.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal does not have to pay interest for receiving this assistance as it is a grant assistance. However, the ruling Nepali Congress has not been able to take a concrete decision on this regard yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13655', 'image' => '20210905114326_20200704031812_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 11:42:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dry Port in Chobhar to Operate Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon. All the basic infrastructures of the government-built dry port has become ready, according to Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board that is also authorized to look after the Birgunj Dry Port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The newly-built dry port, which can house around 500 containers, has been built by the government to facilitate the trade in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Built at the cost of over Rs 1.60 billion, the dry port has three buildings and three godowns. It would be brought into operation as soon as the customs clearance section and containers of the dry port get ready, according to Executive Director of the board, Ashish Gajurel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Once the dry port comes into operation, it is expected to maximize imports and facilitate export, decrease investment costs and simplify trade in general. Gajurel added that there were three gates at the dry port, each exclusively slated for import, export and contingencies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The construction of the dry port had begun in 2018 in a total of 261 ropanis of land which includes residence for the employees as well. Shanxi-Ashish JV Company was awarded the contract to build the dry port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the dry port on January 17, 2019. The construction of the dry port was supposed to be completed within 18 months but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction process could not meet the deadline, informed the board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the board has been doing necessary homework to determine a modality in which the dry port could be operated. A committee has been formed under the coordination of the joint-secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to prepare a modus operandi of the first-ever dry port in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board has assured that once the dry port comes into operation, the vehicles ferrying containers do not have to wait in Birgunj for a long time as in the past for customs clearance. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13654', 'image' => '20210905105501_5fc6e0f9c43e3_Chobhar_dry_port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 10:54:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Almost 67 Thousand Tourists Visited Nepal in the Last 8 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. While the number of tourists visiting Nepal declined after 2019, a total of 66,966 foreigners visited Nepal in the first eight months of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the highest number of tourists arrived in March and April. In April, 22,540 tourists visited Nepal, and in March, the number of tourists visiting Nepal was 14,977. Most of the tourists were in Nepal for trekking. Mount Everest as well as other peaks and mountains also tend to be crowded with climbers during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the NTB, 5,917 tourists visited Nepal in August. Tourists have come to Nepal from 33 countries. The lowest arrival of tourists was recorded in June with just 1,143 visitors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, Nepal had the highest number of visitors with around 1.2 million tourists. However, since then, the number of tourists visiting the country has been steadily declining due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sajan Shakya, general secretary of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said that the number of tourists coming for sightseeing and trekking has decreased in the last eight months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that now that the coronavirus has been declining with rising vaccination, it is necessary to spread the message that Nepal is safe to travel. He informed that interest has also come from different countries for the upcoming tourist season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the board, more tourists came from SAARC countries in August. A total of 2,192 tourists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka have come to Nepal. Of these, 1,985 tourists arrived in Nepal from India alone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In August, 1,015 tourists arrived in Nepal from Europe. A total of 423 Asian tourists visited Nepal from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Thailand. In 2020, 230,000 tourists had visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13653', 'image' => '20210903110643_1630628769.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:05:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HAN Demands Special Package to Revive Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation of HAN led by its president Shreejana Rana made such request to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma during a recent meeting. President Rana demanded a package to resolve the problems faced by the hotel sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Rana drew the attention of the Finance Minister to the fact that the tourism industry, especially the hotel industry, has started sinking due to Covid-19. The hotel industry has invested billions of rupees and provided employment to millions of people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She stressed on the need to pay attention to the protection of the industry arguing that it is the responsibility of the state to protect and promote it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN demands that the issues addressed by the budget for the Fiscal Year 2078/79 as well as the plans included in the monetary policy should be implemented as much as possible. Rana said that a special economic plan should be formulated for the revival of tourism sector. She added that the hotel industry should be kept in a different group and a regular monitoring mechanism should be developed for the implementation of the programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Finance Minister Sharma expressed commitment of the state to provide all possible assistance to protect this industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN has also demanded the government to amend the Social Security Act and regulations on behalf of hotels to ensure that contributors are not deprived of access to health and other emergency services.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13652', 'image' => '20210903105831_20210312rd37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:57:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Traders Trading to and from Tibet out of Business since 2 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years. Nepali traders who had been exporting goods to and from Tibet in China have been unemployed for the past two years after China banned Nepali traders as well as goods produced in Nepal from entering the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders say that the Chinese government may have barred Nepali traders from entering the country to protect its citizens from corona infection as the infection rate is still rising in Nepal. Nepal mainly exports vegetable ghee, flour, turmeric, noodles, chewing gum, Nepali toothpaste, tiger grass broom, cosmetics and handicrafts to the Tibet region of China. However, exports of such items have stalled since the onset of coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Mukunda Poudel, general secretary of the Nepal-China Kerung Trade Association, more than 5,000 workers and traders based in Tibet have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. He said that the traders were in trouble after the annual trade of billions of rupees was stopped. Poudel added that most of the Nepali traders were not able to collect millions of rupees from the goods they sold before the pandemic as the business was halted and they had to stay at home.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the one hand, the border has not been able to function smoothly and on the other hand, Nepali importers and exporters as well as Nepali traders doing business from Tibet have been allowed to enter China. Importers and traders have been able to order goods online and sell them in the Nepali market. However, the Chinese government has banned not only the entry of Nepali traders, but also Nepali products into China, leaving the exporters unemployed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, the Chinese government had suggested to keep labeling and stickers in Chinese language on food and other goods exported from Nepal to China, saying that there has been a language problem since September, 2019. Since then, exporters have been having problems exporting goods. Traders have been saying that the problem is getting worse as the government of Nepal has not taken any initiative in this regard.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Trader Narayan Das Shrestha said that the government administration has not taken any initiative to resolve this problem this despite repeated visits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to various government agencies and ministries including the Chinese Embassy. According to him, if the government is still not interested in this issue, Nepal’s export to China will continue to suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13651', 'image' => '20210903101656_China-losed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mules Used for Transporting Food to Upper Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. The problem has worsened after the Bensishahar-Chame-Manang road section was damaged due to floods and landslides in mid-June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism and hotelier Binod Gurung shared that food grains were now being transported to Upper Manang through mules due to transportation problems. In order to save the locals from food shortage, the transportation was being made a detour with the help of Sonam Ghirmi Fyamy Foundation and distributed to the poor, said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the food was brought through Pokhara-Beni-Muktinath by truck. According to him, food grains were brought to Upper Manang from Muktinath with the mules passing through Thorangla Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Food items have been distributed to 40 households from other districts as well and a total of 47 households in Manang village. He said that the materials were distributed to the needy people with the help of the Foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Each family has been distributed 12.5 kg of rice, eight kg of pulses, three kg of salt and 1.5 liters of oil. The locals are happy to receive the food items. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13650', 'image' => '20210903100557_1630630543.Clipboard15.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:04:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Nepal Can Become Self-Reliant on Drugs’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The drug producers, however, have called for amendment to Drugs Act, 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) on Thursday, the participants stressed the need for massive changes in the concerned laws and Acts that discourage the domestic drug industries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a news report published by the state-owned national news agency RSS, the size of drug market in Nepal is in between Rs 45 billion to Rs 50 billion in terms of monetary transaction while the domestic production is just half of the total demand. It has been reported that the drug market in Nepal is increasing by almost 20 per cent every year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some drug manufacturers of Nepal also export their products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the interaction, President of FNCCI Shekhar Golchha urged the drug producers for their cooperation to successfully implement the National Economic Transformation-2030 plan unveiled by the FNCCI for encouraging the country's economic growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Prajjwal Jung Pandey reportedly said that the country can be made self-reliant in this field within some years if the government extended full support to this sector. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13649', 'image' => '20210903095716_20200312112516_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 09:56:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Phase Work of Bheri-Babai Diversion Project gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the completion of the tunnel construction, the construction of the dam and powerhouse of the national pride project has been expedited. The Chinese company Guangdong and Nepal's Raman Construction JV are speeding up the second phase of construction of the dam site and power house. The project has stated that the construction work of headworks and powerhouse under the second phase is in full swing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwori Tiwari, information officer and senior divisional engineer of the project informed that the construction of automatic gate, penstock, steel lining, power house, turbine, electrical equipment and substation at Chiple in Bheriganga of Surkhet is ongoing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the distribution of compensation has been delayed as the government has not decided on the amount to be given to the settlers without land ownership certificates. About 32 hectares of land in Bheriganga, Gurbhakot and Lekbensi municipalities will be drowned due to the construction of a dam at Chiple in Bheriganga municipality of Surkhet. So far, the project has distributed compensation to the affected people living in nine hectares of land who have land ownership certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer Tiwari said that the compensation of up to maximum of Rs 500,000 have been distributed to people with land ownership certificates. According to him, out of the 32 hectares of projected land, people living in almost 23 hectares of land is do not have land ownership certificate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the project office, no procedure has been formulated for the compensation of 22.81 hectares of uncertified land. He said that a file has been submitted to the federal government to determine the amount of compensation by collecting the details of the settlers of uncertified land but no decision has been taken yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have the money and there’s no problem in distributing it,” he said, “But, the government has not decided how much compensation to pay. We can distribute it once the decision is made by the cabinet.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, six and a half hectares of uncertified land has been registered in the field book. But the land owners have not yet received certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">All the works of the second phase are targeted to be completed by fiscal year 2080 and it is estimated that Rs 6.16 billion will be spent for the project. If the Bheri-Babai diversion multi-purpose project is constructed, the project will provide irrigation facilities to 51,000 hectares of land in Banke and Bardiya every day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that agricultural produce will increase in Banke and Bardiya and Rs 3.1 billion will be earned annually besides Rs 2.1 billion that will be earned directly through electricity generation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A 14 meter high dam will be constructed in Bheriganga Municipality-5 Chiple of Surkhet and 48 MW electricity will be generated by pouring water from Bheri River into Babai River in Ward No. 11 Hattikhal of the same municipality through a 12 km 210 meter long tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13648', 'image' => '20210903112035_JyHd1NrVQgFxYHRha0py.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:19:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board Dhungana Suspended', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">With the formation of the probe committee, Dhungana has been suspended from his post. The committee can recommend his removal from the post if he is found guilty.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (September 1) formed a three-member investigation committee under the chairmanship of former high court judge Anantraj Dumre. Narayan Prasad Poudel is an expert member of the committee and Arjun Kumar Khadka, joint secretary of the Nepal Law Commission, is another member.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the committee was formed in accordance to sub-section 7 of section 7 of the Securities Board Act 2063 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As per the existing laws, if the chairman is found to have caused loss to the board, the Government of Nepal can form a committee of inquiry. The government has said that the necessary investigation has been started as there is a provision to remove the chairperson upon the recommendation of the probe committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has been found that Dhungana’s Daughter Rebecca had purchased shares of Sarvottam Cement against the law. Altogether 11,912 units of shares of Sarvottam Cement were found to be registered in the name of Rebecca Dhungana, daughter of SEBON chair Bishma Raj Dhuganna, and the same number of shares is also found in the name of Sushila Kumari Bohora, wife of Chandra Singh Saud, general manager of the Nepal Stock Exchange.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government was under pressure to investigate after Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board, bought shares in the name of his daughter and Chandra Singh Saud, CEO of Nepse, in the name of his wife. It is estimated that the price per share will be around Rs 750 when Sarvattam issues an IPO through book building process. The duo had purchased the shares at Rs 250 per unit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Saud, the then chief executive officer of the Nepal Stock Exchange, has resigned from the post to facilitate investigation after it was revealed that he had purchased shares in the name of his wife.