Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]
Code Context
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '601',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Bajaj KaROADpati Scheme Creates History',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="bajajpati" border="2" height="171" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/bajaj.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumer promotion by handing over the prize money of Rs 1 crore to Mamita Paija of Myagdi. Paija’s coupon number 3633 was declared the winner of the consumer promotion scheme from among 11,967 Bajaj customers who had similar coupons. </p>
<p>
	The prize money of Rs 1 crore to the winner of ‘Bajaj Pati aba KaROADpati’ scheme is the biggest prize money offered for any promotional scheme in Nepal so far. Paija, a 19 years old BBS 1st year student said she would use the prize money to pursue her higher education and support her parents.</p>
<p>
	She had purchased a 150 cc Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle for her brother Kesh Bahadur under the scheme which promised the prize money of Rs 1 crore through bumper lucky draw. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumerpromotion',
			'sortorder' => '502',
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			'id' => '600',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Housing Construction Cost Increases By 25 Per Cent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent. President of Federation of Contractors’ Associations Nepal (FCAN) Jaya Ram Lamichhane said the construction cost increased with a sharp increase in wage rate and construction materials compared to previous year. He said that the price of construction material has increased by 25 per cent. He said that a sack of cement is costlier by Rs 175 to Rs 200 than last year.</p>
<p>
	Cement in the market costs between Rs 700 to Rs 725 for a sack. A year ago, it was priced at Rs 520. Similarly, the cost of steel rod has also increased from Rs 58 for a kg to Rs 82. Producers say that the price was increased after the increase in cost of raw materials and import tax. Though the wage rate of workers was fixed in last July, with the condition of not to increase it more than 21 per cent, Lamichhane says the workers are being paid higher than that. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent.',
			'sortorder' => '501',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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			'id' => '599',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Agni Incorporated Completes 20 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, a business house for importing world class Mahindra &amp; Mahindra multi utility vehicles, tractors and Max Mile lubricants, has completed 19 years of its operation in Nepali automotive<img align="right" alt="agni" border="2" height="199" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/agni1.jpg" vspace="1" width="100" /> business. The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country.',
			'sortorder' => '500',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '598',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Hydropower The Cheapest In South Asia',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepals hydropower" border="4" height="186" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepalhydro.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country. He Speaking at the conference on Nepal-India Foreign Policy organised recently in Kathmandu requested investors to take this as an opportunity and make investments.</p>
<p>
	Pointing out that the South Asia has the prospect to generate 450 thousand Megawatts of electricity, he lamented at the dismally low utilisation of this capacity. Only 10 per cent of that potential is used so far, he said.</p>
<p>
	He added that the prospects are not harnessed because of missing coordination between the countries in South Asia. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Jayant Prasad, said that India wishes to see Nepal prosper economically by making investment here. He also said that hydropower is relatively safe area of investment than other sectors. He promised that India is ready to join hands with Nepal in every development programmes. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country',
			'sortorder' => '499',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '597',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Mega's Branchless Banking',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has commenced branchless banking services supported with state-of-the-art technology from 29 December 2011, with a view to provide banking services to the rural populace of Nepal.<img align="right" alt="megabank" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/megab.jpg" style="width: 239px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	Mega Bank has taken initiation of this service from Sanga Chowk of Sindhupalchwok and is also planning to start this service at Karaiya of Rupendehi in the near future. This service will allow rural customers to deposit and withdraw money in a secure environment from the door steps of the homes of these individuals. The Bank has also started providing easy access of micro loan for agro based businesses and small entrepreneurs in these areas.</p>
<p>
	Along with this, other services like transfer of money from one account to another, mobile recharge, bill payment and remittance will be available in Branchless Banking. The bank plans to spread the service all over the country in the near future upon the successful completion of the present one.</p>
<p>
	15 Branches in Offi ng The bank has started a spree of opening 15 new branches areas across the country within a month. The campaign started by opening a branch in Dailekh on December 15 will end in Bhairahawa on January 18, says the bank. According to the bank, new branches are at Teku, Maharajgunj, Maitidevi, Bouddha and Thimi in Kathmandu and in Birtamod, Dharan, Janakpur, Dhading, Narayanghat, Bhairahawa, Dailekh, Ghorahi, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. With this expansion Mega will have 28 branches. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has
commenced branchless
banking services supported
with state-of-the-art technology from
29 December 2011,',
			'sortorder' => '498',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '596',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Kumari Bank Bags Manthan Award',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Kumari Bank Limited has received The Manthan Award South Asia 2011 under the category of e-business and enterprise during ‘The Manthan Award South Asia 2011’ International Summit 2011 held in New Delhi, <img align="right" alt="kumari" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kumari.jpg" style="width: 136px; height: 149px;" vspace="1" />India on 1-2 December. </p>
<p>
	The award honours the best practices in e-content and creativity. Kumari Bank won the award for providing Kumari Mobile Cash service. Inthis year’s event, there were more than 481 applications under 30 core categories from across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Out of them, 38 were selected as winners and with Kumari Bank was the sole winner representing Nepal. </p>
<p>
	The Manthan Award was launched on 10th October 2004, by Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with World Summit Award, Department of Information Technology, Government of India. Kumari Mobile Cash had earlier received mBillionth Award South Asia for during the ‘mBillionth 2011 South Asia International Summit’, New Delhi, India on 23 July this year. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Kumari Bank Limited has received
The Manthan Award South Asia 2011
under the category of e-business and
enterprise',
			'sortorder' => '497',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '595',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => '49th IHRA Conference Concludes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><img align="top" alt="IHRA conference" border="2" height="211" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/49thirra.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></strong></p>
<p>
	International Hotel and Restaurant Association’s (IHRA) 49th World Conference held in Kathmandu concluded on November 30. The three-day conclave that began on November 28 was inaugurated by President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav.</p>
<p>
	According to Prasiddha Bahadur Pandey, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the conference was successful to promote and project Nepal and its tourism prospects in the international arena. He said that the conference focused on increasing investment in the tourism industry. He also said that the conference discussed about climate change, biodiversity and their impacts and new trends in the hotel industry as well as investment necessity in the tourism sector.</p>
<p>
	The conference had 200 representatives from 35 countries. IHRA has around 300 thousand hotels and seven million restaurants as its members. </p>
<p>
	<strong>HAN’s China ties <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	Meanwhile, HAN has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hotel Association of China for developing and promoting tourism in both countries. The agreement signed by Pandey and his Chinese counterpart Han Ming states that both the countries will exchange the information and support for the development of tourism and hotel sector, jointly organise conferences, carry out publicity campaigns and provide organisational support. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'International Hotel and Restaurant
Association’s (IHRA) 49th World
Conference held in Kathmandu
concluded on November 30.',
			'sortorder' => '496',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '594',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Carpet Export Shows Hope',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of improvement after 10 years of decline that had started in fiscal year 1999-2000. <img align="right" alt="carpet expo" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/carpetexpo.jpg" style="width: 254px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	According to Lanka Man Roka, President of Nepal C a r p e t Exporter’s Association, the carpet export figure in 2009/10 was 681 t h o u s a n d square metres which increased to 694 thousand square metres in 2010/11. Export in 2009/10 was the lowest in last 10 years. In 1999/2000, Nepal’s carpet exports stood at 2.59 million square metres.</p>
<p>
	In 1999/2000, Nepal had earned US$ 142.3 million from carpet exports. That declined to US$ 51.5 million in 2009/10. In 2010/11 carpets worth US$ 60 million were exported. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of
improvement after 10 years of decline that had
started in fiscal year 1999-2000.
According to Lanka Man Roka, President',
			'sortorder' => '495',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '593',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Visit Lumbini Year Announced',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<img align="top" alt="visit lumbini" border="4" height="191" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/visit-lumbini.jpg" vspace="2" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY). Amidst a function held at Lumbini, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared VLY by flying balloons that carried the message ‘Visit Lumbini Year 2012’.</p>
<p>
	Dr. Bhattarai promised that the government is soon bringing a new programme for the development of Lumbini. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY).',
			'sortorder' => '494',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '592',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'CG Electronics Gets ISO 9001:2008',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate its quality management system. Issued by International Certification Services, the certificate covers all the products of the company’s Satungal, Kathmandu based factory.</p>
<p>
	Products of CG include LED TV, LCD TV, CRT TVs, DVD Player, Home Theatre, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave Oven, Air Conditioner, Vacuum Cleaner, Chest Freezer, Mobile, Rice Cooker, Iron, Inverter, Lightings, Battery, Monitor, UPS etc. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate',
			'sortorder' => '493',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '591',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'NTC To Regain No 1 Position',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market. The state owned operator was ousted from that position by Ncell, the private sector rival that overtook NTC in terms of the number of subscribers to the GSM mobile service.</p>
<p>
	Amar Nath Singh, Managing Director of NTC said in a press conference that NTC will regain that coveted position soon. For the company’s failure to safeguard the number one position, he blamed the lengthy procedures that the company has to follow as a state-owned enterprise while taking and implementing a business decision. Nepal government owns 91.49 percent in NTC.</p>
<p>
	Out of the NTC’s plan to distribute 1.237 million telephone lines all over Nepal by the end of this fiscal year, 500,000 lines were already distributed, by mid-November 2011, according to the company. The company also plans to increase the capacity to 10 million GSM lines. The process is already started to procure the equipment for this purpose, said Surendra Pradsad Thike, the spokesman of NTC. </p>
<p>
	The company is confident that it will achieve its set goals for the running fiscal year. According to the data made public by the company, it earned Rs 8.25 billion as sales income in the first quarter of the current fiscal year against the annual target of earning Rs 31 billion. This indicates that the annual target will be easily achieved, said Thike. The company also informed that it has replaced 212 old technology BTS towers in Kathmandu valley with new and advanced technology towers that have higher capacity and consume less power. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market.',
			'sortorder' => '492',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '590',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Street Art For Uterine Prolapse Awareness',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December, in collaboration with WRRP-CAED to create awareness about the social problem of uterine prolapse.</p>
<p>
	<img align="middle" alt="street" border="5" height="57" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/street.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Under the project, visual messages were painted on the boundary wall of Nepal Food Corporation at Thapathali. The problem of uterine prolapse is pervasive throughout Nepal among the women of both reproductive and menopausal age.</p>
<p>
	Sporadic studies show its high prevalence also among women aged as low as 15. The 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey has found that up to 7 per cent of women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) were suffering from uterine prolapse while approximately 3 per cent of adolescents and youth suffered from it. In a study carried out by Institute of Medicine (IoM) of Tribhuvan University and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it was found that 600,000 women suffer from varying degrees of uterine prolapse and 200,000 women among them require immediate surgery. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December',
			'sortorder' => '491',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '589',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal, India Ink DTAA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepal,india" border="2" height="141" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepali.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India. The treaty signed on November 27 in Kathmandu by Nepali Finance Minster Barshaman Pun and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee is the replacement of an earlier agreement signed in 1987.</p>
<p>
	The agreement is expected to bring about economic improvements and investment opportunities in both the countries. The agreement comes into effect from the new fiscal year of both countries.  &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India.',
			'sortorder' => '490',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
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	(int) 13 => array(
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			'id' => '587',
			'article_category_id' => '50',
			'title' => 'Feedback February 2012',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Trade of Only Hopes</strong></span></p>
<p>
	Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries. Small countries, at the moment are not so successful to produce competitive products to compete with the Indian products as well as cheap Chinese products.</p>
<p>
	Most of the exportable goods produced by the SAARC countries are similar, for example, garments and carpets are common to most of the countries. As a result, they are competing with each other. This also diminishes the market prospects within the region. Most of the countries in the region seem to be prioritising international trade rather than regional trade.</p>
<p>
	This is mostly because of the lucrative trade prospects beyond the region. The purchasing power in the region is still less even though the middle class population is fast increasing. The cost of connectivity is also high within the region. Procedural delays, non-tariff barriers and other hurdles are encouraging international trade.</p>
<p>
