August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman…
August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19…
July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this…
July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on …
July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous…
July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading…
July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report.…
July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South…
July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic.…
…
July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their…
July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile…
July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride…
July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19)…
July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission…
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The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</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 webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </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 webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</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"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </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"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</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 Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</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"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring 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"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</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"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</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"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </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 monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do 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"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</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"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </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"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the 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"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</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 Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</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 data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</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 data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last 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"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last 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"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear 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"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</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 there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</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"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</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 detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last 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"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</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"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 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"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</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""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (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"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) 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"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in 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 total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </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"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </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"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 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 Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </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 has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi said. </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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </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"">With the formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </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"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </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"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </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"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</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"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', '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' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </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"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </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"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</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 webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </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 webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</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"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </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"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</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 Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</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"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring 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"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</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"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</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"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </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 monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do 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"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</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"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </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"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the 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"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</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 Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</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 data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</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 data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last 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"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last 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"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear 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"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</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 there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</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"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</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 detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last 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"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</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"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 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"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</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""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (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"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) 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"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in 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 total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </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"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </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"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 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 Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </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 has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi said. </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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </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"">With the formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </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"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </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"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </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"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</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"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', '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
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$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' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </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"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </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"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</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 webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </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 webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</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"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </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"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</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 Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</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"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring 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"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</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"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</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"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </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 monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do 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"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</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"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </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"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the 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"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</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 Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</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 data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</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 data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last 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"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last 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"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear 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"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</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 there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</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"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</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 detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last 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"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</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"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 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"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</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""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (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"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) 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"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in 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 total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </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"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </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"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 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 Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </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 has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi said. </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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </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"">With the formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </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"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </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"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </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"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</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"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', '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
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 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$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' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </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"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </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"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</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 webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </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 webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</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"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </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"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</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 Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</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"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring 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"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</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"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</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"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </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 monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do 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"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</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"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </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"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the 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"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</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 Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</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 data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</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 data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last 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"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last 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"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear 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"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</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 there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</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"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</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 detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last 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"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</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"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 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"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</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""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (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"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) 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"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in 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 total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </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"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </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"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 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 Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </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 has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi said. </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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </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"">With the formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </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"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </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"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </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"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</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"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', '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