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">However, Dhungana has been reluctant to resign. This issue was also discussed in the Finance Committee meeting of the Parliament.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON) on July 29 and the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) on July 29 to submit a clear, factual answer within three days. The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Chairman of SEBON and the General Manager of NEPSE seeking clarification regarding the issue. The finance ministry said it was investigating the matter but has not reach a conclusion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has been saying that action will be taken against the two if they are found guilty.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13647', 'image' => '20210902111745_1630538235.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector takes lead to Promote Province 2 as Tourist Destination', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation's Tourism and Air Transport Committee has decided to increase the tourism activities of Province 2 and coordinate with the concerned stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee issued a statement on Monday stating that an action plan would be prepared to create a conducive environment to welcome Indian tourists in the border areas. At present, the movement of vehicles from the Indian border to Nepal has been halted. Indian tourists have stopped coming after the government banned vehicular movement to control the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI State President Ganesh Prasad Lath informed that the FNCCI has decided to take initiative to facilitate the movement of Indian tourists by coordinating with the security personnel deployed at the border on both Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, co-coordinator of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee, said that the training would be conducted to raise awareness among local taxi and auto rickshaw drivers about tourist-friendly behavior. "We have planned to train the drivers on how to treat tourists politely, not to charge unreasonable fares, and not to drive at high speeds," said Agrawal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation is also going to take initiative in identifying and promoting the tourism potential of Province 2. Initiatives will be taken for the effective management of tourist potential in Janakpur, Birgunj, Simraungadh and Parsa National Park to attract tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation has made a plan to link the air services from Pokhara in Gandaki to Simara in Bara along with the promotion of local tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation has planned to arrange a visit of a delegation including Minister for Industry, Tourism and Forests of Gandaki Province, Mani Bhadra Sharma Kandel, for two nights and three days and take them for a visit to different tourist destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Co-coordinator Agrawal expressed confidence that such programs would be continued and would help in the promotion of tourism in Province No. 2.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13646', 'image' => '20210902105809_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 10:57:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Feasibility Study for Setting up Industrial Villages in Far Western Province', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. Feasibility study for the establishment of industrial villages has already been initiated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Shrestha ECN LEC JV consulting company has started the work of feasibility study in coordination with the local levels. Dilli Raj Adhikari, a consultant of the company, said that work has been started to get information about the condition of the land at the local levels. The province is said to have the potential to set up industries in eight out of nine districts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We have done a feasibility study from Darchula to Kanchanpur for the establishment of industrial villages," he said. According to him, the target is to set up four industrial villages in Kanchanpur, six in Kailali, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, one in Baitadi, one in Bajhang, two in Achham and two in Doti. Feasibility study has been carried out for the establishment of industrial villages in Shuklaphanta, Krishnapur, Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities of Kanchanpur. The establishment of one industrial village is estimated to cost Rs 9.4 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for the establishment of an industrial village in the area where the feasibility study has been done within two months," the consulting official said. It should be away from schools and settlements and close to the market. In order to establish an industrial village, the minimum area of land should be 30 ropanis in mountainous and remote hilly areas, 40 ropanis in hilly areas and 7 bighas in terai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The area where the industrial village will be established should be at least 1 kilometer away from dense human settlement. There should be a minimum distance of two kilometers from the international border and it should be suitable from an economic and geographical point of view. Areas with low environmental impact are said to be suitable for setting up industrial zones. The minimum width of the access road connecting the industrial village to the highway should be 10 meters and the minimum width of the main road within the village should be 10 meters.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Within the industrial village, there will be an administrative building, bank and financial services, day care center, fire control system, exhibition hall, toilet, parking lot, canteen and first aid center. Small, cottage and small scale industries will be established in the industrial villages by mobilizing local resources, raw materials, technology and skills. The aim is to contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities from the industries to be established in the villages.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13645', 'image' => '20210902113035_66fc263c-7475-4a11-bd31-08bc1df36101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:29:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepalese Currency gets Stronger against US Dollar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. The dollar has been depreciating in recent days, resulting in a stronger Nepalese currency against the dollar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the dollar has depreciated by around Rs 2 in the last six days alone. The buying price of one dollar was Rs 119.10 last Thursday, but it has come down by Rs 1.99 to Rs 117.11 this Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The selling price of dollar was Rs 117.52 and buying price was Rs 116.92 on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has strengthened over the past two months. Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the Nepalese currency has strengthened against the dollar in recent days. He said that the Indian currency has strengthened against the dollar while the Nepalse currency has also strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"For various reasons, the Indian currency has been strengthening against the dollar lately. As a result, the Nepalese currency has strengthened, but it is impossible to say what will happen next. The Indian currency market will determine the value," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has got stronger with the rising value of the Indian rupee against the dollar. The exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee. Due to that, when the Indian rupee strengthens, the Nepali currency also strengthens, and the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, when the Indian rupee weakens, the exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee declines automatically, and the value of the dollar rises. The dollar exchange rate was INR 90.70 on Tuesday due to the rise in the Indian stock market and the decline in the dollar against other currencies. Also, on Friday, Jeremy Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, hinted at lower interest rates. Due to that, the Indian currency has strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On top of that, the Indian capital market has been on the rise lately. Exports from India are also increasing. As a result, the Indian currency has strengthened, eventually raising the value of the Nepalese currency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha says that the dollar will become cheaper, and imports will also become cheaper. He also said that Nepal's foreign loans would be cheaper. "However, it will have a negative impact on remittance inflow," he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13644', 'image' => '20210901020646_Richest-Nepalese-–-List-of-Top-Richest-People-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 14:05:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Declines by 73 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the number of international passengers decreased by 73.27 percent in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A report prepared by CAAN shows that the number of passengers for international flights was 4.13 million in 2019, while in 2020 the number has dropped by 73.27 percent to 1.15 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the number of passengers for domestic flights has also declined by 59.46 percent compared to the previous year. In 2019, around 3.18 million passengers travelled via the airport, but in 2020 this number decreased to 1.29 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The country's tourism and civil aviation sectors, which have been worst hit by the pandemic, have suffered huge losses. In the annual progress report of the fiscal year 2077/78 made public by CAAN, it is mentioned that the revenue of CAAN has decreased by 43 percent in the previous fiscal year and 72 percent in the last fiscal year due to the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government of Nepal had announced the year 2020 as Visit Nepal Year, a significant number of international tourists were expected to arrive. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation and tourism sector collapsed that year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, there is only one international airport in the country (Tribhuvan International Airport). Two more international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, are under construction. According to the progress report, the renovation of the international terminal building and the domestic terminal building has been completed as per the plan to develop Tribhuvan International Airport as a boutique airport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, 30 airlines, including three Nepali airlines and 27 foreign airlines, are operating flights to 32 destinations in 15 countries. Similarly, 9 airlines and 10 helicopter companies are providing domestic flights. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13643', 'image' => '20210901125523_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 12:54:28', '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
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$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' => '13912', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Domestic Tourists Increasing in Nagarkot', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: Hoteliers of Nagarkot, a hill station on the outskirts of Kathmandu, are upbeat about the prospect of tourism revival as the local authorities have stepped up vaccination drive in the area which is a major tourism hub of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 5: Hoteliers of Nagarkot, a hill station on the outskirts of Kathmandu, are upbeat about the prospect of tourism revival as the local authorities have stepped up vaccination drive in the area which is a major tourism hub of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As many as 600 hotel entrepreneurs, employees and locals have so far received vaccines against coronavirus infection, the state-owned national new agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to RSS, hotel entrepreneurs say they feel secured after receiving the second dose of vaccine against Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The vaccination drive has become effective in Nagarkot due to the coordination between District Health Office, Kavre and Nagarkot-Naldum Tourism Development Committee. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We feel a sigh of relief after being inoculated. The coronavirus infection rate is also decreasing. With this, we are hopeful of gradual recovery of pandemic-battered tourism enterprises,” RSS quoted the committee’s secretary and Mount Everest Hotel’s operator, Pradeep Jung Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stakeholders claim that the successful vaccination drive has imparted a message that Nagarkot is ‘safe’ for tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Gokul Lamichhane, operator of Maryland Hotel, said inflow of domestic tourists is increasing lately at hotels that have been operational adopting health safety protocol. “Arrival of tourists on weekends and holidays is on the rise. We are optimistic to welcome more external tourists with the decline in the infection rate of coronavirus.” he added. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13657', 'image' => '20210905031122_287692_14103114370023105375.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 15:10:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Expedite Big Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA is moving ahead with 835 MW Dudhkoshi reservoir, 1,061 MW Upper Arun and 210 MW Chainpur Seti semi-reservoir hydropower projects. All three projects are currently in the final stages of detailed study. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the detailed engineering of the three hydropower projects has been finalized, tender notices for the construction have been prepared, access roads, land acquisition, discussions with domestic investors and international donors for financial management have been taken forward hand on hand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The construction of reservoir and semi-reservoir projects is being given high priority to maintain the balance between daily and seasonal demand and supply of electricity and to export excess electricity to neighboring countries," Ghising said, adding, "We are working hard to complete all the pre-construction works within a year and then begin the construction." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that they are discussing with the European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Korean Exim Bank for investment in Dudhkoshi, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We will raise money by issuing shares to the general public. This way the return from the project will reach to the level of citizens," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The estimated base cost of Dudhkoshi is $1.53 billion (approximately Rs. 178 billion) and the total cost including construction and interest during the construction period is estimated to be around $2 billion. Among the studied reservoir projects, Dudhkoshi is considered to be relatively cheap and attractive in terms of cost and energy production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Studies have shown that the projects in Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu will generate 1.36 billion and 2.8 billion units of energy respectively in winter and rainy season out of 3.44 billion units of energy annually. The project has already published public notice for the construction of access road and acquisition of about 13,000 ropanis of land in Khotang area above the dam construction site. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that the semi-reservoir Upper Arun would be given high priority and would be promoted as a 'game changer' project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Under the People's Hydropower Program, in a 4-digit input capacity (1061 MW) and the largest ever project being constructed by NEA, there will be 49 percent public shares," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The federal, province and local governments will also invest in the project. The estimated cost of the project, which can be operated at full capacity for six hours a day in the six months of winter when electricity demand is high, is about USD 1.2 billion excluding interest during the construction period. NEA plans to raise 30 percent of the total cost from self-capital and 70 percent from loans. The project will generate 4.53 billion units of energy annually. NEA has moved ahead with the 30 MW Ikhuwa Hydropower Project, which is also a project included in People's Hydropower Program, to be a part of Upper Arun. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chainpur Seti in Bajhang will be promoted as a game changer project in the far western region. The project to be constructed under the People's Hydropower Program will have the investment of federal, province and local governments, project affected people and ordinary citizens across the country. According to NEA, tender notices are being prepared for the construction of the project in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. The project, which can run at full capacity for six hours in winter, will generate 1.16 billion units of energy annually. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13656', 'image' => '20210905121041_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 12:10:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Years On, Fate of MCC Still Hangs in the Balance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After five years of negotiations, the then government led by Nepali Congress had signed the agreement with the MCC in Washington in September 2017. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The then Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Jonathan G Nash, acting chief executive of MCC, had signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Four years down the line, the MCC grant agreement has become a topic of hot debate but the implementation part has not moved forward. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The two countries had also signed Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) in 2019 to implement the agreement. The then Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada and Vice Chairman of the MCC Compact Operation Department Anthony Welcher had signed the PIA back in 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the agreement, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the United States had agreed to provide US$500 million in grants for two projects, and that the Government of Nepal would contribute $130 million for these projects.</span></span> The fund would be utilized for road construction and repair and electricity production and construction of transmission lines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of US$ 45 million was allocated for financial management of the projects which would cover the expenses of employees, administrative works, purchase of computer, monitoring, feasibility study as well as design and other office overhead costs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has expressed its commitment to implement the agreement by completing all the procedures, the project has not moved ahead because it cannot be fully implemented without it being endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Experts have raised concerns that the delay in implementation of the project in the last four years due to the dispute among political party leaders has given a wrong message to the investors. They also informed that the delay has only increased the cost of the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The former government led by KP Oli had presented the MCC agreement in parliament for endorsement one and a half years ago. However, the fate of the agreement still hangs in the balance as the parliament is undecided about the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that the agreement has been put on hold due to political dispute among the leaders. This does not give a positive message to the investors, argues Mahat.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">UML Chairman KP Oli, who was in favour of endorsing the agreement while he was leading the government, is not in a wait-and-watch mood. Oli has accused the incumbent government of trying to endorse the agreement by keeping other parties in the dark. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ruling Maoist Centre is not in favour of endorsing the MCC agreement in its current form.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal does not have to pay interest for receiving this assistance as it is a grant assistance. However, the ruling Nepali Congress has not been able to take a concrete decision on this regard yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13655', 'image' => '20210905114326_20200704031812_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 11:42:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dry Port in Chobhar to Operate Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon. All the basic infrastructures of the government-built dry port has become ready, according to Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board that is also authorized to look after the Birgunj Dry Port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The newly-built dry port, which can house around 500 containers, has been built by the government to facilitate the trade in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Built at the cost of over Rs 1.60 billion, the dry port has three buildings and three godowns. It would be brought into operation as soon as the customs clearance section and containers of the dry port get ready, according to Executive Director of the board, Ashish Gajurel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Once the dry port comes into operation, it is expected to maximize imports and facilitate export, decrease investment costs and simplify trade in general. Gajurel added that there were three gates at the dry port, each exclusively slated for import, export and contingencies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The construction of the dry port had begun in 2018 in a total of 261 ropanis of land which includes residence for the employees as well. Shanxi-Ashish JV Company was awarded the contract to build the dry port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the dry port on January 17, 2019. The construction of the dry port was supposed to be completed within 18 months but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction process could not meet the deadline, informed the board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the board has been doing necessary homework to determine a modality in which the dry port could be operated. A committee has been formed under the coordination of the joint-secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to prepare a modus operandi of the first-ever dry port in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board has assured that once the dry port comes into operation, the vehicles ferrying containers do not have to wait in Birgunj for a long time as in the past for customs clearance. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13654', 'image' => '20210905105501_5fc6e0f9c43e3_Chobhar_dry_port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 10:54:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Almost 67 Thousand Tourists Visited Nepal in the Last 8 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. While the number of tourists visiting Nepal declined after 2019, a total of 66,966 foreigners visited Nepal in the first eight months of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the highest number of tourists arrived in March and April. In April, 22,540 tourists visited Nepal, and in March, the number of tourists visiting Nepal was 14,977. Most of the tourists were in Nepal for trekking. Mount Everest as well as other peaks and mountains also tend to be crowded with climbers during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the NTB, 5,917 tourists visited Nepal in August. Tourists have come to Nepal from 33 countries. The lowest arrival of tourists was recorded in June with just 1,143 visitors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, Nepal had the highest number of visitors with around 1.2 million tourists. However, since then, the number of tourists visiting the country has been steadily declining due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sajan Shakya, general secretary of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said that the number of tourists coming for sightseeing and trekking has decreased in the last eight months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that now that the coronavirus has been declining with rising vaccination, it is necessary to spread the message that Nepal is safe to travel. He informed that interest has also come from different countries for the upcoming tourist season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the board, more tourists came from SAARC countries in August. A total of 2,192 tourists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka have come to Nepal. Of these, 1,985 tourists arrived in Nepal from India alone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In August, 1,015 tourists arrived in Nepal from Europe. A total of 423 Asian tourists visited Nepal from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Thailand. In 2020, 230,000 tourists had visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13653', 'image' => '20210903110643_1630628769.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:05:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HAN Demands Special Package to Revive Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation of HAN led by its president Shreejana Rana made such request to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma during a recent meeting. President Rana demanded a package to resolve the problems faced by the hotel sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Rana drew the attention of the Finance Minister to the fact that the tourism industry, especially the hotel industry, has started sinking due to Covid-19. The hotel industry has invested billions of rupees and provided employment to millions of people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She stressed on the need to pay attention to the protection of the industry arguing that it is the responsibility of the state to protect and promote it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN demands that the issues addressed by the budget for the Fiscal Year 2078/79 as well as the plans included in the monetary policy should be implemented as much as possible. Rana said that a special economic plan should be formulated for the revival of tourism sector. She added that the hotel industry should be kept in a different group and a regular monitoring mechanism should be developed for the implementation of the programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Finance Minister Sharma expressed commitment of the state to provide all possible assistance to protect this industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN has also demanded the government to amend the Social Security Act and regulations on behalf of hotels to ensure that contributors are not deprived of access to health and other emergency services.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13652', 'image' => '20210903105831_20210312rd37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:57:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Traders Trading to and from Tibet out of Business since 2 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years. Nepali traders who had been exporting goods to and from Tibet in China have been unemployed for the past two years after China banned Nepali traders as well as goods produced in Nepal from entering the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders say that the Chinese government may have barred Nepali traders from entering the country to protect its citizens from corona infection as the infection rate is still rising in Nepal. Nepal mainly exports vegetable ghee, flour, turmeric, noodles, chewing gum, Nepali toothpaste, tiger grass broom, cosmetics and handicrafts to the Tibet region of China. However, exports of such items have stalled since the onset of coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Mukunda Poudel, general secretary of the Nepal-China Kerung Trade Association, more than 5,000 workers and traders based in Tibet have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. He said that the traders were in trouble after the annual trade of billions of rupees was stopped. Poudel added that most of the Nepali traders were not able to collect millions of rupees from the goods they sold before the pandemic as the business was halted and they had to stay at home.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the one hand, the border has not been able to function smoothly and on the other hand, Nepali importers and exporters as well as Nepali traders doing business from Tibet have been allowed to enter China. Importers and traders have been able to order goods online and sell them in the Nepali market. However, the Chinese government has banned not only the entry of Nepali traders, but also Nepali products into China, leaving the exporters unemployed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, the Chinese government had suggested to keep labeling and stickers in Chinese language on food and other goods exported from Nepal to China, saying that there has been a language problem since September, 2019. Since then, exporters have been having problems exporting goods. Traders have been saying that the problem is getting worse as the government of Nepal has not taken any initiative in this regard.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Trader Narayan Das Shrestha said that the government administration has not taken any initiative to resolve this problem this despite repeated visits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to various government agencies and ministries including the Chinese Embassy. According to him, if the government is still not interested in this issue, Nepal’s export to China will continue to suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13651', 'image' => '20210903101656_China-losed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mules Used for Transporting Food to Upper Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. The problem has worsened after the Bensishahar-Chame-Manang road section was damaged due to floods and landslides in mid-June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism and hotelier Binod Gurung shared that food grains were now being transported to Upper Manang through mules due to transportation problems. In order to save the locals from food shortage, the transportation was being made a detour with the help of Sonam Ghirmi Fyamy Foundation and distributed to the poor, said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the food was brought through Pokhara-Beni-Muktinath by truck. According to him, food grains were brought to Upper Manang from Muktinath with the mules passing through Thorangla Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Food items have been distributed to 40 households from other districts as well and a total of 47 households in Manang village. He said that the materials were distributed to the needy people with the help of the Foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Each family has been distributed 12.5 kg of rice, eight kg of pulses, three kg of salt and 1.5 liters of oil. The locals are happy to receive the food items. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13650', 'image' => '20210903100557_1630630543.Clipboard15.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:04:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Nepal Can Become Self-Reliant on Drugs’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The drug producers, however, have called for amendment to Drugs Act, 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) on Thursday, the participants stressed the need for massive changes in the concerned laws and Acts that discourage the domestic drug industries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a news report published by the state-owned national news agency RSS, the size of drug market in Nepal is in between Rs 45 billion to Rs 50 billion in terms of monetary transaction while the domestic production is just half of the total demand. It has been reported that the drug market in Nepal is increasing by almost 20 per cent every year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some drug manufacturers of Nepal also export their products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the interaction, President of FNCCI Shekhar Golchha urged the drug producers for their cooperation to successfully implement the National Economic Transformation-2030 plan unveiled by the FNCCI for encouraging the country's economic growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Prajjwal Jung Pandey reportedly said that the country can be made self-reliant in this field within some years if the government extended full support to this sector. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13649', 'image' => '20210903095716_20200312112516_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 09:56:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Phase Work of Bheri-Babai Diversion Project gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the completion of the tunnel construction, the construction of the dam and powerhouse of the national pride project has been expedited. The Chinese company Guangdong and Nepal's Raman Construction JV are speeding up the second phase of construction of the dam site and power house. The project has stated that the construction work of headworks and powerhouse under the second phase is in full swing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwori Tiwari, information officer and senior divisional engineer of the project informed that the construction of automatic gate, penstock, steel lining, power house, turbine, electrical equipment and substation at Chiple in Bheriganga of Surkhet is ongoing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the distribution of compensation has been delayed as the government has not decided on the amount to be given to the settlers without land ownership certificates. About 32 hectares of land in Bheriganga, Gurbhakot and Lekbensi municipalities will be drowned due to the construction of a dam at Chiple in Bheriganga municipality of Surkhet. So far, the project has distributed compensation to the affected people living in nine hectares of land who have land ownership certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer Tiwari said that the compensation of up to maximum of Rs 500,000 have been distributed to people with land ownership certificates. According to him, out of the 32 hectares of projected land, people living in almost 23 hectares of land is do not have land ownership certificate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the project office, no procedure has been formulated for the compensation of 22.81 hectares of uncertified land. He said that a file has been submitted to the federal government to determine the amount of compensation by collecting the details of the settlers of uncertified land but no decision has been taken yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have the money and there’s no problem in distributing it,” he said, “But, the government has not decided how much compensation to pay. We can distribute it once the decision is made by the cabinet.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, six and a half hectares of uncertified land has been registered in the field book. But the land owners have not yet received certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">All the works of the second phase are targeted to be completed by fiscal year 2080 and it is estimated that Rs 6.16 billion will be spent for the project. If the Bheri-Babai diversion multi-purpose project is constructed, the project will provide irrigation facilities to 51,000 hectares of land in Banke and Bardiya every day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that agricultural produce will increase in Banke and Bardiya and Rs 3.1 billion will be earned annually besides Rs 2.1 billion that will be earned directly through electricity generation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A 14 meter high dam will be constructed in Bheriganga Municipality-5 Chiple of Surkhet and 48 MW electricity will be generated by pouring water from Bheri River into Babai River in Ward No. 11 Hattikhal of the same municipality through a 12 km 210 meter long tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13648', 'image' => '20210903112035_JyHd1NrVQgFxYHRha0py.