	The Indo-Pak relationship is seen as the major reason behind intra SAARC trade not fulfilling its potential. When the regional cooperation itself is not successful, the trading gets affected too. Though there are regional and bilateral agreements, their successful impact on the trade is questionable. Such agreements are only trading hope rather than the real goods.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Trade of Only Hopes<br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sudarshan Sharma Kathmandu</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Compensation</strong> <br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	Competition Compensation and benefits for employees in an organisation is one of the major human resource expenses for a company while it is a motivation for the employees. Even though the employees do not work only for monetary benefits, it is counted as one of the most important aspects.</p>
<p>
	Compensation for an employee for his/her performance and work execution can also come in various forms other than monetary benefits. Compensation and benefits are often connected with compensation policies in the job market and it becomes an important factor for people while accepting employment. The company's competency among the competitors is somehow connected to the compensation policy too. It is believed that better compensation attracts better human resources. Motivated staff members perform better than underpaid and demotivated employees. For hiring better employees, companies use higher perks as a tool to attract skilled people and compete in the job market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Ram Kumar Basyal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sanothimi <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Robust Poultry</strong><br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	The poultry products growth is expected to rise by 30 per cent, which is an encouraging fact and hope to many within the industry and supportive sectors. When this industry grows, chickens do not grow alone. Other industries like feed industries and employment grow simultaneously.</p>
<p>
	When 50 feed mills produce 450,000 tonnes of feed per year, they also generate employment to numerous people locally. The poultry industry provides employment to around 70,000 people and helps support the livelihood of thousands of families and households. The country, as such, has become self-sufficient on poultry products. However, majority of raw materials for feed production is still being imported from India.</p>
<p>
	The quality of the poultry farms and the farmers knowledge is often questioned. With the overall growth in the sector, these things are expected to improve over time. Other things that need to improve in Nepal are the per capita consumption of poultry products which is still low. If the poultry farms get bigger in scale and the cost of production can be further lowered, such issues can be solved without any delay.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Shankar Dhakal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Chitwan</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Corrigendum <br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	The names of the scholar and the university mentioned in the first paragraph of the article by Sujit Mundul published in the November 2011 issue of New Business Age (page 66) were changed to protect the identity of the scholar.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Editor</strong></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>',
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		'Article' => array(
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			'article_category_id' => '46',
			'title' => 'Anant SIyer',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>We Will Continue Providing Brand Delight To Nepali Consumers<br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	Anant SIyer is the Chief Operating Officer, RPC – East &amp; Nepal at United Spirits Limited (USL), the world’s third largest spirits maker by volume. He has over 27 years of experience in the industry and has earlier handled several key positions since joining the UB group in June 1992. In his current position, he will be responsible for USL’s operations in Eastern India and Nepal. He says, “We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal<br />
	growth story.”</p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><img align="right" alt="interview" border="5" height="193" hspace="5" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/interview2.jpg" vspace="5" width="150" />You, along with your seniors, had created USL's strategy for Nepal close to a decade-and-a-half ago. What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time around?</strong></p>
<p>
	It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India. The second reason of my being here is that Gautam Mullick, our Country Manager here, is retiring after 14 long years of being in Nepal. You can call his being here as a circle of life because my seniors and I had made the original strategy for Nepal on behalf of UB Group and Nepal Liquors close to 15 years ago. At that point of time, we had selected him to be posted here.</p>
<p>
	From very small beginnings, we have now reached a position of strength. In earlier days, the market was small and so was the industry and globalisation was just coming into the subcontinent. With the kind of boom that has happened over the years, drinking of good spirits has also gone up. The Nepali consumer has been exposed to good blend and excellent tamper proof packaging like guala caps etc over a period of time. We have done very well and haven't looked back over the last oneand- a-half decade.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you think, USL with its 15 years presence in Nepal, have accomplished the objectives it had set out to achieve?</strong></p>
<p>
	Objectives in an organisation are set on an annual basis. It all dovetails into the vision we have for the organisation in Nepal. A vision is a long term goal that determines strategy which in turn sets objectives. Our objectives are ever evolving and ever growing so we cannot say that our objectives have been met. Our vision is to continue to grow in Nepal with the industry growth, remain market leaders and continue to provide full product and brand delight to the Nepali consumers.</p>
<p>
	The consumers experience for our brands has to be superlative and truly international so that the Nepali consumer knows he is getting the same kind of quality and product experience which he will receive anywhere else when he travels. It is an integral part of our organisational DNA that we keep on growing therefore, our objectives are not static and they change in accordance with the changing environment. The annual objectives always become better and more challenging but they all telescope into our overall vision for Nepal. We want to continue as the leading spirits marketer in the country and ensure that we give quality and delightful consumer experience. <strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>How do you assess USL's performance in India and other emerging markets?</strong></p>
<p>
	If you look at how we have performed in India, you will find that we are very clear about growing. We have close to two-thirds of the market share in India. We are now going to look at emerging markets and do have a huge strategy for markets in South Asia, Africa etc. We intend to grow by providing the consumers with good quality brands which provide delight to the consumers. We do a lot in terms of distribution and schemes to ensure reach and make our products available for every single pocket.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What is your reading of the Nepali market at this point of time?</strong></p>
<p>
	There is a growing middle class coming up in Nepal for so many years now which is very encouraging. When the economy grows, it helps people feel good and they want to enjoy themselves. We believe that socially responsible alcohol consumption is good in its own way, however, people should be aware. They must follow the laws of the land and that’s what we endeavour. We have a wonderful team of distributors located all over Nepal and they have been with us for many years. We continue to seek their help in ensuring that our products reach our consumers in the pack sizes of their preference which fits their pockets. We are the first company in Nepal to come up with 90 ml, 60 ml, guala caps etc which speaks volume of the fact that we keep on evolving.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>UB Group's most visible brand Kingfi sher Beer is not available in Nepal</strong>.<strong>What could be the possible reasons behind this glaring exclusion?</strong></p>
<p>
	Kingfisher Beer is actually managed by our sister organisation United Breweries and as far as I know, they had a presence in Nepal at a point of time. However, I am not aware of the latest developments in terms of its strategy for Nepal. Kingfisher is a wonderful and truly international brand and one of the real successes of this subcontinent. You will find it in many countries such as the US, Canada, England, France, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand etc. Kingfisher Beer is available either in restaurants that is on-trade or as off-trade. On my part, I can certainly communicate with my colleagues in the Breweries Division about the huge latent demand for the brand here. I am sure that they would want to look at this possibility again.</p>
<p>
	<strong>How have you fared on your liquor brands in this country?</strong></p>
<p>
	Luckily for us, most of our brands have succeeded pretty vigorously. Our success has been in premium whisky segment like Antiquity and Signature both being brand leaders. McDowellâ's No 1 and McDowell's Platinum have also done well while Blue Ribbon Gin is the sole leader in its category. We have received a setback in the Vodka segment but it's only a matter of time before we bounce back. Even though we are a small player in the Rum category, we have done well for ourselves and we will intend growing as there is definitely a market for Rum here.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Tell us a little about the competition you face from some other renowned brands available in Nepal.</strong></p>
<p>
	Competition has come and some of the competitor brands have been doing well but that's how business is. We don't fear the competition because as an organisation, we evolve with the consumers and step ahead. If you remember, when we launched Signature Whisky, it was Nepal’s best whisky produced at that time. Today, we are right there with our successful brands Antiquity Red and Antiquity Blue. Our Antiquity Blue is as good as any value scotch available in the market and can take them head on. I believe that competition is always healthy, it keeps us on our toes and we respect our competition.</p>
<p>
	The reason for the success of our group is that we are a very humble and straight shooting organisation. We don't allow our domination of any category or market to ever get into our head and don't browbeat or pressurise. Instead, we believe in growing with the market and ensure that our partners in progress the trade partners, retailers etc are conducting their businesses successfully. We keep all our stakeholders internal as well as external happy. In a market scenario, ups and downs always happen and market positions keep changing. Competition has grown over the years just as we did but if you look at the size, we have close to two-thirds of the market share in Nepal. Our objective is that we not only reach two-thirds in terms of volume but also in terms of earnings. In this endeavour, we have ensured that in the premium segment, we have a huge share of the market.</p>
<p>
	As for the prestige segment, it's only a matter of time that we regain the market share which we have lost over the last five years or so. I welcome competition as it does not allow complacency to set in. We would all like to be one step ahead of competition by ensuring product improvement and everything else that we do in the market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>You just mentioned that you would like to reach two-thirds in terms of earnings too. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></p>
<p>
	That is certainly our endeavour but it is not to fufill through the two-thirds market share that we enjoy. We improve our bottom line by ensuring that the products we sell are more premium category which we have succeeded in and will continue to succeed at. We do efficiencies in manufacturing and selling so there are ways and means to ensure that our bottom line gets affected. I am not even suggesting remotely by any means that one side should curb it so that the other side should get it. The intent is that if the consumer gets a product at the right price, the market grows and so does the revenue.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Now that you will be looking after Nepal operations for some time to come, what would be your expectations from the government here?</strong></p>
<p>
	We only hope that the government helps the industries such that it can help the revenue. As you know, the government also gets its last share of revenue from excise and taxes but year-on-year, rising taxes substantially will eventually lead to killing the golden goose. Every government around the world is cash strapped and we understand that Nepal is no exception but our prayer to the government is not to tax indiscriminately. Because the higher you tax, it gives the unscrupulous elements the opportunity to make spurious products. Given the arbitrage of the substantial tax amount, these elements enter into the market. They may not sell their products in the cities where there is better policing and supervision but they definitely sell them in the rural areas where people are neither very literate nor do they have the choice. Normally, these products are sold very cheap but they have unnecessary side effects. It also allows illegal activities to happen and as a result, there is an increase in corruption.</p>
<p>
	A spurious manufacturer takes advantage of this arbitrage and makes a lot of money. In the bargain, everybody loses right from the consumer to the government and us too as an industry. We understand that by all means, there is a proportion which needs to go to the government but it should be reasonable. At the end of the day, the government is also here to work for the welfare of its citizens so it needs money. But as businesses, we cannot keep on hiking prices because it will go over a certain tide. If the inflation is 10 per cent and the prices go up by 20 per cent, people are still not going to stop drinking. But one has to take a very long term view on this rather than a short term fix.</p>
<p>
	As I said a short while ago, the revenue grows when the market grows otherwise the revenue regresses. As prices increase, consumers tend to drink lower category drinks instead of premium ones. Since the excise duty is less in lower categories, the government tends to earn lower per case or bottle than in the higher categories. Hence, the government's revenue regresses eventually. I would also like to add that in this country, VAT is a pure form VAT which is good.</p>
<p>
	When you charge tax on small items of daily use such as biscuits, soaps, toothpastes etc, the tax is small so people don't mind paying. But when the tax amount is higher, people don't like paying which is human tendency anywhere in the world. Our suggestion is: please charge your tax but don't charge multiple times. The sales tax people can collect taxes from say, 100 distributors, instead of collecting them from 47,000 retailers that we have spread across Nepal. It will enable the government collect taxes easier and cleaner and ultimately, it's the same amount.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Being an Indian conglomerate, could you single out the most challenging aspect of doing business in Nepal?</strong></p>
<p>
	First and foremost, we are very multinational in our nature now as we are present in many countries. I would say that our roots are sub continental instead of only being Indian. When this group was born many years ago through acquisitions followed by start up ventures, we had our presence in many markets. For example, we had a small business in Nepal going on that we reactivated 15 years ago. The fruits of that success and strategy are now here after dealing in Nepal over a period of time. There have been lots of challenges but we have weathered them. We have learnt to cope up and adapt to the market and that's a great asset of being from the sub continent. I don't think we are very different from each other in the way we look at life, for example, our beliefs in god, family and value system etc. We follow a similar culture even though we may speak different languages we have so many languages in India too. It is easier to adapt much faster being from the sub continent. We have always maintained healthy relationships with all our stakeholders in Nepal the authorities, trade partners, key opinion leading consumers, associations etc.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you see yourself making greater inroads into this market? How do you plan to treat this country as a market in the future?</strong></p>
<p>
	We are planning to launch many more brands in the premium range in Nepal since it is a very critical market for us. You must be aware that we also have our own distillery in Biratnagar and we are investing in it on a continued basis. It is important for us to ensure that we continue to remain leaders and grow with the market. We will continue to treat the market in Nepal with respect as we have always done. The market has tremendous potential as always and lot of growth opportunities are available. We will continue to ensure that we invest in brands in this country and that our consumers are happy and satisfied with our brands. In this way, all stakeholders consumers, trade, authorities and the company will remain aligned and satisfied which is very critical for us. We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal growth story.&nbsp; <br />