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:19:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board Dhungana Suspended', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">With the formation of the probe committee, Dhungana has been suspended from his post. The committee can recommend his removal from the post if he is found guilty.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (September 1) formed a three-member investigation committee under the chairmanship of former high court judge Anantraj Dumre. Narayan Prasad Poudel is an expert member of the committee and Arjun Kumar Khadka, joint secretary of the Nepal Law Commission, is another member.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the committee was formed in accordance to sub-section 7 of section 7 of the Securities Board Act 2063 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As per the existing laws, if the chairman is found to have caused loss to the board, the Government of Nepal can form a committee of inquiry. The government has said that the necessary investigation has been started as there is a provision to remove the chairperson upon the recommendation of the probe committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has been found that Dhungana’s Daughter Rebecca had purchased shares of Sarvottam Cement against the law. Altogether 11,912 units of shares of Sarvottam Cement were found to be registered in the name of Rebecca Dhungana, daughter of SEBON chair Bishma Raj Dhuganna, and the same number of shares is also found in the name of Sushila Kumari Bohora, wife of Chandra Singh Saud, general manager of the Nepal Stock Exchange.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government was under pressure to investigate after Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board, bought shares in the name of his daughter and Chandra Singh Saud, CEO of Nepse, in the name of his wife. It is estimated that the price per share will be around Rs 750 when Sarvattam issues an IPO through book building process. The duo had purchased the shares at Rs 250 per unit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Saud, the then chief executive officer of the Nepal Stock Exchange, has resigned from the post to facilitate investigation after it was revealed that he had purchased shares in the name of his wife.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">However, Dhungana has been reluctant to resign. This issue was also discussed in the Finance Committee meeting of the Parliament.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON) on July 29 and the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) on July 29 to submit a clear, factual answer within three days. The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Chairman of SEBON and the General Manager of NEPSE seeking clarification regarding the issue. The finance ministry said it was investigating the matter but has not reach a conclusion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has been saying that action will be taken against the two if they are found guilty.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13647', 'image' => '20210902111745_1630538235.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector takes lead to Promote Province 2 as Tourist Destination', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation's Tourism and Air Transport Committee has decided to increase the tourism activities of Province 2 and coordinate with the concerned stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee issued a statement on Monday stating that an action plan would be prepared to create a conducive environment to welcome Indian tourists in the border areas. At present, the movement of vehicles from the Indian border to Nepal has been halted. Indian tourists have stopped coming after the government banned vehicular movement to control the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI State President Ganesh Prasad Lath informed that the FNCCI has decided to take initiative to facilitate the movement of Indian tourists by coordinating with the security personnel deployed at the border on both Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, co-coordinator of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee, said that the training would be conducted to raise awareness among local taxi and auto rickshaw drivers about tourist-friendly behavior. "We have planned to train the drivers on how to treat tourists politely, not to charge unreasonable fares, and not to drive at high speeds," said Agrawal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation is also going to take initiative in identifying and promoting the tourism potential of Province 2. Initiatives will be taken for the effective management of tourist potential in Janakpur, Birgunj, Simraungadh and Parsa National Park to attract tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation has made a plan to link the air services from Pokhara in Gandaki to Simara in Bara along with the promotion of local tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation has planned to arrange a visit of a delegation including Minister for Industry, Tourism and Forests of Gandaki Province, Mani Bhadra Sharma Kandel, for two nights and three days and take them for a visit to different tourist destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Co-coordinator Agrawal expressed confidence that such programs would be continued and would help in the promotion of tourism in Province No. 2.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13646', 'image' => '20210902105809_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 10:57:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Feasibility Study for Setting up Industrial Villages in Far Western Province', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. Feasibility study for the establishment of industrial villages has already been initiated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Shrestha ECN LEC JV consulting company has started the work of feasibility study in coordination with the local levels. Dilli Raj Adhikari, a consultant of the company, said that work has been started to get information about the condition of the land at the local levels. The province is said to have the potential to set up industries in eight out of nine districts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We have done a feasibility study from Darchula to Kanchanpur for the establishment of industrial villages," he said. According to him, the target is to set up four industrial villages in Kanchanpur, six in Kailali, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, one in Baitadi, one in Bajhang, two in Achham and two in Doti. Feasibility study has been carried out for the establishment of industrial villages in Shuklaphanta, Krishnapur, Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities of Kanchanpur. The establishment of one industrial village is estimated to cost Rs 9.4 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for the establishment of an industrial village in the area where the feasibility study has been done within two months," the consulting official said. It should be away from schools and settlements and close to the market. In order to establish an industrial village, the minimum area of land should be 30 ropanis in mountainous and remote hilly areas, 40 ropanis in hilly areas and 7 bighas in terai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The area where the industrial village will be established should be at least 1 kilometer away from dense human settlement. There should be a minimum distance of two kilometers from the international border and it should be suitable from an economic and geographical point of view. Areas with low environmental impact are said to be suitable for setting up industrial zones. The minimum width of the access road connecting the industrial village to the highway should be 10 meters and the minimum width of the main road within the village should be 10 meters.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Within the industrial village, there will be an administrative building, bank and financial services, day care center, fire control system, exhibition hall, toilet, parking lot, canteen and first aid center. Small, cottage and small scale industries will be established in the industrial villages by mobilizing local resources, raw materials, technology and skills. The aim is to contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities from the industries to be established in the villages.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13645', 'image' => '20210902113035_66fc263c-7475-4a11-bd31-08bc1df36101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:29:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepalese Currency gets Stronger against US Dollar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. The dollar has been depreciating in recent days, resulting in a stronger Nepalese currency against the dollar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the dollar has depreciated by around Rs 2 in the last six days alone. The buying price of one dollar was Rs 119.10 last Thursday, but it has come down by Rs 1.99 to Rs 117.11 this Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The selling price of dollar was Rs 117.52 and buying price was Rs 116.92 on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has strengthened over the past two months. Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the Nepalese currency has strengthened against the dollar in recent days. He said that the Indian currency has strengthened against the dollar while the Nepalse currency has also strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"For various reasons, the Indian currency has been strengthening against the dollar lately. As a result, the Nepalese currency has strengthened, but it is impossible to say what will happen next. The Indian currency market will determine the value," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has got stronger with the rising value of the Indian rupee against the dollar. The exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee. Due to that, when the Indian rupee strengthens, the Nepali currency also strengthens, and the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, when the Indian rupee weakens, the exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee declines automatically, and the value of the dollar rises. The dollar exchange rate was INR 90.70 on Tuesday due to the rise in the Indian stock market and the decline in the dollar against other currencies. Also, on Friday, Jeremy Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, hinted at lower interest rates. Due to that, the Indian currency has strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On top of that, the Indian capital market has been on the rise lately. Exports from India are also increasing. As a result, the Indian currency has strengthened, eventually raising the value of the Nepalese currency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha says that the dollar will become cheaper, and imports will also become cheaper. He also said that Nepal's foreign loans would be cheaper. "However, it will have a negative impact on remittance inflow," he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13644', 'image' => '20210901020646_Richest-Nepalese-–-List-of-Top-Richest-People-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 14:05:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Declines by 73 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the number of international passengers decreased by 73.27 percent in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A report prepared by CAAN shows that the number of passengers for international flights was 4.13 million in 2019, while in 2020 the number has dropped by 73.27 percent to 1.15 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the number of passengers for domestic flights has also declined by 59.46 percent compared to the previous year. In 2019, around 3.18 million passengers travelled via the airport, but in 2020 this number decreased to 1.29 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The country's tourism and civil aviation sectors, which have been worst hit by the pandemic, have suffered huge losses. In the annual progress report of the fiscal year 2077/78 made public by CAAN, it is mentioned that the revenue of CAAN has decreased by 43 percent in the previous fiscal year and 72 percent in the last fiscal year due to the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government of Nepal had announced the year 2020 as Visit Nepal Year, a significant number of international tourists were expected to arrive. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation and tourism sector collapsed that year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, there is only one international airport in the country (Tribhuvan International Airport). Two more international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, are under construction. According to the progress report, the renovation of the international terminal building and the domestic terminal building has been completed as per the plan to develop Tribhuvan International Airport as a boutique airport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, 30 airlines, including three Nepali airlines and 27 foreign airlines, are operating flights to 32 destinations in 15 countries. Similarly, 9 airlines and 10 helicopter companies are providing domestic flights. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13643', 'image' => '20210901125523_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 12:54:28', '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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The coronavirus infection rate is also decreasing. With this, we are hopeful of gradual recovery of pandemic-battered tourism enterprises,” RSS quoted the committee’s secretary and Mount Everest Hotel’s operator, Pradeep Jung Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stakeholders claim that the successful vaccination drive has imparted a message that Nagarkot is ‘safe’ for tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Gokul Lamichhane, operator of Maryland Hotel, said inflow of domestic tourists is increasing lately at hotels that have been operational adopting health safety protocol. “Arrival of tourists on weekends and holidays is on the rise. We are optimistic to welcome more external tourists with the decline in the infection rate of coronavirus.” he added. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13657', 'image' => '20210905031122_287692_14103114370023105375.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 15:10:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Expedite Big Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA is moving ahead with 835 MW Dudhkoshi reservoir, 1,061 MW Upper Arun and 210 MW Chainpur Seti semi-reservoir hydropower projects. All three projects are currently in the final stages of detailed study. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the detailed engineering of the three hydropower projects has been finalized, tender notices for the construction have been prepared, access roads, land acquisition, discussions with domestic investors and international donors for financial management have been taken forward hand on hand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The construction of reservoir and semi-reservoir projects is being given high priority to maintain the balance between daily and seasonal demand and supply of electricity and to export excess electricity to neighboring countries," Ghising said, adding, "We are working hard to complete all the pre-construction works within a year and then begin the construction." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that they are discussing with the European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Korean Exim Bank for investment in Dudhkoshi, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We will raise money by issuing shares to the general public. This way the return from the project will reach to the level of citizens," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The estimated base cost of Dudhkoshi is $1.53 billion (approximately Rs. 178 billion) and the total cost including construction and interest during the construction period is estimated to be around $2 billion. Among the studied reservoir projects, Dudhkoshi is considered to be relatively cheap and attractive in terms of cost and energy production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Studies have shown that the projects in Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu will generate 1.36 billion and 2.8 billion units of energy respectively in winter and rainy season out of 3.44 billion units of energy annually. The project has already published public notice for the construction of access road and acquisition of about 13,000 ropanis of land in Khotang area above the dam construction site. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that the semi-reservoir Upper Arun would be given high priority and would be promoted as a 'game changer' project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Under the People's Hydropower Program, in a 4-digit input capacity (1061 MW) and the largest ever project being constructed by NEA, there will be 49 percent public shares," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The federal, province and local governments will also invest in the project. The estimated cost of the project, which can be operated at full capacity for six hours a day in the six months of winter when electricity demand is high, is about USD 1.2 billion excluding interest during the construction period. NEA plans to raise 30 percent of the total cost from self-capital and 70 percent from loans. The project will generate 4.53 billion units of energy annually. NEA has moved ahead with the 30 MW Ikhuwa Hydropower Project, which is also a project included in People's Hydropower Program, to be a part of Upper Arun. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chainpur Seti in Bajhang will be promoted as a game changer project in the far western region. The project to be constructed under the People's Hydropower Program will have the investment of federal, province and local governments, project affected people and ordinary citizens across the country. According to NEA, tender notices are being prepared for the construction of the project in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. The project, which can run at full capacity for six hours in winter, will generate 1.16 billion units of energy annually. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13656', 'image' => '20210905121041_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 12:10:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Years On, Fate of MCC Still Hangs in the Balance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After five years of negotiations, the then government led by Nepali Congress had signed the agreement with the MCC in Washington in September 2017. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The then Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Jonathan G Nash, acting chief executive of MCC, had signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Four years down the line, the MCC grant agreement has become a topic of hot debate but the implementation part has not moved forward. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The two countries had also signed Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) in 2019 to implement the agreement. The then Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada and Vice Chairman of the MCC Compact Operation Department Anthony Welcher had signed the PIA back in 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the agreement, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the United States had agreed to provide US$500 million in grants for two projects, and that the Government of Nepal would contribute $130 million for these projects.</span></span> The fund would be utilized for road construction and repair and electricity production and construction of transmission lines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of US$ 45 million was allocated for financial management of the projects which would cover the expenses of employees, administrative works, purchase of computer, monitoring, feasibility study as well as design and other office overhead costs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has expressed its commitment to implement the agreement by completing all the procedures, the project has not moved ahead because it cannot be fully implemented without it being endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Experts have raised concerns that the delay in implementation of the project in the last four years due to the dispute among political party leaders has given a wrong message to the investors. They also informed that the delay has only increased the cost of the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The former government led by KP Oli had presented the MCC agreement in parliament for endorsement one and a half years ago. However, the fate of the agreement still hangs in the balance as the parliament is undecided about the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that the agreement has been put on hold due to political dispute among the leaders. This does not give a positive message to the investors, argues Mahat.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">UML Chairman KP Oli, who was in favour of endorsing the agreement while he was leading the government, is not in a wait-and-watch mood. Oli has accused the incumbent government of trying to endorse the agreement by keeping other parties in the dark. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ruling Maoist Centre is not in favour of endorsing the MCC agreement in its current form.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal does not have to pay interest for receiving this assistance as it is a grant assistance. However, the ruling Nepali Congress has not been able to take a concrete decision on this regard yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13655', 'image' => '20210905114326_20200704031812_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 11:42:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dry Port in Chobhar to Operate Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon. All the basic infrastructures of the government-built dry port has become ready, according to Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board that is also authorized to look after the Birgunj Dry Port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The newly-built dry port, which can house around 500 containers, has been built by the government to facilitate the trade in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Built at the cost of over Rs 1.60 billion, the dry port has three buildings and three godowns. It would be brought into operation as soon as the customs clearance section and containers of the dry port get ready, according to Executive Director of the board, Ashish Gajurel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Once the dry port comes into operation, it is expected to maximize imports and facilitate export, decrease investment costs and simplify trade in general. Gajurel added that there were three gates at the dry port, each exclusively slated for import, export and contingencies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The construction of the dry port had begun in 2018 in a total of 261 ropanis of land which includes residence for the employees as well. Shanxi-Ashish JV Company was awarded the contract to build the dry port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the dry port on January 17, 2019. The construction of the dry port was supposed to be completed within 18 months but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction process could not meet the deadline, informed the board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the board has been doing necessary homework to determine a modality in which the dry port could be operated. A committee has been formed under the coordination of the joint-secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to prepare a modus operandi of the first-ever dry port in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board has assured that once the dry port comes into operation, the vehicles ferrying containers do not have to wait in Birgunj for a long time as in the past for customs clearance. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13654', 'image' => '20210905105501_5fc6e0f9c43e3_Chobhar_dry_port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 10:54:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Almost 67 Thousand Tourists Visited Nepal in the Last 8 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. While the number of tourists visiting Nepal declined after 2019, a total of 66,966 foreigners visited Nepal in the first eight months of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the highest number of tourists arrived in March and April. In April, 22,540 tourists visited Nepal, and in March, the number of tourists visiting Nepal was 14,977. Most of the tourists were in Nepal for trekking. Mount Everest as well as other peaks and mountains also tend to be crowded with climbers during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the NTB, 5,917 tourists visited Nepal in August. Tourists have come to Nepal from 33 countries. The lowest arrival of tourists was recorded in June with just 1,143 visitors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, Nepal had the highest number of visitors with around 1.2 million tourists. However, since then, the number of tourists visiting the country has been steadily declining due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sajan Shakya, general secretary of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said that the number of tourists coming for sightseeing and trekking has decreased in the last eight months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that now that the coronavirus has been declining with rising vaccination, it is necessary to spread the message that Nepal is safe to travel. He informed that interest has also come from different countries for the upcoming tourist season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the board, more tourists came from SAARC countries in August. A total of 2,192 tourists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka have come to Nepal. Of these, 1,985 tourists arrived in Nepal from India alone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In August, 1,015 tourists arrived in Nepal from Europe. A total of 423 Asian tourists visited Nepal from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Thailand. In 2020, 230,000 tourists had visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13653', 'image' => '20210903110643_1630628769.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:05:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HAN Demands Special Package to Revive Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation of HAN led by its president Shreejana Rana made such request to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma during a recent meeting. President Rana demanded a package to resolve the problems faced by the hotel sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Rana drew the attention of the Finance Minister to the fact that the tourism industry, especially the hotel industry, has started sinking due to Covid-19. The hotel industry has invested billions of rupees and provided employment to millions of people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She stressed on the need to pay attention to the protection of the industry arguing that it is the responsibility of the state to protect and promote it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN demands that the issues addressed by the budget for the Fiscal Year 2078/79 as well as the plans included in the monetary policy should be implemented as much as possible. Rana said that a special economic plan should be formulated for the revival of tourism sector. She added that the hotel industry should be kept in a different group and a regular monitoring mechanism should be developed for the implementation of the programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Finance Minister Sharma expressed commitment of the state to provide all possible assistance to protect this industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN has also demanded the government to amend the Social Security Act and regulations on behalf of hotels to ensure that contributors are not deprived of access to health and other emergency services.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13652', 'image' => '20210903105831_20210312rd37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:57:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Traders Trading to and from Tibet out of Business since 2 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years. Nepali traders who had been exporting goods to and from Tibet in China have been unemployed for the past two years after China banned Nepali traders as well as goods produced in Nepal from entering the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders say that the Chinese government may have barred Nepali traders from entering the country to protect its citizens from corona infection as the infection rate is still rising in Nepal. Nepal mainly exports vegetable ghee, flour, turmeric, noodles, chewing gum, Nepali toothpaste, tiger grass broom, cosmetics and handicrafts to the Tibet region of China. However, exports of such items have stalled since the onset of coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Mukunda Poudel, general secretary of the Nepal-China Kerung Trade Association, more than 5,000 workers and traders based in Tibet have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. He said that the traders were in trouble after the annual trade of billions of rupees was stopped. Poudel added that most of the Nepali traders were not able to collect millions of rupees from the goods they sold before the pandemic as the business was halted and they had to stay at home.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the one hand, the border has not been able to function smoothly and on the other hand, Nepali importers and exporters as well as Nepali traders doing business from Tibet have been allowed to enter China. Importers and traders have been able to order goods online and sell them in the Nepali market. However, the Chinese government has banned not only the entry of Nepali traders, but also Nepali products into China, leaving the exporters unemployed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, the Chinese government had suggested to keep labeling and stickers in Chinese language on food and other goods exported from Nepal to China, saying that there has been a language problem since September, 2019. Since then, exporters have been having problems exporting goods. Traders have been saying that the problem is getting worse as the government of Nepal has not taken any initiative in this regard.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Trader Narayan Das Shrestha said that the government administration has not taken any initiative to resolve this problem this despite repeated visits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to various government agencies and ministries including the Chinese Embassy. According to him, if the government is still not interested in this issue, Nepal’s export to China will continue to suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13651', 'image' => '20210903101656_China-losed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mules Used for Transporting Food to Upper Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. The problem has worsened after the Bensishahar-Chame-Manang road section was damaged due to floods and landslides in mid-June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism and hotelier Binod Gurung shared that food grains were now being transported to Upper Manang through mules due to transportation problems. In order to save the locals from food shortage, the transportation was being made a detour with the help of Sonam Ghirmi Fyamy Foundation and distributed to the poor, said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the food was brought through Pokhara-Beni-Muktinath by truck. According to him, food grains were brought to Upper Manang from Muktinath with the mules passing through Thorangla Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Food items have been distributed to 40 households from other districts as well and a total of 47 households in Manang village. He said that the materials were distributed to the needy people with the help of the Foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Each family has been distributed 12.5 kg of rice, eight kg of pulses, three kg of salt and 1.5 liters of oil. The locals are happy to receive the food items. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13650', 'image' => '20210903100557_1630630543.Clipboard15.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:04:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Nepal Can Become Self-Reliant on Drugs’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The drug producers, however, have called for amendment to Drugs Act, 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) on Thursday, the participants stressed the need for massive changes in the concerned laws and Acts that discourage the domestic drug industries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a news report published by the state-owned national news agency RSS, the size of drug market in Nepal is in between Rs 45 billion to Rs 50 billion in terms of monetary transaction while the domestic production is just half of the total demand. It has been reported that the drug market in Nepal is increasing by almost 20 per cent every year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some drug manufacturers of Nepal also export their products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the interaction, President of FNCCI Shekhar Golchha urged the drug producers for their cooperation to successfully implement the National Economic Transformation-2030 plan unveiled by the FNCCI for encouraging the country's economic growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Prajjwal Jung Pandey reportedly said that the country can be made self-reliant in this field within some years if the government extended full support to this sector. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13649', 'image' => '20210903095716_20200312112516_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 09:56:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Phase Work of Bheri-Babai Diversion Project gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the completion of the tunnel construction, the construction of the dam and powerhouse of the national pride project has been expedited. The Chinese company Guangdong and Nepal's Raman Construction JV are speeding up the second phase of construction of the dam site and power house. The project has stated that the construction work of headworks and powerhouse under the second phase is in full swing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwori Tiwari, information officer and senior divisional engineer of the project informed that the construction of automatic gate, penstock, steel lining, power house, turbine, electrical equipment and substation at Chiple in Bheriganga of Surkhet is ongoing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the distribution of compensation has been delayed as the government has not decided on the amount to be given to the settlers without land ownership certificates. About 32 hectares of land in Bheriganga, Gurbhakot and Lekbensi municipalities will be drowned due to the construction of a dam at Chiple in Bheriganga municipality of Surkhet. So far, the project has distributed compensation to the affected people living in nine hectares of land who have land ownership certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer Tiwari said that the compensation of up to maximum of Rs 500,000 have been distributed to people with land ownership certificates. According to him, out of the 32 hectares of projected land, people living in almost 23 hectares of land is do not have land ownership certificate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the project office, no procedure has been formulated for the compensation of 22.81 hectares of uncertified land. He said that a file has been submitted to the federal government to determine the amount of compensation by collecting the details of the settlers of uncertified land but no decision has been taken yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have the money and there’s no problem in distributing it,” he said, “But, the government has not decided how much compensation to pay. We can distribute it once the decision is made by the cabinet.