	<br />
	 </p>',
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			'id' => '601',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Bajaj KaROADpati Scheme Creates History',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="bajajpati" border="2" height="171" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/bajaj.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumer promotion by handing over the prize money of Rs 1 crore to Mamita Paija of Myagdi. Paija’s coupon number 3633 was declared the winner of the consumer promotion scheme from among 11,967 Bajaj customers who had similar coupons. </p>
<p>
	The prize money of Rs 1 crore to the winner of ‘Bajaj Pati aba KaROADpati’ scheme is the biggest prize money offered for any promotional scheme in Nepal so far. Paija, a 19 years old BBS 1st year student said she would use the prize money to pursue her higher education and support her parents.</p>
<p>
	She had purchased a 150 cc Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle for her brother Kesh Bahadur under the scheme which promised the prize money of Rs 1 crore through bumper lucky draw. &nbsp;</p>',
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	The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent. President of Federation of Contractors’ Associations Nepal (FCAN) Jaya Ram Lamichhane said the construction cost increased with a sharp increase in wage rate and construction materials compared to previous year. He said that the price of construction material has increased by 25 per cent. He said that a sack of cement is costlier by Rs 175 to Rs 200 than last year.</p>
<p>
	Cement in the market costs between Rs 700 to Rs 725 for a sack. A year ago, it was priced at Rs 520. Similarly, the cost of steel rod has also increased from Rs 58 for a kg to Rs 82. Producers say that the price was increased after the increase in cost of raw materials and import tax. Though the wage rate of workers was fixed in last July, with the condition of not to increase it more than 21 per cent, Lamichhane says the workers are being paid higher than that. &nbsp;</p>',
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	Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, a business house for importing world class Mahindra &amp; Mahindra multi utility vehicles, tractors and Max Mile lubricants, has completed 19 years of its operation in Nepali automotive<img align="right" alt="agni" border="2" height="199" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/agni1.jpg" vspace="1" width="100" /> business. The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country. &nbsp;</p>',
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			'title' => 'Nepal’s Hydropower The Cheapest In South Asia',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepals hydropower" border="4" height="186" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepalhydro.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country. He Speaking at the conference on Nepal-India Foreign Policy organised recently in Kathmandu requested investors to take this as an opportunity and make investments.</p>
<p>
	Pointing out that the South Asia has the prospect to generate 450 thousand Megawatts of electricity, he lamented at the dismally low utilisation of this capacity. Only 10 per cent of that potential is used so far, he said.</p>
<p>
	He added that the prospects are not harnessed because of missing coordination between the countries in South Asia. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Jayant Prasad, said that India wishes to see Nepal prosper economically by making investment here. He also said that hydropower is relatively safe area of investment than other sectors. He promised that India is ready to join hands with Nepal in every development programmes. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country',
			'sortorder' => '499',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '597',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Mega's Branchless Banking',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has commenced branchless banking services supported with state-of-the-art technology from 29 December 2011, with a view to provide banking services to the rural populace of Nepal.<img align="right" alt="megabank" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/megab.jpg" style="width: 239px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	Mega Bank has taken initiation of this service from Sanga Chowk of Sindhupalchwok and is also planning to start this service at Karaiya of Rupendehi in the near future. This service will allow rural customers to deposit and withdraw money in a secure environment from the door steps of the homes of these individuals. The Bank has also started providing easy access of micro loan for agro based businesses and small entrepreneurs in these areas.</p>
<p>
	Along with this, other services like transfer of money from one account to another, mobile recharge, bill payment and remittance will be available in Branchless Banking. The bank plans to spread the service all over the country in the near future upon the successful completion of the present one.</p>
<p>
	15 Branches in Offi ng The bank has started a spree of opening 15 new branches areas across the country within a month. The campaign started by opening a branch in Dailekh on December 15 will end in Bhairahawa on January 18, says the bank. According to the bank, new branches are at Teku, Maharajgunj, Maitidevi, Bouddha and Thimi in Kathmandu and in Birtamod, Dharan, Janakpur, Dhading, Narayanghat, Bhairahawa, Dailekh, Ghorahi, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. With this expansion Mega will have 28 branches. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has
commenced branchless
banking services supported
with state-of-the-art technology from
29 December 2011,',
			'sortorder' => '498',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '596',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Kumari Bank Bags Manthan Award',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Kumari Bank Limited has received The Manthan Award South Asia 2011 under the category of e-business and enterprise during ‘The Manthan Award South Asia 2011’ International Summit 2011 held in New Delhi, <img align="right" alt="kumari" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kumari.jpg" style="width: 136px; height: 149px;" vspace="1" />India on 1-2 December. </p>
<p>
	The award honours the best practices in e-content and creativity. Kumari Bank won the award for providing Kumari Mobile Cash service. Inthis year’s event, there were more than 481 applications under 30 core categories from across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Out of them, 38 were selected as winners and with Kumari Bank was the sole winner representing Nepal. </p>
<p>
	The Manthan Award was launched on 10th October 2004, by Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with World Summit Award, Department of Information Technology, Government of India. Kumari Mobile Cash had earlier received mBillionth Award South Asia for during the ‘mBillionth 2011 South Asia International Summit’, New Delhi, India on 23 July this year. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Kumari Bank Limited has received
The Manthan Award South Asia 2011
under the category of e-business and
enterprise',
			'sortorder' => '497',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '595',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => '49th IHRA Conference Concludes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><img align="top" alt="IHRA conference" border="2" height="211" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/49thirra.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></strong></p>
<p>
	International Hotel and Restaurant Association’s (IHRA) 49th World Conference held in Kathmandu concluded on November 30. The three-day conclave that began on November 28 was inaugurated by President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav.</p>
<p>
	According to Prasiddha Bahadur Pandey, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the conference was successful to promote and project Nepal and its tourism prospects in the international arena. He said that the conference focused on increasing investment in the tourism industry. He also said that the conference discussed about climate change, biodiversity and their impacts and new trends in the hotel industry as well as investment necessity in the tourism sector.</p>
<p>
	The conference had 200 representatives from 35 countries. IHRA has around 300 thousand hotels and seven million restaurants as its members. </p>
<p>
	<strong>HAN’s China ties <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	Meanwhile, HAN has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hotel Association of China for developing and promoting tourism in both countries. The agreement signed by Pandey and his Chinese counterpart Han Ming states that both the countries will exchange the information and support for the development of tourism and hotel sector, jointly organise conferences, carry out publicity campaigns and provide organisational support. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'International Hotel and Restaurant
Association’s (IHRA) 49th World
Conference held in Kathmandu
concluded on November 30.',
			'sortorder' => '496',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '594',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Carpet Export Shows Hope',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of improvement after 10 years of decline that had started in fiscal year 1999-2000. <img align="right" alt="carpet expo" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/carpetexpo.jpg" style="width: 254px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	According to Lanka Man Roka, President of Nepal C a r p e t Exporter’s Association, the carpet export figure in 2009/10 was 681 t h o u s a n d square metres which increased to 694 thousand square metres in 2010/11. Export in 2009/10 was the lowest in last 10 years. In 1999/2000, Nepal’s carpet exports stood at 2.59 million square metres.</p>
<p>
	In 1999/2000, Nepal had earned US$ 142.3 million from carpet exports. That declined to US$ 51.5 million in 2009/10. In 2010/11 carpets worth US$ 60 million were exported. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of
improvement after 10 years of decline that had
started in fiscal year 1999-2000.
According to Lanka Man Roka, President',
			'sortorder' => '495',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '593',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Visit Lumbini Year Announced',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<img align="top" alt="visit lumbini" border="4" height="191" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/visit-lumbini.jpg" vspace="2" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY). Amidst a function held at Lumbini, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared VLY by flying balloons that carried the message ‘Visit Lumbini Year 2012’.</p>
<p>
	Dr. Bhattarai promised that the government is soon bringing a new programme for the development of Lumbini. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY).',
			'sortorder' => '494',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '592',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'CG Electronics Gets ISO 9001:2008',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate its quality management system. Issued by International Certification Services, the certificate covers all the products of the company’s Satungal, Kathmandu based factory.</p>
<p>
	Products of CG include LED TV, LCD TV, CRT TVs, DVD Player, Home Theatre, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave Oven, Air Conditioner, Vacuum Cleaner, Chest Freezer, Mobile, Rice Cooker, Iron, Inverter, Lightings, Battery, Monitor, UPS etc. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate',
			'sortorder' => '493',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '591',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'NTC To Regain No 1 Position',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market. The state owned operator was ousted from that position by Ncell, the private sector rival that overtook NTC in terms of the number of subscribers to the GSM mobile service.</p>
<p>
	Amar Nath Singh, Managing Director of NTC said in a press conference that NTC will regain that coveted position soon. For the company’s failure to safeguard the number one position, he blamed the lengthy procedures that the company has to follow as a state-owned enterprise while taking and implementing a business decision. Nepal government owns 91.49 percent in NTC.</p>
<p>
	Out of the NTC’s plan to distribute 1.237 million telephone lines all over Nepal by the end of this fiscal year, 500,000 lines were already distributed, by mid-November 2011, according to the company. The company also plans to increase the capacity to 10 million GSM lines. The process is already started to procure the equipment for this purpose, said Surendra Pradsad Thike, the spokesman of NTC. </p>
<p>
	The company is confident that it will achieve its set goals for the running fiscal year. According to the data made public by the company, it earned Rs 8.25 billion as sales income in the first quarter of the current fiscal year against the annual target of earning Rs 31 billion. This indicates that the annual target will be easily achieved, said Thike. The company also informed that it has replaced 212 old technology BTS towers in Kathmandu valley with new and advanced technology towers that have higher capacity and consume less power. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market.',
			'sortorder' => '492',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '590',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Street Art For Uterine Prolapse Awareness',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December, in collaboration with WRRP-CAED to create awareness about the social problem of uterine prolapse.</p>
<p>
	<img align="middle" alt="street" border="5" height="57" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/street.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Under the project, visual messages were painted on the boundary wall of Nepal Food Corporation at Thapathali. The problem of uterine prolapse is pervasive throughout Nepal among the women of both reproductive and menopausal age.</p>
<p>
	Sporadic studies show its high prevalence also among women aged as low as 15. The 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey has found that up to 7 per cent of women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) were suffering from uterine prolapse while approximately 3 per cent of adolescents and youth suffered from it. In a study carried out by Institute of Medicine (IoM) of Tribhuvan University and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it was found that 600,000 women suffer from varying degrees of uterine prolapse and 200,000 women among them require immediate surgery. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December',
			'sortorder' => '491',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '589',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal, India Ink DTAA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepal,india" border="2" height="141" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepali.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India. The treaty signed on November 27 in Kathmandu by Nepali Finance Minster Barshaman Pun and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee is the replacement of an earlier agreement signed in 1987.</p>
<p>
	The agreement is expected to bring about economic improvements and investment opportunities in both the countries. The agreement comes into effect from the new fiscal year of both countries.  &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India.',
			'sortorder' => '490',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '587',
			'article_category_id' => '50',
			'title' => 'Feedback February 2012',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Trade of Only Hopes</strong></span></p>
<p>
	Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries. Small countries, at the moment are not so successful to produce competitive products to compete with the Indian products as well as cheap Chinese products.</p>
<p>
	Most of the exportable goods produced by the SAARC countries are similar, for example, garments and carpets are common to most of the countries. As a result, they are competing with each other. This also diminishes the market prospects within the region. Most of the countries in the region seem to be prioritising international trade rather than regional trade.</p>
<p>
	This is mostly because of the lucrative trade prospects beyond the region. The purchasing power in the region is still less even though the middle class population is fast increasing. The cost of connectivity is also high within the region. Procedural delays, non-tariff barriers and other hurdles are encouraging international trade.</p>
<p>
	The Indo-Pak relationship is seen as the major reason behind intra SAARC trade not fulfilling its potential. When the regional cooperation itself is not successful, the trading gets affected too. Though there are regional and bilateral agreements, their successful impact on the trade is questionable. Such agreements are only trading hope rather than the real goods.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Trade of Only Hopes<br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sudarshan Sharma Kathmandu</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Compensation</strong> <br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	Competition Compensation and benefits for employees in an organisation is one of the major human resource expenses for a company while it is a motivation for the employees. Even though the employees do not work only for monetary benefits, it is counted as one of the most important aspects.</p>
<p>
	Compensation for an employee for his/her performance and work execution can also come in various forms other than monetary benefits. Compensation and benefits are often connected with compensation policies in the job market and it becomes an important factor for people while accepting employment. The company's competency among the competitors is somehow connected to the compensation policy too. It is believed that better compensation attracts better human resources. Motivated staff members perform better than underpaid and demotivated employees. For hiring better employees, companies use higher perks as a tool to attract skilled people and compete in the job market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Ram Kumar Basyal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sanothimi <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Robust Poultry</strong><br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	The poultry products growth is expected to rise by 30 per cent, which is an encouraging fact and hope to many within the industry and supportive sectors. When this industry grows, chickens do not grow alone. Other industries like feed industries and employment grow simultaneously.</p>
<p>
	When 50 feed mills produce 450,000 tonnes of feed per year, they also generate employment to numerous people locally. The poultry industry provides employment to around 70,000 people and helps support the livelihood of thousands of families and households. The country, as such, has become self-sufficient on poultry products. However, majority of raw materials for feed production is still being imported from India.</p>
<p>
	The quality of the poultry farms and the farmers knowledge is often questioned. With the overall growth in the sector, these things are expected to improve over time. Other things that need to improve in Nepal are the per capita consumption of poultry products which is still low. If the poultry farms get bigger in scale and the cost of production can be further lowered, such issues can be solved without any delay.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Shankar Dhakal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Chitwan</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Corrigendum <br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	The names of the scholar and the university mentioned in the first paragraph of the article by Sujit Mundul published in the November 2011 issue of New Business Age (page 66) were changed to protect the identity of the scholar.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Editor</strong></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-08-28',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries.',
			'sortorder' => '489',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '586',
			'article_category_id' => '46',
			'title' => 'Anant SIyer',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>We Will Continue Providing Brand Delight To Nepali Consumers<br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	Anant SIyer is the Chief Operating Officer, RPC – East &amp; Nepal at United Spirits Limited (USL), the world’s third largest spirits maker by volume. He has over 27 years of experience in the industry and has earlier handled several key positions since joining the UB group in June 1992. In his current position, he will be responsible for USL’s operations in Eastern India and Nepal. He says, “We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal<br />
	growth story.”</p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><img align="right" alt="interview" border="5" height="193" hspace="5" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/interview2.jpg" vspace="5" width="150" />You, along with your seniors, had created USL's strategy for Nepal close to a decade-and-a-half ago. What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time around?</strong></p>
<p>
	It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India. The second reason of my being here is that Gautam Mullick, our Country Manager here, is retiring after 14 long years of being in Nepal. You can call his being here as a circle of life because my seniors and I had made the original strategy for Nepal on behalf of UB Group and Nepal Liquors close to 15 years ago. At that point of time, we had selected him to be posted here.</p>
<p>
	From very small beginnings, we have now reached a position of strength. In earlier days, the market was small and so was the industry and globalisation was just coming into the subcontinent. With the kind of boom that has happened over the years, drinking of good spirits has also gone up. The Nepali consumer has been exposed to good blend and excellent tamper proof packaging like guala caps etc over a period of time. We have done very well and haven't looked back over the last oneand- a-half decade.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you think, USL with its 15 years presence in Nepal, have accomplished the objectives it had set out to achieve?</strong></p>
<p>
	Objectives in an organisation are set on an annual basis. It all dovetails into the vision we have for the organisation in Nepal. A vision is a long term goal that determines strategy which in turn sets objectives. Our objectives are ever evolving and ever growing so we cannot say that our objectives have been met. Our vision is to continue to grow in Nepal with the industry growth, remain market leaders and continue to provide full product and brand delight to the Nepali consumers.</p>
<p>
	The consumers experience for our brands has to be superlative and truly international so that the Nepali consumer knows he is getting the same kind of quality and product experience which he will receive anywhere else when he travels. It is an integral part of our organisational DNA that we keep on growing therefore, our objectives are not static and they change in accordance with the changing environment. The annual objectives always become better and more challenging but they all telescope into our overall vision for Nepal. We want to continue as the leading spirits marketer in the country and ensure that we give quality and delightful consumer experience. <strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>How do you assess USL's performance in India and other emerging markets?</strong></p>
<p>
	If you look at how we have performed in India, you will find that we are very clear about growing. We have close to two-thirds of the market share in India. We are now going to look at emerging markets and do have a huge strategy for markets in South Asia, Africa etc. We intend to grow by providing the consumers with good quality brands which provide delight to the consumers. We do a lot in terms of distribution and schemes to ensure reach and make our products available for every single pocket.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What is your reading of the Nepali market at this point of time?</strong></p>
<p>
	There is a growing middle class coming up in Nepal for so many years now which is very encouraging. When the economy grows, it helps people feel good and they want to enjoy themselves. We believe that socially responsible alcohol consumption is good in its own way, however, people should be aware. They must follow the laws of the land and that’s what we endeavour. We have a wonderful team of distributors located all over Nepal and they have been with us for many years. We continue to seek their help in ensuring that our products reach our consumers in the pack sizes of their preference which fits their pockets. We are the first company in Nepal to come up with 90 ml, 60 ml, guala caps etc which speaks volume of the fact that we keep on evolving.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>UB Group's most visible brand Kingfi sher Beer is not available in Nepal</strong>.<strong>What could be the possible reasons behind this glaring exclusion?</strong></p>
<p>
	Kingfisher Beer is actually managed by our sister organisation United Breweries and as far as I know, they had a presence in Nepal at a point of time. However, I am not aware of the latest developments in terms of its strategy for Nepal. Kingfisher is a wonderful and truly international brand and one of the real successes of this subcontinent. You will find it in many countries such as the US, Canada, England, France, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand etc. Kingfisher Beer is available either in restaurants that is on-trade or as off-trade. On my part, I can certainly communicate with my colleagues in the Breweries Division about the huge latent demand for the brand here. I am sure that they would want to look at this possibility again.</p>
<p>
	<strong>How have you fared on your liquor brands in this country?</strong></p>
<p>
	Luckily for us, most of our brands have succeeded pretty vigorously. Our success has been in premium whisky segment like Antiquity and Signature both being brand leaders. McDowellâ's No 1 and McDowell's Platinum have also done well while Blue Ribbon Gin is the sole leader in its category. We have received a setback in the Vodka segment but it's only a matter of time before we bounce back. Even though we are a small player in the Rum category, we have done well for ourselves and we will intend growing as there is definitely a market for Rum here.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Tell us a little about the competition you face from some other renowned brands available in Nepal.</strong></p>
<p>
	Competition has come and some of the competitor brands have been doing well but that's how business is. We don't fear the competition because as an organisation, we evolve with the consumers and step ahead. If you remember, when we launched Signature Whisky, it was Nepal’s best whisky produced at that time. Today, we are right there with our successful brands Antiquity Red and Antiquity Blue. Our Antiquity Blue is as good as any value scotch available in the market and can take them head on. I believe that competition is always healthy, it keeps us on our toes and we respect our competition.</p>
<p>
	The reason for the success of our group is that we are a very humble and straight shooting organisation. We don't allow our domination of any category or market to ever get into our head and don't browbeat or pressurise. Instead, we believe in growing with the market and ensure that our partners in progress the trade partners, retailers etc are conducting their businesses successfully. We keep all our stakeholders internal as well as external happy. In a market scenario, ups and downs always happen and market positions keep changing. Competition has grown over the years just as we did but if you look at the size, we have close to two-thirds of the market share in Nepal. Our objective is that we not only reach two-thirds in terms of volume but also in terms of earnings. In this endeavour, we have ensured that in the premium segment, we have a huge share of the market.</p>
<p>
	As for the prestige segment, it's only a matter of time that we regain the market share which we have lost over the last five years or so. I welcome competition as it does not allow complacency to set in. We would all like to be one step ahead of competition by ensuring product improvement and everything else that we do in the market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>You just mentioned that you would like to reach two-thirds in terms of earnings too. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></p>
<p>
	That is certainly our endeavour but it is not to fufill through the two-thirds market share that we enjoy. We improve our bottom line by ensuring that the products we sell are more premium category which we have succeeded in and will continue to succeed at. We do efficiencies in manufacturing and selling so there are ways and means to ensure that our bottom line gets affected. I am not even suggesting remotely by any means that one side should curb it so that the other side should get it. The intent is that if the consumer gets a product at the right price, the market grows and so does the revenue.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Now that you will be looking after Nepal operations for some time to come, what would be your expectations from the government here?</strong></p>
<p>
	We only hope that the government helps the industries such that it can help the revenue. As you know, the government also gets its last share of revenue from excise and taxes but year-on-year, rising taxes substantially will eventually lead to killing the golden goose. Every government around the world is cash strapped and we understand that Nepal is no exception but our prayer to the government is not to tax indiscriminately. Because the higher you tax, it gives the unscrupulous elements the opportunity to make spurious products. Given the arbitrage of the substantial tax amount, these elements enter into the market. They may not sell their products in the cities where there is better policing and supervision but they definitely sell them in the rural areas where people are neither very literate nor do they have the choice. Normally, these products are sold very cheap but they have unnecessary side effects. It also allows illegal activities to happen and as a result, there is an increase in corruption.</p>
<p>
	A spurious manufacturer takes advantage of this arbitrage and makes a lot of money. In the bargain, everybody loses right from the consumer to the government and us too as an industry. We understand that by all means, there is a proportion which needs to go to the government but it should be reasonable. At the end of the day, the government is also here to work for the welfare of its citizens so it needs money. But as businesses, we cannot keep on hiking prices because it will go over a certain tide. If the inflation is 10 per cent and the prices go up by 20 per cent, people are still not going to stop drinking. But one has to take a very long term view on this rather than a short term fix.</p>
<p>
	As I said a short while ago, the revenue grows when the market grows otherwise the revenue regresses. As prices increase, consumers tend to drink lower category drinks instead of premium ones. Since the excise duty is less in lower categories, the government tends to earn lower per case or bottle than in the higher categories. Hence, the government's revenue regresses eventually. I would also like to add that in this country, VAT is a pure form VAT which is good.</p>
<p>
	When you charge tax on small items of daily use such as biscuits, soaps, toothpastes etc, the tax is small so people don't mind paying. But when the tax amount is higher, people don't like paying which is human tendency anywhere in the world. Our suggestion is: please charge your tax but don't charge multiple times. The sales tax people can collect taxes from say, 100 distributors, instead of collecting them from 47,000 retailers that we have spread across Nepal. It will enable the government collect taxes easier and cleaner and ultimately, it's the same amount.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Being an Indian conglomerate, could you single out the most challenging aspect of doing business in Nepal?</strong></p>
<p>
	First and foremost, we are very multinational in our nature now as we are present in many countries. I would say that our roots are sub continental instead of only being Indian. When this group was born many years ago through acquisitions followed by start up ventures, we had our presence in many markets. For example, we had a small business in Nepal going on that we reactivated 15 years ago. The fruits of that success and strategy are now here after dealing in Nepal over a period of time. There have been lots of challenges but we have weathered them. We have learnt to cope up and adapt to the market and that's a great asset of being from the sub continent. I don't think we are very different from each other in the way we look at life, for example, our beliefs in god, family and value system etc. We follow a similar culture even though we may speak different languages we have so many languages in India too. It is easier to adapt much faster being from the sub continent. We have always maintained healthy relationships with all our stakeholders in Nepal the authorities, trade partners, key opinion leading consumers, associations etc.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you see yourself making greater inroads into this market? How do you plan to treat this country as a market in the future?</strong></p>
<p>
	We are planning to launch many more brands in the premium range in Nepal since it is a very critical market for us. You must be aware that we also have our own distillery in Biratnagar and we are investing in it on a continued basis. It is important for us to ensure that we continue to remain leaders and grow with the market. We will continue to treat the market in Nepal with respect as we have always done. The market has tremendous potential as always and lot of growth opportunities are available. We will continue to ensure that we invest in brands in this country and that our consumers are happy and satisfied with our brands. In this way, all stakeholders consumers, trade, authorities and the company will remain aligned and satisfied which is very critical for us. We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal growth story.&nbsp; <br />
	<br />
	 </p>',
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			'description' => 'It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '601',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Bajaj KaROADpati Scheme Creates History',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="bajajpati" border="2" height="171" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/bajaj.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumer promotion by handing over the prize money of Rs 1 crore to Mamita Paija of Myagdi. Paija’s coupon number 3633 was declared the winner of the consumer promotion scheme from among 11,967 Bajaj customers who had similar coupons. </p>