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, six and a half hectares of uncertified land has been registered in the field book. But the land owners have not yet received certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">All the works of the second phase are targeted to be completed by fiscal year 2080 and it is estimated that Rs 6.16 billion will be spent for the project. If the Bheri-Babai diversion multi-purpose project is constructed, the project will provide irrigation facilities to 51,000 hectares of land in Banke and Bardiya every day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that agricultural produce will increase in Banke and Bardiya and Rs 3.1 billion will be earned annually besides Rs 2.1 billion that will be earned directly through electricity generation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A 14 meter high dam will be constructed in Bheriganga Municipality-5 Chiple of Surkhet and 48 MW electricity will be generated by pouring water from Bheri River into Babai River in Ward No. 11 Hattikhal of the same municipality through a 12 km 210 meter long tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13648', 'image' => '20210903112035_JyHd1NrVQgFxYHRha0py.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:19:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board Dhungana Suspended', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">With the formation of the probe committee, Dhungana has been suspended from his post. The committee can recommend his removal from the post if he is found guilty.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (September 1) formed a three-member investigation committee under the chairmanship of former high court judge Anantraj Dumre. Narayan Prasad Poudel is an expert member of the committee and Arjun Kumar Khadka, joint secretary of the Nepal Law Commission, is another member.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the committee was formed in accordance to sub-section 7 of section 7 of the Securities Board Act 2063 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As per the existing laws, if the chairman is found to have caused loss to the board, the Government of Nepal can form a committee of inquiry. The government has said that the necessary investigation has been started as there is a provision to remove the chairperson upon the recommendation of the probe committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has been found that Dhungana’s Daughter Rebecca had purchased shares of Sarvottam Cement against the law. Altogether 11,912 units of shares of Sarvottam Cement were found to be registered in the name of Rebecca Dhungana, daughter of SEBON chair Bishma Raj Dhuganna, and the same number of shares is also found in the name of Sushila Kumari Bohora, wife of Chandra Singh Saud, general manager of the Nepal Stock Exchange.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government was under pressure to investigate after Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board, bought shares in the name of his daughter and Chandra Singh Saud, CEO of Nepse, in the name of his wife. It is estimated that the price per share will be around Rs 750 when Sarvattam issues an IPO through book building process. The duo had purchased the shares at Rs 250 per unit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Saud, the then chief executive officer of the Nepal Stock Exchange, has resigned from the post to facilitate investigation after it was revealed that he had purchased shares in the name of his wife.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">However, Dhungana has been reluctant to resign. This issue was also discussed in the Finance Committee meeting of the Parliament.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON) on July 29 and the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) on July 29 to submit a clear, factual answer within three days. The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Chairman of SEBON and the General Manager of NEPSE seeking clarification regarding the issue. The finance ministry said it was investigating the matter but has not reach a conclusion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has been saying that action will be taken against the two if they are found guilty.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13647', 'image' => '20210902111745_1630538235.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector takes lead to Promote Province 2 as Tourist Destination', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation's Tourism and Air Transport Committee has decided to increase the tourism activities of Province 2 and coordinate with the concerned stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee issued a statement on Monday stating that an action plan would be prepared to create a conducive environment to welcome Indian tourists in the border areas. At present, the movement of vehicles from the Indian border to Nepal has been halted. Indian tourists have stopped coming after the government banned vehicular movement to control the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI State President Ganesh Prasad Lath informed that the FNCCI has decided to take initiative to facilitate the movement of Indian tourists by coordinating with the security personnel deployed at the border on both Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, co-coordinator of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee, said that the training would be conducted to raise awareness among local taxi and auto rickshaw drivers about tourist-friendly behavior. "We have planned to train the drivers on how to treat tourists politely, not to charge unreasonable fares, and not to drive at high speeds," said Agrawal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation is also going to take initiative in identifying and promoting the tourism potential of Province 2. Initiatives will be taken for the effective management of tourist potential in Janakpur, Birgunj, Simraungadh and Parsa National Park to attract tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation has made a plan to link the air services from Pokhara in Gandaki to Simara in Bara along with the promotion of local tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation has planned to arrange a visit of a delegation including Minister for Industry, Tourism and Forests of Gandaki Province, Mani Bhadra Sharma Kandel, for two nights and three days and take them for a visit to different tourist destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Co-coordinator Agrawal expressed confidence that such programs would be continued and would help in the promotion of tourism in Province No. 2.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13646', 'image' => '20210902105809_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 10:57:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Feasibility Study for Setting up Industrial Villages in Far Western Province', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. Feasibility study for the establishment of industrial villages has already been initiated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Shrestha ECN LEC JV consulting company has started the work of feasibility study in coordination with the local levels. Dilli Raj Adhikari, a consultant of the company, said that work has been started to get information about the condition of the land at the local levels. The province is said to have the potential to set up industries in eight out of nine districts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We have done a feasibility study from Darchula to Kanchanpur for the establishment of industrial villages," he said. According to him, the target is to set up four industrial villages in Kanchanpur, six in Kailali, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, one in Baitadi, one in Bajhang, two in Achham and two in Doti. Feasibility study has been carried out for the establishment of industrial villages in Shuklaphanta, Krishnapur, Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities of Kanchanpur. The establishment of one industrial village is estimated to cost Rs 9.4 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for the establishment of an industrial village in the area where the feasibility study has been done within two months," the consulting official said. It should be away from schools and settlements and close to the market. In order to establish an industrial village, the minimum area of land should be 30 ropanis in mountainous and remote hilly areas, 40 ropanis in hilly areas and 7 bighas in terai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The area where the industrial village will be established should be at least 1 kilometer away from dense human settlement. There should be a minimum distance of two kilometers from the international border and it should be suitable from an economic and geographical point of view. Areas with low environmental impact are said to be suitable for setting up industrial zones. The minimum width of the access road connecting the industrial village to the highway should be 10 meters and the minimum width of the main road within the village should be 10 meters.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Within the industrial village, there will be an administrative building, bank and financial services, day care center, fire control system, exhibition hall, toilet, parking lot, canteen and first aid center. Small, cottage and small scale industries will be established in the industrial villages by mobilizing local resources, raw materials, technology and skills. The aim is to contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities from the industries to be established in the villages.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13645', 'image' => '20210902113035_66fc263c-7475-4a11-bd31-08bc1df36101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:29:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepalese Currency gets Stronger against US Dollar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. The dollar has been depreciating in recent days, resulting in a stronger Nepalese currency against the dollar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the dollar has depreciated by around Rs 2 in the last six days alone. The buying price of one dollar was Rs 119.10 last Thursday, but it has come down by Rs 1.99 to Rs 117.11 this Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The selling price of dollar was Rs 117.52 and buying price was Rs 116.92 on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has strengthened over the past two months. Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the Nepalese currency has strengthened against the dollar in recent days. He said that the Indian currency has strengthened against the dollar while the Nepalse currency has also strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"For various reasons, the Indian currency has been strengthening against the dollar lately. As a result, the Nepalese currency has strengthened, but it is impossible to say what will happen next. The Indian currency market will determine the value," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has got stronger with the rising value of the Indian rupee against the dollar. The exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee. Due to that, when the Indian rupee strengthens, the Nepali currency also strengthens, and the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, when the Indian rupee weakens, the exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee declines automatically, and the value of the dollar rises. The dollar exchange rate was INR 90.70 on Tuesday due to the rise in the Indian stock market and the decline in the dollar against other currencies. Also, on Friday, Jeremy Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, hinted at lower interest rates. Due to that, the Indian currency has strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On top of that, the Indian capital market has been on the rise lately. Exports from India are also increasing. As a result, the Indian currency has strengthened, eventually raising the value of the Nepalese currency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha says that the dollar will become cheaper, and imports will also become cheaper. He also said that Nepal's foreign loans would be cheaper. "However, it will have a negative impact on remittance inflow," he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13644', 'image' => '20210901020646_Richest-Nepalese-–-List-of-Top-Richest-People-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 14:05:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Declines by 73 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the number of international passengers decreased by 73.27 percent in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A report prepared by CAAN shows that the number of passengers for international flights was 4.13 million in 2019, while in 2020 the number has dropped by 73.27 percent to 1.15 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the number of passengers for domestic flights has also declined by 59.46 percent compared to the previous year. In 2019, around 3.18 million passengers travelled via the airport, but in 2020 this number decreased to 1.29 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The country's tourism and civil aviation sectors, which have been worst hit by the pandemic, have suffered huge losses. In the annual progress report of the fiscal year 2077/78 made public by CAAN, it is mentioned that the revenue of CAAN has decreased by 43 percent in the previous fiscal year and 72 percent in the last fiscal year due to the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government of Nepal had announced the year 2020 as Visit Nepal Year, a significant number of international tourists were expected to arrive. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation and tourism sector collapsed that year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, there is only one international airport in the country (Tribhuvan International Airport). Two more international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, are under construction. According to the progress report, the renovation of the international terminal building and the domestic terminal building has been completed as per the plan to develop Tribhuvan International Airport as a boutique airport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, 30 airlines, including three Nepali airlines and 27 foreign airlines, are operating flights to 32 destinations in 15 countries. Similarly, 9 airlines and 10 helicopter companies are providing domestic flights. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13643', 'image' => '20210901125523_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 12:54:28', '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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The coronavirus infection rate is also decreasing. With this, we are hopeful of gradual recovery of pandemic-battered tourism enterprises,” RSS quoted the committee’s secretary and Mount Everest Hotel’s operator, Pradeep Jung Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stakeholders claim that the successful vaccination drive has imparted a message that Nagarkot is ‘safe’ for tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Gokul Lamichhane, operator of Maryland Hotel, said inflow of domestic tourists is increasing lately at hotels that have been operational adopting health safety protocol. “Arrival of tourists on weekends and holidays is on the rise. We are optimistic to welcome more external tourists with the decline in the infection rate of coronavirus.” he added. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13657', 'image' => '20210905031122_287692_14103114370023105375.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 15:10:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Expedite Big Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 5: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to give priority to the construction of large reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects to balance the demand and supply of electricity in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA is moving ahead with 835 MW Dudhkoshi reservoir, 1,061 MW Upper Arun and 210 MW Chainpur Seti semi-reservoir hydropower projects. All three projects are currently in the final stages of detailed study. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the detailed engineering of the three hydropower projects has been finalized, tender notices for the construction have been prepared, access roads, land acquisition, discussions with domestic investors and international donors for financial management have been taken forward hand on hand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The construction of reservoir and semi-reservoir projects is being given high priority to maintain the balance between daily and seasonal demand and supply of electricity and to export excess electricity to neighboring countries," Ghising said, adding, "We are working hard to complete all the pre-construction works within a year and then begin the construction." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that they are discussing with the European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Korean Exim Bank for investment in Dudhkoshi, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We will raise money by issuing shares to the general public. This way the return from the project will reach to the level of citizens," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The estimated base cost of Dudhkoshi is $1.53 billion (approximately Rs. 178 billion) and the total cost including construction and interest during the construction period is estimated to be around $2 billion. Among the studied reservoir projects, Dudhkoshi is considered to be relatively cheap and attractive in terms of cost and energy production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Studies have shown that the projects in Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu will generate 1.36 billion and 2.8 billion units of energy respectively in winter and rainy season out of 3.44 billion units of energy annually. The project has already published public notice for the construction of access road and acquisition of about 13,000 ropanis of land in Khotang area above the dam construction site. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ghising said that the semi-reservoir Upper Arun would be given high priority and would be promoted as a 'game changer' project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Under the People's Hydropower Program, in a 4-digit input capacity (1061 MW) and the largest ever project being constructed by NEA, there will be 49 percent public shares," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The federal, province and local governments will also invest in the project. The estimated cost of the project, which can be operated at full capacity for six hours a day in the six months of winter when electricity demand is high, is about USD 1.2 billion excluding interest during the construction period. NEA plans to raise 30 percent of the total cost from self-capital and 70 percent from loans. The project will generate 4.53 billion units of energy annually. NEA has moved ahead with the 30 MW Ikhuwa Hydropower Project, which is also a project included in People's Hydropower Program, to be a part of Upper Arun. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chainpur Seti in Bajhang will be promoted as a game changer project in the far western region. The project to be constructed under the People's Hydropower Program will have the investment of federal, province and local governments, project affected people and ordinary citizens across the country. According to NEA, tender notices are being prepared for the construction of the project in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. The project, which can run at full capacity for six hours in winter, will generate 1.16 billion units of energy annually. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13656', 'image' => '20210905121041_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 12:10:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Years On, Fate of MCC Still Hangs in the Balance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 5: It has been almost four years since the Government of Nepal signed a grant agreement of Rs 55 billion with the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After five years of negotiations, the then government led by Nepali Congress had signed the agreement with the MCC in Washington in September 2017. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The then Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Jonathan G Nash, acting chief executive of MCC, had signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Four years down the line, the MCC grant agreement has become a topic of hot debate but the implementation part has not moved forward. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The two countries had also signed Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) in 2019 to implement the agreement. The then Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada and Vice Chairman of the MCC Compact Operation Department Anthony Welcher had signed the PIA back in 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the agreement, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the United States had agreed to provide US$500 million in grants for two projects, and that the Government of Nepal would contribute $130 million for these projects.</span></span> The fund would be utilized for road construction and repair and electricity production and construction of transmission lines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of US$ 45 million was allocated for financial management of the projects which would cover the expenses of employees, administrative works, purchase of computer, monitoring, feasibility study as well as design and other office overhead costs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has expressed its commitment to implement the agreement by completing all the procedures, the project has not moved ahead because it cannot be fully implemented without it being endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Experts have raised concerns that the delay in implementation of the project in the last four years due to the dispute among political party leaders has given a wrong message to the investors. They also informed that the delay has only increased the cost of the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The former government led by KP Oli had presented the MCC agreement in parliament for endorsement one and a half years ago. However, the fate of the agreement still hangs in the balance as the parliament is undecided about the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that the agreement has been put on hold due to political dispute among the leaders. This does not give a positive message to the investors, argues Mahat.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">UML Chairman KP Oli, who was in favour of endorsing the agreement while he was leading the government, is not in a wait-and-watch mood. Oli has accused the incumbent government of trying to endorse the agreement by keeping other parties in the dark. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ruling Maoist Centre is not in favour of endorsing the MCC agreement in its current form.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal does not have to pay interest for receiving this assistance as it is a grant assistance. However, the ruling Nepali Congress has not been able to take a concrete decision on this regard yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13655', 'image' => '20210905114326_20200704031812_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 11:42:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dry Port in Chobhar to Operate Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 5: The dry port at Chobhar, Kathmandu is all set to come into operation soon. All the basic infrastructures of the government-built dry port has become ready, according to Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board that is also authorized to look after the Birgunj Dry Port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The newly-built dry port, which can house around 500 containers, has been built by the government to facilitate the trade in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Built at the cost of over Rs 1.60 billion, the dry port has three buildings and three godowns. It would be brought into operation as soon as the customs clearance section and containers of the dry port get ready, according to Executive Director of the board, Ashish Gajurel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Once the dry port comes into operation, it is expected to maximize imports and facilitate export, decrease investment costs and simplify trade in general. Gajurel added that there were three gates at the dry port, each exclusively slated for import, export and contingencies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The construction of the dry port had begun in 2018 in a total of 261 ropanis of land which includes residence for the employees as well. Shanxi-Ashish JV Company was awarded the contract to build the dry port. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the dry port on January 17, 2019. The construction of the dry port was supposed to be completed within 18 months but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction process could not meet the deadline, informed the board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the board has been doing necessary homework to determine a modality in which the dry port could be operated. A committee has been formed under the coordination of the joint-secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to prepare a modus operandi of the first-ever dry port in the Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board has assured that once the dry port comes into operation, the vehicles ferrying containers do not have to wait in Birgunj for a long time as in the past for customs clearance. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-05', 'modified' => '2021-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13654', 'image' => '20210905105501_5fc6e0f9c43e3_Chobhar_dry_port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-05 10:54:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Almost 67 Thousand Tourists Visited Nepal in the Last 8 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 3: By the second quarter of 2021, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has reached 66,966. While the number of tourists visiting Nepal declined after 2019, a total of 66,966 foreigners visited Nepal in the first eight months of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the highest number of tourists arrived in March and April. In April, 22,540 tourists visited Nepal, and in March, the number of tourists visiting Nepal was 14,977. Most of the tourists were in Nepal for trekking. Mount Everest as well as other peaks and mountains also tend to be crowded with climbers during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the NTB, 5,917 tourists visited Nepal in August. Tourists have come to Nepal from 33 countries. The lowest arrival of tourists was recorded in June with just 1,143 visitors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, Nepal had the highest number of visitors with around 1.2 million tourists. However, since then, the number of tourists visiting the country has been steadily declining due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sajan Shakya, general secretary of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said that the number of tourists coming for sightseeing and trekking has decreased in the last eight months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that now that the coronavirus has been declining with rising vaccination, it is necessary to spread the message that Nepal is safe to travel. He informed that interest has also come from different countries for the upcoming tourist season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the board, more tourists came from SAARC countries in August. A total of 2,192 tourists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka have come to Nepal. Of these, 1,985 tourists arrived in Nepal from India alone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In August, 1,015 tourists arrived in Nepal from Europe. A total of 423 Asian tourists visited Nepal from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Thailand. In 2020, 230,000 tourists had visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13653', 'image' => '20210903110643_1630628769.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:05:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HAN Demands Special Package to Revive Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has demanded the government to bring a special economic package for the revival of the tourism sector and hotel industry that has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation of HAN led by its president Shreejana Rana made such request to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma during a recent meeting. President Rana demanded a package to resolve the problems faced by the hotel sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Rana drew the attention of the Finance Minister to the fact that the tourism industry, especially the hotel industry, has started sinking due to Covid-19. The hotel industry has invested billions of rupees and provided employment to millions of people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She stressed on the need to pay attention to the protection of the industry arguing that it is the responsibility of the state to protect and promote it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN demands that the issues addressed by the budget for the Fiscal Year 2078/79 as well as the plans included in the monetary policy should be implemented as much as possible. Rana said that a special economic plan should be formulated for the revival of tourism sector. She added that the hotel industry should be kept in a different group and a regular monitoring mechanism should be developed for the implementation of the programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Finance Minister Sharma expressed commitment of the state to provide all possible assistance to protect this industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">HAN has also demanded the government to amend the Social Security Act and regulations on behalf of hotels to ensure that contributors are not deprived of access to health and other emergency services.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13652', 'image' => '20210903105831_20210312rd37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:57:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Traders Trading to and from Tibet out of Business since 2 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: Nepali traders based in China's Tibet region have been unemployed for the past two years. Nepali traders who had been exporting goods to and from Tibet in China have been unemployed for the past two years after China banned Nepali traders as well as goods produced in Nepal from entering the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders say that the Chinese government may have barred Nepali traders from entering the country to protect its citizens from corona infection as the infection rate is still rising in Nepal. Nepal mainly exports vegetable ghee, flour, turmeric, noodles, chewing gum, Nepali toothpaste, tiger grass broom, cosmetics and handicrafts to the Tibet region of China. However, exports of such items have stalled since the onset of coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Mukunda Poudel, general secretary of the Nepal-China Kerung Trade Association, more than 5,000 workers and traders based in Tibet have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. He said that the traders were in trouble after the annual trade of billions of rupees was stopped. Poudel added that most of the Nepali traders were not able to collect millions of rupees from the goods they sold before the pandemic as the business was halted and they had to stay at home.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the one hand, the border has not been able to function smoothly and on the other hand, Nepali importers and exporters as well as Nepali traders doing business from Tibet have been allowed to enter China. Importers and traders have been able to order goods online and sell them in the Nepali market. However, the Chinese government has banned not only the entry of Nepali traders, but also Nepali products into China, leaving the exporters unemployed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, the Chinese government had suggested to keep labeling and stickers in Chinese language on food and other goods exported from Nepal to China, saying that there has been a language problem since September, 2019. Since then, exporters have been having problems exporting goods. Traders have been saying that the problem is getting worse as the government of Nepal has not taken any initiative in this regard.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Trader Narayan Das Shrestha said that the government administration has not taken any initiative to resolve this problem this despite repeated visits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to various government agencies and ministries including the Chinese Embassy. According to him, if the government is still not interested in this issue, Nepal’s export to China will continue to suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13651', 'image' => '20210903101656_China-losed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mules Used for Transporting Food to Upper Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Food shortage has been reported in Upper Manang due to obstruction in transportation caused by floods and landslides triggered by late monsoon rainfall. The problem has worsened after the Bensishahar-Chame-Manang road section was damaged due to floods and landslides in mid-June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism and hotelier Binod Gurung shared that food grains were now being transported to Upper Manang through mules due to transportation problems. In order to save the locals from food shortage, the transportation was being made a detour with the help of Sonam Ghirmi Fyamy Foundation and distributed to the poor, said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the food was brought through Pokhara-Beni-Muktinath by truck. According to him, food grains were brought to Upper Manang from Muktinath with the mules passing through Thorangla Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Food items have been distributed to 40 households from other districts as well and a total of 47 households in Manang village. He said that the materials were distributed to the needy people with the help of the Foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Each family has been distributed 12.5 kg of rice, eight kg of pulses, three kg of salt and 1.5 liters of oil. The locals are happy to receive the food items. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13650', 'image' => '20210903100557_1630630543.Clipboard15.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 10:04:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Nepal Can Become Self-Reliant on Drugs’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum amount of drugs required for the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The drug producers, however, have called for amendment to Drugs Act, 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) on Thursday, the participants stressed the need for massive changes in the concerned laws and Acts that discourage the domestic drug industries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a news report published by the state-owned national news agency RSS, the size of drug market in Nepal is in between Rs 45 billion to Rs 50 billion in terms of monetary transaction while the domestic production is just half of the total demand. It has been reported that the drug market in Nepal is increasing by almost 20 per cent every year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some drug manufacturers of Nepal also export their products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the interaction, President of FNCCI Shekhar Golchha urged the drug producers for their cooperation to successfully implement the National Economic Transformation-2030 plan unveiled by the FNCCI for encouraging the country's economic growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Prajjwal Jung Pandey reportedly said that the country can be made self-reliant in this field within some years if the government extended full support to this sector. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13649', 'image' => '20210903095716_20200312112516_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 09:56:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Phase Work of Bheri-Babai Diversion Project gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 3: The second phase work of the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-purpose Project is gaining momentum.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the completion of the tunnel construction, the construction of the dam and powerhouse of the national pride project has been expedited. The Chinese company Guangdong and Nepal's Raman Construction JV are speeding up the second phase of construction of the dam site and power house. The project has stated that the construction work of headworks and powerhouse under the second phase is in full swing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwori Tiwari, information officer and senior divisional engineer of the project informed that the construction of automatic gate, penstock, steel lining, power house, turbine, electrical equipment and substation at Chiple in Bheriganga of Surkhet is ongoing.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the distribution of compensation has been delayed as the government has not decided on the amount to be given to the settlers without land ownership certificates. About 32 hectares of land in Bheriganga, Gurbhakot and Lekbensi municipalities will be drowned due to the construction of a dam at Chiple in Bheriganga municipality of Surkhet. So far, the project has distributed compensation to the affected people living in nine hectares of land who have land ownership certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer Tiwari said that the compensation of up to maximum of Rs 500,000 have been distributed to people with land ownership certificates. According to him, out of the 32 hectares of projected land, people living in almost 23 hectares of land is do not have land ownership certificate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the project office, no procedure has been formulated for the compensation of 22.81 hectares of uncertified land. He said that a file has been submitted to the federal government to determine the amount of compensation by collecting the details of the settlers of uncertified land but no decision has been taken yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have the money and there’s no problem in distributing it,” he said, “But, the government has not decided how much compensation to pay. We can distribute it once the decision is made by the cabinet.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, six and a half hectares of uncertified land has been registered in the field book. But the land owners have not yet received certificates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">All the works of the second phase are targeted to be completed by fiscal year 2080 and it is estimated that Rs 6.16 billion will be spent for the project. If the Bheri-Babai diversion multi-purpose project is constructed, the project will provide irrigation facilities to 51,000 hectares of land in Banke and Bardiya every day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that agricultural produce will increase in Banke and Bardiya and Rs 3.1 billion will be earned annually besides Rs 2.1 billion that will be earned directly through electricity generation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A 14 meter high dam will be constructed in Bheriganga Municipality-5 Chiple of Surkhet and 48 MW electricity will be generated by pouring water from Bheri River into Babai River in Ward No. 11 Hattikhal of the same municipality through a 12 km 210 meter long tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-03', 'modified' => '2021-09-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13648', 'image' => '20210903112035_JyHd1NrVQgFxYHRha0py.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-03 11:19:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board Dhungana Suspended', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 2: The government has formed a committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Bhishma Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON), in illegal purchase of the share of Sarvottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">With the formation of the probe committee, Dhungana has been suspended from his post. The committee can recommend his removal from the post if he is found guilty.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (September 1) formed a three-member investigation committee under the chairmanship of former high court judge Anantraj Dumre. Narayan Prasad Poudel is an expert member of the committee and Arjun Kumar Khadka, joint secretary of the Nepal Law Commission, is another member.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the committee was formed in accordance to sub-section 7 of section 7 of the Securities Board Act 2063 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As per the existing laws, if the chairman is found to have caused loss to the board, the Government of Nepal can form a committee of inquiry. The government has said that the necessary investigation has been started as there is a provision to remove the chairperson upon the recommendation of the probe committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has been found that Dhungana’s Daughter Rebecca had purchased shares of Sarvottam Cement against the law. Altogether 11,912 units of shares of Sarvottam Cement were found to be registered in the name of Rebecca Dhungana, daughter of SEBON chair Bishma Raj Dhuganna, and the same number of shares is also found in the name of Sushila Kumari Bohora, wife of Chandra Singh Saud, general manager of the Nepal Stock Exchange.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government was under pressure to investigate after Dhungana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board, bought shares in the name of his daughter and Chandra Singh Saud, CEO of Nepse, in the name of his wife. It is estimated that the price per share will be around Rs 750 when Sarvattam issues an IPO through book building process. The duo had purchased the shares at Rs 250 per unit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Saud, the then chief executive officer of the Nepal Stock Exchange, has resigned from the post to facilitate investigation after it was revealed that he had purchased shares in the name of his wife.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">However, Dhungana has been reluctant to resign. This issue was also discussed in the Finance Committee meeting of the Parliament.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal (SEBON) on July 29 and the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) on July 29 to submit a clear, factual answer within three days. The Ministry of Finance had sent a letter to the Chairman of SEBON and the General Manager of NEPSE seeking clarification regarding the issue. The finance ministry said it was investigating the matter but has not reach a conclusion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has been saying that action will be taken against the two if they are found guilty.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13647', 'image' => '20210902111745_1630538235.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector takes lead to Promote Province 2 as Tourist Destination', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Province 2 Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has decided to take the initiative for the promotion of tourism in the province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation's Tourism and Air Transport Committee has decided to increase the tourism activities of Province 2 and coordinate with the concerned stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee issued a statement on Monday stating that an action plan would be prepared to create a conducive environment to welcome Indian tourists in the border areas. At present, the movement of vehicles from the Indian border to Nepal has been halted. Indian tourists have stopped coming after the government banned vehicular movement to control the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI State President Ganesh Prasad Lath informed that the FNCCI has decided to take initiative to facilitate the movement of Indian tourists by coordinating with the security personnel deployed at the border on both Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, co-coordinator of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee, said that the training would be conducted to raise awareness among local taxi and auto rickshaw drivers about tourist-friendly behavior. "We have planned to train the drivers on how to treat tourists politely, not to charge unreasonable fares, and not to drive at high speeds," said Agrawal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation is also going to take initiative in identifying and promoting the tourism potential of Province 2. Initiatives will be taken for the effective management of tourist potential in Janakpur, Birgunj, Simraungadh and Parsa National Park to attract tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation has made a plan to link the air services from Pokhara in Gandaki to Simara in Bara along with the promotion of local tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation has planned to arrange a visit of a delegation including Minister for Industry, Tourism and Forests of Gandaki Province, Mani Bhadra Sharma Kandel, for two nights and three days and take them for a visit to different tourist destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Co-coordinator Agrawal expressed confidence that such programs would be continued and would help in the promotion of tourism in Province No. 2.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13646', 'image' => '20210902105809_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 10:57:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Feasibility Study for Setting up Industrial Villages in Far Western Province', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. Feasibility study for the establishment of industrial villages has already been initiated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Shrestha ECN LEC JV consulting company has started the work of feasibility study in coordination with the local levels. Dilli Raj Adhikari, a consultant of the company, said that work has been started to get information about the condition of the land at the local levels. The province is said to have the potential to set up industries in eight out of nine districts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We have done a feasibility study from Darchula to Kanchanpur for the establishment of industrial villages," he said. According to him, the target is to set up four industrial villages in Kanchanpur, six in Kailali, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, one in Baitadi, one in Bajhang, two in Achham and two in Doti. Feasibility study has been carried out for the establishment of industrial villages in Shuklaphanta, Krishnapur, Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities of Kanchanpur. The establishment of one industrial village is estimated to cost Rs 9.4 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for the establishment of an industrial village in the area where the feasibility study has been done within two months," the consulting official said. It should be away from schools and settlements and close to the market. In order to establish an industrial village, the minimum area of land should be 30 ropanis in mountainous and remote hilly areas, 40 ropanis in hilly areas and 7 bighas in terai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The area where the industrial village will be established should be at least 1 kilometer away from dense human settlement. There should be a minimum distance of two kilometers from the international border and it should be suitable from an economic and geographical point of view. Areas with low environmental impact are said to be suitable for setting up industrial zones. The minimum width of the access road connecting the industrial village to the highway should be 10 meters and the minimum width of the main road within the village should be 10 meters.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Within the industrial village, there will be an administrative building, bank and financial services, day care center, fire control system, exhibition hall, toilet, parking lot, canteen and first aid center. Small, cottage and small scale industries will be established in the industrial villages by mobilizing local resources, raw materials, technology and skills. The aim is to contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities from the industries to be established in the villages.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-02', 'modified' => '2021-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13645', 'image' => '20210902113035_66fc263c-7475-4a11-bd31-08bc1df36101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-02 11:29:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepalese Currency gets Stronger against US Dollar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The Nepalese currency has been getting stronger against the US dollar. The dollar has been depreciating in recent days, resulting in a stronger Nepalese currency against the dollar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the dollar has depreciated by around Rs 2 in the last six days alone. The buying price of one dollar was Rs 119.10 last Thursday, but it has come down by Rs 1.99 to Rs 117.11 this Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The selling price of dollar was Rs 117.52 and buying price was Rs 116.92 on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has strengthened over the past two months. Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the Nepalese currency has strengthened against the dollar in recent days. He said that the Indian currency has strengthened against the dollar while the Nepalse currency has also strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"For various reasons, the Indian currency has been strengthening against the dollar lately. As a result, the Nepalese currency has strengthened, but it is impossible to say what will happen next. The Indian currency market will determine the value," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepalese rupee has got stronger with the rising value of the Indian rupee against the dollar. The exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee. Due to that, when the Indian rupee strengthens, the Nepali currency also strengthens, and the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, when the Indian rupee weakens, the exchange rate of the Nepalese rupee declines automatically, and the value of the dollar rises. The dollar exchange rate was INR 90.70 on Tuesday due to the rise in the Indian stock market and the decline in the dollar against other currencies. Also, on Friday, Jeremy Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, hinted at lower interest rates. Due to that, the Indian currency has strengthened.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On top of that, the Indian capital market has been on the rise lately. Exports from India are also increasing. As a result, the Indian currency has strengthened, eventually raising the value of the Nepalese currency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha says that the dollar will become cheaper, and imports will also become cheaper. He also said that Nepal's foreign loans would be cheaper. "However, it will have a negative impact on remittance inflow," he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13644', 'image' => '20210901020646_Richest-Nepalese-–-List-of-Top-Richest-People-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 14:05:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Declines by 73 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 1: The number of air passengers travelling through the Tribhuvan International Airport has declining significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the number of international passengers decreased by 73.27 percent in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A report prepared by CAAN shows that the number of passengers for international flights was 4.13 million in 2019, while in 2020 the number has dropped by 73.27 percent to 1.15 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the number of passengers for domestic flights has also declined by 59.46 percent compared to the previous year. In 2019, around 3.18 million passengers travelled via the airport, but in 2020 this number decreased to 1.29 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The country's tourism and civil aviation sectors, which have been worst hit by the pandemic, have suffered huge losses. In the annual progress report of the fiscal year 2077/78 made public by CAAN, it is mentioned that the revenue of CAAN has decreased by 43 percent in the previous fiscal year and 72 percent in the last fiscal year due to the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government of Nepal had announced the year 2020 as Visit Nepal Year, a significant number of international tourists were expected to arrive. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation and tourism sector collapsed that year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, there is only one international airport in the country (Tribhuvan International Airport). Two more international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, are under construction. According to the progress report, the renovation of the international terminal building and the domestic terminal building has been completed as per the plan to develop Tribhuvan International Airport as a boutique airport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, 30 airlines, including three Nepali airlines and 27 foreign airlines, are operating flights to 32 destinations in 15 countries. Similarly, 9 airlines and 10 helicopter companies are providing domestic flights. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-01', 'modified' => '2021-09-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13643', 'image' => '20210901125523_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-01 12:54:28', '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