<p>
	The prize money of Rs 1 crore to the winner of ‘Bajaj Pati aba KaROADpati’ scheme is the biggest prize money offered for any promotional scheme in Nepal so far. Paija, a 19 years old BBS 1st year student said she would use the prize money to pursue her higher education and support her parents.</p>
<p>
	She had purchased a 150 cc Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle for her brother Kesh Bahadur under the scheme which promised the prize money of Rs 1 crore through bumper lucky draw. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumerpromotion',
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			'title' => 'Housing Construction Cost Increases By 25 Per Cent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent. President of Federation of Contractors’ Associations Nepal (FCAN) Jaya Ram Lamichhane said the construction cost increased with a sharp increase in wage rate and construction materials compared to previous year. He said that the price of construction material has increased by 25 per cent. He said that a sack of cement is costlier by Rs 175 to Rs 200 than last year.</p>
<p>
	Cement in the market costs between Rs 700 to Rs 725 for a sack. A year ago, it was priced at Rs 520. Similarly, the cost of steel rod has also increased from Rs 58 for a kg to Rs 82. Producers say that the price was increased after the increase in cost of raw materials and import tax. Though the wage rate of workers was fixed in last July, with the condition of not to increase it more than 21 per cent, Lamichhane says the workers are being paid higher than that. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent.',
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			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Agni Incorporated Completes 20 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, a business house for importing world class Mahindra &amp; Mahindra multi utility vehicles, tractors and Max Mile lubricants, has completed 19 years of its operation in Nepali automotive<img align="right" alt="agni" border="2" height="199" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/agni1.jpg" vspace="1" width="100" /> business. The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country. &nbsp;</p>',
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			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '598',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Hydropower The Cheapest In South Asia',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepals hydropower" border="4" height="186" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepalhydro.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country. He Speaking at the conference on Nepal-India Foreign Policy organised recently in Kathmandu requested investors to take this as an opportunity and make investments.</p>
<p>
	Pointing out that the South Asia has the prospect to generate 450 thousand Megawatts of electricity, he lamented at the dismally low utilisation of this capacity. Only 10 per cent of that potential is used so far, he said.</p>
<p>
	He added that the prospects are not harnessed because of missing coordination between the countries in South Asia. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Jayant Prasad, said that India wishes to see Nepal prosper economically by making investment here. He also said that hydropower is relatively safe area of investment than other sectors. He promised that India is ready to join hands with Nepal in every development programmes. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country',
			'sortorder' => '499',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '597',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Mega's Branchless Banking',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has commenced branchless banking services supported with state-of-the-art technology from 29 December 2011, with a view to provide banking services to the rural populace of Nepal.<img align="right" alt="megabank" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/megab.jpg" style="width: 239px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	Mega Bank has taken initiation of this service from Sanga Chowk of Sindhupalchwok and is also planning to start this service at Karaiya of Rupendehi in the near future. This service will allow rural customers to deposit and withdraw money in a secure environment from the door steps of the homes of these individuals. The Bank has also started providing easy access of micro loan for agro based businesses and small entrepreneurs in these areas.</p>
<p>
	Along with this, other services like transfer of money from one account to another, mobile recharge, bill payment and remittance will be available in Branchless Banking. The bank plans to spread the service all over the country in the near future upon the successful completion of the present one.</p>
<p>
	15 Branches in Offi ng The bank has started a spree of opening 15 new branches areas across the country within a month. The campaign started by opening a branch in Dailekh on December 15 will end in Bhairahawa on January 18, says the bank. According to the bank, new branches are at Teku, Maharajgunj, Maitidevi, Bouddha and Thimi in Kathmandu and in Birtamod, Dharan, Janakpur, Dhading, Narayanghat, Bhairahawa, Dailekh, Ghorahi, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. With this expansion Mega will have 28 branches. &nbsp;</p>',
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			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has
commenced branchless
banking services supported
with state-of-the-art technology from
29 December 2011,',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '596',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Kumari Bank Bags Manthan Award',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Kumari Bank Limited has received The Manthan Award South Asia 2011 under the category of e-business and enterprise during ‘The Manthan Award South Asia 2011’ International Summit 2011 held in New Delhi, <img align="right" alt="kumari" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kumari.jpg" style="width: 136px; height: 149px;" vspace="1" />India on 1-2 December. </p>
<p>
	The award honours the best practices in e-content and creativity. Kumari Bank won the award for providing Kumari Mobile Cash service. Inthis year’s event, there were more than 481 applications under 30 core categories from across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Out of them, 38 were selected as winners and with Kumari Bank was the sole winner representing Nepal. </p>
<p>
	The Manthan Award was launched on 10th October 2004, by Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with World Summit Award, Department of Information Technology, Government of India. Kumari Mobile Cash had earlier received mBillionth Award South Asia for during the ‘mBillionth 2011 South Asia International Summit’, New Delhi, India on 23 July this year. &nbsp;</p>',
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			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Kumari Bank Limited has received
The Manthan Award South Asia 2011
under the category of e-business and
enterprise',
			'sortorder' => '497',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '595',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => '49th IHRA Conference Concludes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><img align="top" alt="IHRA conference" border="2" height="211" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/49thirra.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></strong></p>
<p>
	International Hotel and Restaurant Association’s (IHRA) 49th World Conference held in Kathmandu concluded on November 30. The three-day conclave that began on November 28 was inaugurated by President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav.</p>
<p>
	According to Prasiddha Bahadur Pandey, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the conference was successful to promote and project Nepal and its tourism prospects in the international arena. He said that the conference focused on increasing investment in the tourism industry. He also said that the conference discussed about climate change, biodiversity and their impacts and new trends in the hotel industry as well as investment necessity in the tourism sector.</p>
<p>
	The conference had 200 representatives from 35 countries. IHRA has around 300 thousand hotels and seven million restaurants as its members. </p>
<p>
	<strong>HAN’s China ties <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	Meanwhile, HAN has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hotel Association of China for developing and promoting tourism in both countries. The agreement signed by Pandey and his Chinese counterpart Han Ming states that both the countries will exchange the information and support for the development of tourism and hotel sector, jointly organise conferences, carry out publicity campaigns and provide organisational support. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'International Hotel and Restaurant
Association’s (IHRA) 49th World
Conference held in Kathmandu
concluded on November 30.',
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			'title' => 'Carpet Export Shows Hope',
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			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of improvement after 10 years of decline that had started in fiscal year 1999-2000. <img align="right" alt="carpet expo" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/carpetexpo.jpg" style="width: 254px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	According to Lanka Man Roka, President of Nepal C a r p e t Exporter’s Association, the carpet export figure in 2009/10 was 681 t h o u s a n d square metres which increased to 694 thousand square metres in 2010/11. Export in 2009/10 was the lowest in last 10 years. In 1999/2000, Nepal’s carpet exports stood at 2.59 million square metres.</p>
<p>
	In 1999/2000, Nepal had earned US$ 142.3 million from carpet exports. That declined to US$ 51.5 million in 2009/10. In 2010/11 carpets worth US$ 60 million were exported. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of
improvement after 10 years of decline that had
started in fiscal year 1999-2000.
According to Lanka Man Roka, President',
			'sortorder' => '495',
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			'homepage' => false,
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '593',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Visit Lumbini Year Announced',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<img align="top" alt="visit lumbini" border="4" height="191" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/visit-lumbini.jpg" vspace="2" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY). Amidst a function held at Lumbini, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared VLY by flying balloons that carried the message ‘Visit Lumbini Year 2012’.</p>
<p>
	Dr. Bhattarai promised that the government is soon bringing a new programme for the development of Lumbini. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY).',
			'sortorder' => '494',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '592',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'CG Electronics Gets ISO 9001:2008',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate its quality management system. Issued by International Certification Services, the certificate covers all the products of the company’s Satungal, Kathmandu based factory.</p>
<p>
	Products of CG include LED TV, LCD TV, CRT TVs, DVD Player, Home Theatre, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave Oven, Air Conditioner, Vacuum Cleaner, Chest Freezer, Mobile, Rice Cooker, Iron, Inverter, Lightings, Battery, Monitor, UPS etc. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate',
			'sortorder' => '493',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '591',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'NTC To Regain No 1 Position',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market. The state owned operator was ousted from that position by Ncell, the private sector rival that overtook NTC in terms of the number of subscribers to the GSM mobile service.</p>
<p>
	Amar Nath Singh, Managing Director of NTC said in a press conference that NTC will regain that coveted position soon. For the company’s failure to safeguard the number one position, he blamed the lengthy procedures that the company has to follow as a state-owned enterprise while taking and implementing a business decision. Nepal government owns 91.49 percent in NTC.</p>
<p>
	Out of the NTC’s plan to distribute 1.237 million telephone lines all over Nepal by the end of this fiscal year, 500,000 lines were already distributed, by mid-November 2011, according to the company. The company also plans to increase the capacity to 10 million GSM lines. The process is already started to procure the equipment for this purpose, said Surendra Pradsad Thike, the spokesman of NTC. </p>
<p>
	The company is confident that it will achieve its set goals for the running fiscal year. According to the data made public by the company, it earned Rs 8.25 billion as sales income in the first quarter of the current fiscal year against the annual target of earning Rs 31 billion. This indicates that the annual target will be easily achieved, said Thike. The company also informed that it has replaced 212 old technology BTS towers in Kathmandu valley with new and advanced technology towers that have higher capacity and consume less power. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market.',
			'sortorder' => '492',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
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	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '590',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Street Art For Uterine Prolapse Awareness',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December, in collaboration with WRRP-CAED to create awareness about the social problem of uterine prolapse.</p>
<p>
	<img align="middle" alt="street" border="5" height="57" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/street.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Under the project, visual messages were painted on the boundary wall of Nepal Food Corporation at Thapathali. The problem of uterine prolapse is pervasive throughout Nepal among the women of both reproductive and menopausal age.</p>
<p>
	Sporadic studies show its high prevalence also among women aged as low as 15. The 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey has found that up to 7 per cent of women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) were suffering from uterine prolapse while approximately 3 per cent of adolescents and youth suffered from it. In a study carried out by Institute of Medicine (IoM) of Tribhuvan University and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it was found that 600,000 women suffer from varying degrees of uterine prolapse and 200,000 women among them require immediate surgery. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December',
			'sortorder' => '491',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
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			'in_scroller' => false,
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	),
	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '589',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal, India Ink DTAA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepal,india" border="2" height="141" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepali.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India. The treaty signed on November 27 in Kathmandu by Nepali Finance Minster Barshaman Pun and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee is the replacement of an earlier agreement signed in 1987.</p>
<p>
	The agreement is expected to bring about economic improvements and investment opportunities in both the countries. The agreement comes into effect from the new fiscal year of both countries.  &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India.',
			'sortorder' => '490',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '587',
			'article_category_id' => '50',
			'title' => 'Feedback February 2012',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Trade of Only Hopes</strong></span></p>
<p>
	Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries. Small countries, at the moment are not so successful to produce competitive products to compete with the Indian products as well as cheap Chinese products.</p>
<p>
	Most of the exportable goods produced by the SAARC countries are similar, for example, garments and carpets are common to most of the countries. As a result, they are competing with each other. This also diminishes the market prospects within the region. Most of the countries in the region seem to be prioritising international trade rather than regional trade.</p>
<p>
	This is mostly because of the lucrative trade prospects beyond the region. The purchasing power in the region is still less even though the middle class population is fast increasing. The cost of connectivity is also high within the region. Procedural delays, non-tariff barriers and other hurdles are encouraging international trade.</p>
<p>
	The Indo-Pak relationship is seen as the major reason behind intra SAARC trade not fulfilling its potential. When the regional cooperation itself is not successful, the trading gets affected too. Though there are regional and bilateral agreements, their successful impact on the trade is questionable. Such agreements are only trading hope rather than the real goods.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Trade of Only Hopes<br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sudarshan Sharma Kathmandu</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Compensation</strong> <br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	Competition Compensation and benefits for employees in an organisation is one of the major human resource expenses for a company while it is a motivation for the employees. Even though the employees do not work only for monetary benefits, it is counted as one of the most important aspects.</p>
<p>
	Compensation for an employee for his/her performance and work execution can also come in various forms other than monetary benefits. Compensation and benefits are often connected with compensation policies in the job market and it becomes an important factor for people while accepting employment. The company's competency among the competitors is somehow connected to the compensation policy too. It is believed that better compensation attracts better human resources. Motivated staff members perform better than underpaid and demotivated employees. For hiring better employees, companies use higher perks as a tool to attract skilled people and compete in the job market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Ram Kumar Basyal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sanothimi <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Robust Poultry</strong><br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	The poultry products growth is expected to rise by 30 per cent, which is an encouraging fact and hope to many within the industry and supportive sectors. When this industry grows, chickens do not grow alone. Other industries like feed industries and employment grow simultaneously.</p>
<p>
	When 50 feed mills produce 450,000 tonnes of feed per year, they also generate employment to numerous people locally. The poultry industry provides employment to around 70,000 people and helps support the livelihood of thousands of families and households. The country, as such, has become self-sufficient on poultry products. However, majority of raw materials for feed production is still being imported from India.</p>
<p>
	The quality of the poultry farms and the farmers knowledge is often questioned. With the overall growth in the sector, these things are expected to improve over time. Other things that need to improve in Nepal are the per capita consumption of poultry products which is still low. If the poultry farms get bigger in scale and the cost of production can be further lowered, such issues can be solved without any delay.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Shankar Dhakal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Chitwan</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Corrigendum <br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	The names of the scholar and the university mentioned in the first paragraph of the article by Sujit Mundul published in the November 2011 issue of New Business Age (page 66) were changed to protect the identity of the scholar.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Editor</strong></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-08-28',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries.',
			'sortorder' => '489',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '586',
			'article_category_id' => '46',
			'title' => 'Anant SIyer',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>We Will Continue Providing Brand Delight To Nepali Consumers<br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	Anant SIyer is the Chief Operating Officer, RPC – East &amp; Nepal at United Spirits Limited (USL), the world’s third largest spirits maker by volume. He has over 27 years of experience in the industry and has earlier handled several key positions since joining the UB group in June 1992. In his current position, he will be responsible for USL’s operations in Eastern India and Nepal. He says, “We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal<br />
	growth story.”</p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><img align="right" alt="interview" border="5" height="193" hspace="5" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/interview2.jpg" vspace="5" width="150" />You, along with your seniors, had created USL's strategy for Nepal close to a decade-and-a-half ago. What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time around?</strong></p>
<p>
	It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India. The second reason of my being here is that Gautam Mullick, our Country Manager here, is retiring after 14 long years of being in Nepal. You can call his being here as a circle of life because my seniors and I had made the original strategy for Nepal on behalf of UB Group and Nepal Liquors close to 15 years ago. At that point of time, we had selected him to be posted here.</p>
<p>
	From very small beginnings, we have now reached a position of strength. In earlier days, the market was small and so was the industry and globalisation was just coming into the subcontinent. With the kind of boom that has happened over the years, drinking of good spirits has also gone up. The Nepali consumer has been exposed to good blend and excellent tamper proof packaging like guala caps etc over a period of time. We have done very well and haven't looked back over the last oneand- a-half decade.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you think, USL with its 15 years presence in Nepal, have accomplished the objectives it had set out to achieve?</strong></p>
<p>
	Objectives in an organisation are set on an annual basis. It all dovetails into the vision we have for the organisation in Nepal. A vision is a long term goal that determines strategy which in turn sets objectives. Our objectives are ever evolving and ever growing so we cannot say that our objectives have been met. Our vision is to continue to grow in Nepal with the industry growth, remain market leaders and continue to provide full product and brand delight to the Nepali consumers.</p>
<p>
	The consumers experience for our brands has to be superlative and truly international so that the Nepali consumer knows he is getting the same kind of quality and product experience which he will receive anywhere else when he travels. It is an integral part of our organisational DNA that we keep on growing therefore, our objectives are not static and they change in accordance with the changing environment. The annual objectives always become better and more challenging but they all telescope into our overall vision for Nepal. We want to continue as the leading spirits marketer in the country and ensure that we give quality and delightful consumer experience. <strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>How do you assess USL's performance in India and other emerging markets?</strong></p>
<p>
	If you look at how we have performed in India, you will find that we are very clear about growing. We have close to two-thirds of the market share in India. We are now going to look at emerging markets and do have a huge strategy for markets in South Asia, Africa etc. We intend to grow by providing the consumers with good quality brands which provide delight to the consumers. We do a lot in terms of distribution and schemes to ensure reach and make our products available for every single pocket.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What is your reading of the Nepali market at this point of time?</strong></p>
<p>
	There is a growing middle class coming up in Nepal for so many years now which is very encouraging. When the economy grows, it helps people feel good and they want to enjoy themselves. We believe that socially responsible alcohol consumption is good in its own way, however, people should be aware. They must follow the laws of the land and that’s what we endeavour. We have a wonderful team of distributors located all over Nepal and they have been with us for many years. We continue to seek their help in ensuring that our products reach our consumers in the pack sizes of their preference which fits their pockets. We are the first company in Nepal to come up with 90 ml, 60 ml, guala caps etc which speaks volume of the fact that we keep on evolving.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>UB Group's most visible brand Kingfi sher Beer is not available in Nepal</strong>.<strong>What could be the possible reasons behind this glaring exclusion?</strong></p>
<p>
	Kingfisher Beer is actually managed by our sister organisation United Breweries and as far as I know, they had a presence in Nepal at a point of time. However, I am not aware of the latest developments in terms of its strategy for Nepal. Kingfisher is a wonderful and truly international brand and one of the real successes of this subcontinent. You will find it in many countries such as the US, Canada, England, France, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand etc. Kingfisher Beer is available either in restaurants that is on-trade or as off-trade. On my part, I can certainly communicate with my colleagues in the Breweries Division about the huge latent demand for the brand here. I am sure that they would want to look at this possibility again.</p>
<p>
	<strong>How have you fared on your liquor brands in this country?</strong></p>
<p>
	Luckily for us, most of our brands have succeeded pretty vigorously. Our success has been in premium whisky segment like Antiquity and Signature both being brand leaders. McDowellâ's No 1 and McDowell's Platinum have also done well while Blue Ribbon Gin is the sole leader in its category. We have received a setback in the Vodka segment but it's only a matter of time before we bounce back. Even though we are a small player in the Rum category, we have done well for ourselves and we will intend growing as there is definitely a market for Rum here.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Tell us a little about the competition you face from some other renowned brands available in Nepal.</strong></p>
<p>
	Competition has come and some of the competitor brands have been doing well but that's how business is. We don't fear the competition because as an organisation, we evolve with the consumers and step ahead. If you remember, when we launched Signature Whisky, it was Nepal’s best whisky produced at that time. Today, we are right there with our successful brands Antiquity Red and Antiquity Blue. Our Antiquity Blue is as good as any value scotch available in the market and can take them head on. I believe that competition is always healthy, it keeps us on our toes and we respect our competition.</p>
<p>
	The reason for the success of our group is that we are a very humble and straight shooting organisation. We don't allow our domination of any category or market to ever get into our head and don't browbeat or pressurise. Instead, we believe in growing with the market and ensure that our partners in progress the trade partners, retailers etc are conducting their businesses successfully. We keep all our stakeholders internal as well as external happy. In a market scenario, ups and downs always happen and market positions keep changing. Competition has grown over the years just as we did but if you look at the size, we have close to two-thirds of the market share in Nepal. Our objective is that we not only reach two-thirds in terms of volume but also in terms of earnings. In this endeavour, we have ensured that in the premium segment, we have a huge share of the market.</p>
<p>
	As for the prestige segment, it's only a matter of time that we regain the market share which we have lost over the last five years or so. I welcome competition as it does not allow complacency to set in. We would all like to be one step ahead of competition by ensuring product improvement and everything else that we do in the market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>You just mentioned that you would like to reach two-thirds in terms of earnings too. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></p>
<p>
	That is certainly our endeavour but it is not to fufill through the two-thirds market share that we enjoy. We improve our bottom line by ensuring that the products we sell are more premium category which we have succeeded in and will continue to succeed at. We do efficiencies in manufacturing and selling so there are ways and means to ensure that our bottom line gets affected. I am not even suggesting remotely by any means that one side should curb it so that the other side should get it. The intent is that if the consumer gets a product at the right price, the market grows and so does the revenue.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Now that you will be looking after Nepal operations for some time to come, what would be your expectations from the government here?</strong></p>
<p>
	We only hope that the government helps the industries such that it can help the revenue. As you know, the government also gets its last share of revenue from excise and taxes but year-on-year, rising taxes substantially will eventually lead to killing the golden goose. Every government around the world is cash strapped and we understand that Nepal is no exception but our prayer to the government is not to tax indiscriminately. Because the higher you tax, it gives the unscrupulous elements the opportunity to make spurious products. Given the arbitrage of the substantial tax amount, these elements enter into the market. They may not sell their products in the cities where there is better policing and supervision but they definitely sell them in the rural areas where people are neither very literate nor do they have the choice. Normally, these products are sold very cheap but they have unnecessary side effects. It also allows illegal activities to happen and as a result, there is an increase in corruption.</p>
<p>
	A spurious manufacturer takes advantage of this arbitrage and makes a lot of money. In the bargain, everybody loses right from the consumer to the government and us too as an industry. We understand that by all means, there is a proportion which needs to go to the government but it should be reasonable. At the end of the day, the government is also here to work for the welfare of its citizens so it needs money. But as businesses, we cannot keep on hiking prices because it will go over a certain tide. If the inflation is 10 per cent and the prices go up by 20 per cent, people are still not going to stop drinking. But one has to take a very long term view on this rather than a short term fix.</p>
<p>
	As I said a short while ago, the revenue grows when the market grows otherwise the revenue regresses. As prices increase, consumers tend to drink lower category drinks instead of premium ones. Since the excise duty is less in lower categories, the government tends to earn lower per case or bottle than in the higher categories. Hence, the government's revenue regresses eventually. I would also like to add that in this country, VAT is a pure form VAT which is good.</p>
<p>
	When you charge tax on small items of daily use such as biscuits, soaps, toothpastes etc, the tax is small so people don't mind paying. But when the tax amount is higher, people don't like paying which is human tendency anywhere in the world. Our suggestion is: please charge your tax but don't charge multiple times. The sales tax people can collect taxes from say, 100 distributors, instead of collecting them from 47,000 retailers that we have spread across Nepal. It will enable the government collect taxes easier and cleaner and ultimately, it's the same amount.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Being an Indian conglomerate, could you single out the most challenging aspect of doing business in Nepal?</strong></p>
<p>
	First and foremost, we are very multinational in our nature now as we are present in many countries. I would say that our roots are sub continental instead of only being Indian. When this group was born many years ago through acquisitions followed by start up ventures, we had our presence in many markets. For example, we had a small business in Nepal going on that we reactivated 15 years ago. The fruits of that success and strategy are now here after dealing in Nepal over a period of time. There have been lots of challenges but we have weathered them. We have learnt to cope up and adapt to the market and that's a great asset of being from the sub continent. I don't think we are very different from each other in the way we look at life, for example, our beliefs in god, family and value system etc. We follow a similar culture even though we may speak different languages we have so many languages in India too. It is easier to adapt much faster being from the sub continent. We have always maintained healthy relationships with all our stakeholders in Nepal the authorities, trade partners, key opinion leading consumers, associations etc.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you see yourself making greater inroads into this market? How do you plan to treat this country as a market in the future?</strong></p>
<p>
	We are planning to launch many more brands in the premium range in Nepal since it is a very critical market for us. You must be aware that we also have our own distillery in Biratnagar and we are investing in it on a continued basis. It is important for us to ensure that we continue to remain leaders and grow with the market. We will continue to treat the market in Nepal with respect as we have always done. The market has tremendous potential as always and lot of growth opportunities are available. We will continue to ensure that we invest in brands in this country and that our consumers are happy and satisfied with our brands. In this way, all stakeholders consumers, trade, authorities and the company will remain aligned and satisfied which is very critical for us. We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal growth story.&nbsp; <br />
	<br />
	 </p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-22',
			'modified' => '2012-11-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India',
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)
$current_user = null
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$xml = false
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

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 &quot;&quot; [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'
$dataForView = array(
	'articles' => array(
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			'Article' => array(
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			'Article' => array(
				[maximum depth reached]
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$articles = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '601',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Bajaj KaROADpati Scheme Creates History',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="bajajpati" border="2" height="171" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/bajaj.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumer promotion by handing over the prize money of Rs 1 crore to Mamita Paija of Myagdi. Paija’s coupon number 3633 was declared the winner of the consumer promotion scheme from among 11,967 Bajaj customers who had similar coupons. </p>
<p>
	The prize money of Rs 1 crore to the winner of ‘Bajaj Pati aba KaROADpati’ scheme is the biggest prize money offered for any promotional scheme in Nepal so far. Paija, a 19 years old BBS 1st year student said she would use the prize money to pursue her higher education and support her parents.</p>
<p>
	She had purchased a 150 cc Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle for her brother Kesh Bahadur under the scheme which promised the prize money of Rs 1 crore through bumper lucky draw. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'HH Bajaj, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Nepal, created history in Nepal’s consumerpromotion',
			'sortorder' => '502',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '600',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Housing Construction Cost Increases By 25 Per Cent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent. President of Federation of Contractors’ Associations Nepal (FCAN) Jaya Ram Lamichhane said the construction cost increased with a sharp increase in wage rate and construction materials compared to previous year. He said that the price of construction material has increased by 25 per cent. He said that a sack of cement is costlier by Rs 175 to Rs 200 than last year.</p>
<p>
	Cement in the market costs between Rs 700 to Rs 725 for a sack. A year ago, it was priced at Rs 520. Similarly, the cost of steel rod has also increased from Rs 58 for a kg to Rs 82. Producers say that the price was increased after the increase in cost of raw materials and import tax. Though the wage rate of workers was fixed in last July, with the condition of not to increase it more than 21 per cent, Lamichhane says the workers are being paid higher than that. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The cost of housing projects under construction in Kathmandu district has increased by 25 per cent.',
			'sortorder' => '501',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '599',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Agni Incorporated Completes 20 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, a business house for importing world class Mahindra &amp; Mahindra multi utility vehicles, tractors and Max Mile lubricants, has completed 19 years of its operation in Nepali automotive<img align="right" alt="agni" border="2" height="199" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/agni1.jpg" vspace="1" width="100" /> business. The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The company has 19 dealers and branches spread all over the country.',
			'sortorder' => '500',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
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	),
	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '598',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Hydropower The Cheapest In South Asia',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepals hydropower" border="4" height="186" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepalhydro.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country. He Speaking at the conference on Nepal-India Foreign Policy organised recently in Kathmandu requested investors to take this as an opportunity and make investments.</p>
<p>
	Pointing out that the South Asia has the prospect to generate 450 thousand Megawatts of electricity, he lamented at the dismally low utilisation of this capacity. Only 10 per cent of that potential is used so far, he said.</p>
<p>
	He added that the prospects are not harnessed because of missing coordination between the countries in South Asia. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Jayant Prasad, said that India wishes to see Nepal prosper economically by making investment here. He also said that hydropower is relatively safe area of investment than other sectors. He promised that India is ready to join hands with Nepal in every development programmes. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairperson at Energy Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the hydroelectricity produced in Nepal is 18 per cent cheaper than in any other South Asian country',
			'sortorder' => '499',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '597',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Mega's Branchless Banking',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has commenced branchless banking services supported with state-of-the-art technology from 29 December 2011, with a view to provide banking services to the rural populace of Nepal.<img align="right" alt="megabank" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/megab.jpg" style="width: 239px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	Mega Bank has taken initiation of this service from Sanga Chowk of Sindhupalchwok and is also planning to start this service at Karaiya of Rupendehi in the near future. This service will allow rural customers to deposit and withdraw money in a secure environment from the door steps of the homes of these individuals. The Bank has also started providing easy access of micro loan for agro based businesses and small entrepreneurs in these areas.</p>
<p>
	Along with this, other services like transfer of money from one account to another, mobile recharge, bill payment and remittance will be available in Branchless Banking. The bank plans to spread the service all over the country in the near future upon the successful completion of the present one.</p>
<p>
	15 Branches in Offi ng The bank has started a spree of opening 15 new branches areas across the country within a month. The campaign started by opening a branch in Dailekh on December 15 will end in Bhairahawa on January 18, says the bank. According to the bank, new branches are at Teku, Maharajgunj, Maitidevi, Bouddha and Thimi in Kathmandu and in Birtamod, Dharan, Janakpur, Dhading, Narayanghat, Bhairahawa, Dailekh, Ghorahi, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. With this expansion Mega will have 28 branches. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. has
commenced branchless
banking services supported
with state-of-the-art technology from
29 December 2011,',
			'sortorder' => '498',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '596',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Kumari Bank Bags Manthan Award',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Kumari Bank Limited has received The Manthan Award South Asia 2011 under the category of e-business and enterprise during ‘The Manthan Award South Asia 2011’ International Summit 2011 held in New Delhi, <img align="right" alt="kumari" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kumari.jpg" style="width: 136px; height: 149px;" vspace="1" />India on 1-2 December. </p>
<p>
	The award honours the best practices in e-content and creativity. Kumari Bank won the award for providing Kumari Mobile Cash service. Inthis year’s event, there were more than 481 applications under 30 core categories from across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Out of them, 38 were selected as winners and with Kumari Bank was the sole winner representing Nepal. </p>
<p>
	The Manthan Award was launched on 10th October 2004, by Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with World Summit Award, Department of Information Technology, Government of India. Kumari Mobile Cash had earlier received mBillionth Award South Asia for during the ‘mBillionth 2011 South Asia International Summit’, New Delhi, India on 23 July this year. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Kumari Bank Limited has received
The Manthan Award South Asia 2011
under the category of e-business and
enterprise',
			'sortorder' => '497',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '595',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => '49th IHRA Conference Concludes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><img align="top" alt="IHRA conference" border="2" height="211" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/49thirra.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></strong></p>
<p>
	International Hotel and Restaurant Association’s (IHRA) 49th World Conference held in Kathmandu concluded on November 30. The three-day conclave that began on November 28 was inaugurated by President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav.</p>
<p>
	According to Prasiddha Bahadur Pandey, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the conference was successful to promote and project Nepal and its tourism prospects in the international arena. He said that the conference focused on increasing investment in the tourism industry. He also said that the conference discussed about climate change, biodiversity and their impacts and new trends in the hotel industry as well as investment necessity in the tourism sector.</p>
<p>
	The conference had 200 representatives from 35 countries. IHRA has around 300 thousand hotels and seven million restaurants as its members. </p>
<p>
	<strong>HAN’s China ties <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	Meanwhile, HAN has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hotel Association of China for developing and promoting tourism in both countries. The agreement signed by Pandey and his Chinese counterpart Han Ming states that both the countries will exchange the information and support for the development of tourism and hotel sector, jointly organise conferences, carry out publicity campaigns and provide organisational support. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'International Hotel and Restaurant
Association’s (IHRA) 49th World
Conference held in Kathmandu
concluded on November 30.',
			'sortorder' => '496',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '594',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Carpet Export Shows Hope',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of improvement after 10 years of decline that had started in fiscal year 1999-2000. <img align="right" alt="carpet expo" border="2" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/carpetexpo.jpg" style="width: 254px; height: 142px;" vspace="1" /></p>
<p>
	According to Lanka Man Roka, President of Nepal C a r p e t Exporter’s Association, the carpet export figure in 2009/10 was 681 t h o u s a n d square metres which increased to 694 thousand square metres in 2010/11. Export in 2009/10 was the lowest in last 10 years. In 1999/2000, Nepal’s carpet exports stood at 2.59 million square metres.</p>
<p>
	In 1999/2000, Nepal had earned US$ 142.3 million from carpet exports. That declined to US$ 51.5 million in 2009/10. In 2010/11 carpets worth US$ 60 million were exported. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Export of Nepali carpet has shown the signs of
improvement after 10 years of decline that had
started in fiscal year 1999-2000.
According to Lanka Man Roka, President',
			'sortorder' => '495',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '593',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Visit Lumbini Year Announced',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<img align="top" alt="visit lumbini" border="4" height="191" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/visit-lumbini.jpg" vspace="2" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY). Amidst a function held at Lumbini, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared VLY by flying balloons that carried the message ‘Visit Lumbini Year 2012’.</p>
<p>
	Dr. Bhattarai promised that the government is soon bringing a new programme for the development of Lumbini. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'The government has formally announced to mark 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year (VLY).',
			'sortorder' => '494',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '592',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'CG Electronics Gets ISO 9001:2008',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate its quality management system. Issued by International Certification Services, the certificate covers all the products of the company’s Satungal, Kathmandu based factory.</p>
<p>
	Products of CG include LED TV, LCD TV, CRT TVs, DVD Player, Home Theatre, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave Oven, Air Conditioner, Vacuum Cleaner, Chest Freezer, Mobile, Rice Cooker, Iron, Inverter, Lightings, Battery, Monitor, UPS etc. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'CG Electronics Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001:2008 certificate',
			'sortorder' => '493',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '591',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'NTC To Regain No 1 Position',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market. The state owned operator was ousted from that position by Ncell, the private sector rival that overtook NTC in terms of the number of subscribers to the GSM mobile service.</p>
<p>
	Amar Nath Singh, Managing Director of NTC said in a press conference that NTC will regain that coveted position soon. For the company’s failure to safeguard the number one position, he blamed the lengthy procedures that the company has to follow as a state-owned enterprise while taking and implementing a business decision. Nepal government owns 91.49 percent in NTC.</p>
<p>
	Out of the NTC’s plan to distribute 1.237 million telephone lines all over Nepal by the end of this fiscal year, 500,000 lines were already distributed, by mid-November 2011, according to the company. The company also plans to increase the capacity to 10 million GSM lines. The process is already started to procure the equipment for this purpose, said Surendra Pradsad Thike, the spokesman of NTC. </p>
<p>
	The company is confident that it will achieve its set goals for the running fiscal year. According to the data made public by the company, it earned Rs 8.25 billion as sales income in the first quarter of the current fiscal year against the annual target of earning Rs 31 billion. This indicates that the annual target will be easily achieved, said Thike. The company also informed that it has replaced 212 old technology BTS towers in Kathmandu valley with new and advanced technology towers that have higher capacity and consume less power. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal Telecom (NTC) has announced its plan to regain the number one position in GSM mobile telephone service market.',
			'sortorder' => '492',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
			'in_scroller' => false,
			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '590',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Street Art For Uterine Prolapse Awareness',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December, in collaboration with WRRP-CAED to create awareness about the social problem of uterine prolapse.</p>
<p>
	<img align="middle" alt="street" border="5" height="57" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/street.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Under the project, visual messages were painted on the boundary wall of Nepal Food Corporation at Thapathali. The problem of uterine prolapse is pervasive throughout Nepal among the women of both reproductive and menopausal age.</p>
<p>
	Sporadic studies show its high prevalence also among women aged as low as 15. The 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey has found that up to 7 per cent of women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) were suffering from uterine prolapse while approximately 3 per cent of adolescents and youth suffered from it. In a study carried out by Institute of Medicine (IoM) of Tribhuvan University and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it was found that 600,000 women suffer from varying degrees of uterine prolapse and 200,000 women among them require immediate surgery. &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Artudio and The Image Park organised a street art project on 9 December',
			'sortorder' => '491',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '589',
			'article_category_id' => '34',
			'title' => 'Nepal, India Ink DTAA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<img align="top" alt="nepal,india" border="2" height="141" hspace="1" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/nepali.jpg" vspace="1" width="300" /></p>
<p>
	Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India. The treaty signed on November 27 in Kathmandu by Nepali Finance Minster Barshaman Pun and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee is the replacement of an earlier agreement signed in 1987.</p>
<p>
	The agreement is expected to bring about economic improvements and investment opportunities in both the countries. The agreement comes into effect from the new fiscal year of both countries.  &nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2012-02-23',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Nepal has signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India.',
			'sortorder' => '490',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '587',
			'article_category_id' => '50',
			'title' => 'Feedback February 2012',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Trade of Only Hopes</strong></span></p>
<p>
	Despite having one fifth of the world population, SAARC intra regional trade totalling less than five percent of the region's world trade is too low. India can be the largest market as well as producer for all its neighbouring countries. Small countries, at the moment are not so successful to produce competitive products to compete with the Indian products as well as cheap Chinese products.</p>
<p>
	Most of the exportable goods produced by the SAARC countries are similar, for example, garments and carpets are common to most of the countries. As a result, they are competing with each other. This also diminishes the market prospects within the region. Most of the countries in the region seem to be prioritising international trade rather than regional trade.</p>
<p>
	This is mostly because of the lucrative trade prospects beyond the region. The purchasing power in the region is still less even though the middle class population is fast increasing. The cost of connectivity is also high within the region. Procedural delays, non-tariff barriers and other hurdles are encouraging international trade.</p>
<p>
	The Indo-Pak relationship is seen as the major reason behind intra SAARC trade not fulfilling its potential. When the regional cooperation itself is not successful, the trading gets affected too. Though there are regional and bilateral agreements, their successful impact on the trade is questionable. Such agreements are only trading hope rather than the real goods.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Trade of Only Hopes<br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sudarshan Sharma Kathmandu</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Compensation</strong> <br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	Competition Compensation and benefits for employees in an organisation is one of the major human resource expenses for a company while it is a motivation for the employees. Even though the employees do not work only for monetary benefits, it is counted as one of the most important aspects.</p>
<p>
	Compensation for an employee for his/her performance and work execution can also come in various forms other than monetary benefits. Compensation and benefits are often connected with compensation policies in the job market and it becomes an important factor for people while accepting employment. The company's competency among the competitors is somehow connected to the compensation policy too. It is believed that better compensation attracts better human resources. Motivated staff members perform better than underpaid and demotivated employees. For hiring better employees, companies use higher perks as a tool to attract skilled people and compete in the job market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Ram Kumar Basyal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Sanothimi <br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Robust Poultry</strong><br />
	</span></p>
<p>
	The poultry products growth is expected to rise by 30 per cent, which is an encouraging fact and hope to many within the industry and supportive sectors. When this industry grows, chickens do not grow alone. Other industries like feed industries and employment grow simultaneously.</p>
<p>
	When 50 feed mills produce 450,000 tonnes of feed per year, they also generate employment to numerous people locally. The poultry industry provides employment to around 70,000 people and helps support the livelihood of thousands of families and households. The country, as such, has become self-sufficient on poultry products. However, majority of raw materials for feed production is still being imported from India.</p>
<p>
	The quality of the poultry farms and the farmers knowledge is often questioned. With the overall growth in the sector, these things are expected to improve over time. Other things that need to improve in Nepal are the per capita consumption of poultry products which is still low. If the poultry farms get bigger in scale and the cost of production can be further lowered, such issues can be solved without any delay.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Shankar Dhakal</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Chitwan</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Corrigendum <br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	The names of the scholar and the university mentioned in the first paragraph of the article by Sujit Mundul published in the November 2011 issue of New Business Age (page 66) were changed to protect the identity of the scholar.</p>
<p>
	<strong>- Editor</strong></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '586',
			'article_category_id' => '46',
			'title' => 'Anant SIyer',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>We Will Continue Providing Brand Delight To Nepali Consumers<br />
	</strong></span></p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	Anant SIyer is the Chief Operating Officer, RPC – East &amp; Nepal at United Spirits Limited (USL), the world’s third largest spirits maker by volume. He has over 27 years of experience in the industry and has earlier handled several key positions since joining the UB group in June 1992. In his current position, he will be responsible for USL’s operations in Eastern India and Nepal. He says, “We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal<br />
	growth story.”</p>
<p>
	 </p>
<p>
	<strong><img align="right" alt="interview" border="5" height="193" hspace="5" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/interview2.jpg" vspace="5" width="150" />You, along with your seniors, had created USL's strategy for Nepal close to a decade-and-a-half ago. What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time around?</strong></p>
<p>
	It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India. The second reason of my being here is that Gautam Mullick, our Country Manager here, is retiring after 14 long years of being in Nepal. You can call his being here as a circle of life because my seniors and I had made the original strategy for Nepal on behalf of UB Group and Nepal Liquors close to 15 years ago. At that point of time, we had selected him to be posted here.</p>
<p>
	From very small beginnings, we have now reached a position of strength. In earlier days, the market was small and so was the industry and globalisation was just coming into the subcontinent. With the kind of boom that has happened over the years, drinking of good spirits has also gone up. The Nepali consumer has been exposed to good blend and excellent tamper proof packaging like guala caps etc over a period of time. We have done very well and haven't looked back over the last oneand- a-half decade.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you think, USL with its 15 years presence in Nepal, have accomplished the objectives it had set out to achieve?</strong></p>
<p>
	Objectives in an organisation are set on an annual basis. It all dovetails into the vision we have for the organisation in Nepal. A vision is a long term goal that determines strategy which in turn sets objectives. Our objectives are ever evolving and ever growing so we cannot say that our objectives have been met. Our vision is to continue to grow in Nepal with the industry growth, remain market leaders and continue to provide full product and brand delight to the Nepali consumers.</p>
<p>
	The consumers experience for our brands has to be superlative and truly international so that the Nepali consumer knows he is getting the same kind of quality and product experience which he will receive anywhere else when he travels. It is an integral part of our organisational DNA that we keep on growing therefore, our objectives are not static and they change in accordance with the changing environment. The annual objectives always become better and more challenging but they all telescope into our overall vision for Nepal. We want to continue as the leading spirits marketer in the country and ensure that we give quality and delightful consumer experience. <strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>How do you assess USL's performance in India and other emerging markets?</strong></p>
<p>
	If you look at how we have performed in India, you will find that we are very clear about growing. We have close to two-thirds of the market share in India. We are now going to look at emerging markets and do have a huge strategy for markets in South Asia, Africa etc. We intend to grow by providing the consumers with good quality brands which provide delight to the consumers. We do a lot in terms of distribution and schemes to ensure reach and make our products available for every single pocket.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What is your reading of the Nepali market at this point of time?</strong></p>
<p>
	There is a growing middle class coming up in Nepal for so many years now which is very encouraging. When the economy grows, it helps people feel good and they want to enjoy themselves. We believe that socially responsible alcohol consumption is good in its own way, however, people should be aware. They must follow the laws of the land and that’s what we endeavour. We have a wonderful team of distributors located all over Nepal and they have been with us for many years. We continue to seek their help in ensuring that our products reach our consumers in the pack sizes of their preference which fits their pockets. We are the first company in Nepal to come up with 90 ml, 60 ml, guala caps etc which speaks volume of the fact that we keep on evolving.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>UB Group's most visible brand Kingfi sher Beer is not available in Nepal</strong>.<strong>What could be the possible reasons behind this glaring exclusion?</strong></p>
<p>
	Kingfisher Beer is actually managed by our sister organisation United Breweries and as far as I know, they had a presence in Nepal at a point of time. However, I am not aware of the latest developments in terms of its strategy for Nepal. Kingfisher is a wonderful and truly international brand and one of the real successes of this subcontinent. You will find it in many countries such as the US, Canada, England, France, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand etc. Kingfisher Beer is available either in restaurants that is on-trade or as off-trade. On my part, I can certainly communicate with my colleagues in the Breweries Division about the huge latent demand for the brand here. I am sure that they would want to look at this possibility again.</p>
<p>
	<strong>How have you fared on your liquor brands in this country?</strong></p>
<p>
	Luckily for us, most of our brands have succeeded pretty vigorously. Our success has been in premium whisky segment like Antiquity and Signature both being brand leaders. McDowellâ's No 1 and McDowell's Platinum have also done well while Blue Ribbon Gin is the sole leader in its category. We have received a setback in the Vodka segment but it's only a matter of time before we bounce back. Even though we are a small player in the Rum category, we have done well for ourselves and we will intend growing as there is definitely a market for Rum here.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Tell us a little about the competition you face from some other renowned brands available in Nepal.</strong></p>
<p>
	Competition has come and some of the competitor brands have been doing well but that's how business is. We don't fear the competition because as an organisation, we evolve with the consumers and step ahead. If you remember, when we launched Signature Whisky, it was Nepal’s best whisky produced at that time. Today, we are right there with our successful brands Antiquity Red and Antiquity Blue. Our Antiquity Blue is as good as any value scotch available in the market and can take them head on. I believe that competition is always healthy, it keeps us on our toes and we respect our competition.</p>
<p>
	The reason for the success of our group is that we are a very humble and straight shooting organisation. We don't allow our domination of any category or market to ever get into our head and don't browbeat or pressurise. Instead, we believe in growing with the market and ensure that our partners in progress the trade partners, retailers etc are conducting their businesses successfully. We keep all our stakeholders internal as well as external happy. In a market scenario, ups and downs always happen and market positions keep changing. Competition has grown over the years just as we did but if you look at the size, we have close to two-thirds of the market share in Nepal. Our objective is that we not only reach two-thirds in terms of volume but also in terms of earnings. In this endeavour, we have ensured that in the premium segment, we have a huge share of the market.</p>
<p>
	As for the prestige segment, it's only a matter of time that we regain the market share which we have lost over the last five years or so. I welcome competition as it does not allow complacency to set in. We would all like to be one step ahead of competition by ensuring product improvement and everything else that we do in the market.</p>
<p>
	<strong>You just mentioned that you would like to reach two-thirds in terms of earnings too. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></p>
<p>
	That is certainly our endeavour but it is not to fufill through the two-thirds market share that we enjoy. We improve our bottom line by ensuring that the products we sell are more premium category which we have succeeded in and will continue to succeed at. We do efficiencies in manufacturing and selling so there are ways and means to ensure that our bottom line gets affected. I am not even suggesting remotely by any means that one side should curb it so that the other side should get it. The intent is that if the consumer gets a product at the right price, the market grows and so does the revenue.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Now that you will be looking after Nepal operations for some time to come, what would be your expectations from the government here?</strong></p>
<p>
	We only hope that the government helps the industries such that it can help the revenue. As you know, the government also gets its last share of revenue from excise and taxes but year-on-year, rising taxes substantially will eventually lead to killing the golden goose. Every government around the world is cash strapped and we understand that Nepal is no exception but our prayer to the government is not to tax indiscriminately. Because the higher you tax, it gives the unscrupulous elements the opportunity to make spurious products. Given the arbitrage of the substantial tax amount, these elements enter into the market. They may not sell their products in the cities where there is better policing and supervision but they definitely sell them in the rural areas where people are neither very literate nor do they have the choice. Normally, these products are sold very cheap but they have unnecessary side effects. It also allows illegal activities to happen and as a result, there is an increase in corruption.</p>
<p>
	A spurious manufacturer takes advantage of this arbitrage and makes a lot of money. In the bargain, everybody loses right from the consumer to the government and us too as an industry. We understand that by all means, there is a proportion which needs to go to the government but it should be reasonable. At the end of the day, the government is also here to work for the welfare of its citizens so it needs money. But as businesses, we cannot keep on hiking prices because it will go over a certain tide. If the inflation is 10 per cent and the prices go up by 20 per cent, people are still not going to stop drinking. But one has to take a very long term view on this rather than a short term fix.</p>
<p>
	As I said a short while ago, the revenue grows when the market grows otherwise the revenue regresses. As prices increase, consumers tend to drink lower category drinks instead of premium ones. Since the excise duty is less in lower categories, the government tends to earn lower per case or bottle than in the higher categories. Hence, the government's revenue regresses eventually. I would also like to add that in this country, VAT is a pure form VAT which is good.</p>
<p>
	When you charge tax on small items of daily use such as biscuits, soaps, toothpastes etc, the tax is small so people don't mind paying. But when the tax amount is higher, people don't like paying which is human tendency anywhere in the world. Our suggestion is: please charge your tax but don't charge multiple times. The sales tax people can collect taxes from say, 100 distributors, instead of collecting them from 47,000 retailers that we have spread across Nepal. It will enable the government collect taxes easier and cleaner and ultimately, it's the same amount.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Being an Indian conglomerate, could you single out the most challenging aspect of doing business in Nepal?</strong></p>
<p>
	First and foremost, we are very multinational in our nature now as we are present in many countries. I would say that our roots are sub continental instead of only being Indian. When this group was born many years ago through acquisitions followed by start up ventures, we had our presence in many markets. For example, we had a small business in Nepal going on that we reactivated 15 years ago. The fruits of that success and strategy are now here after dealing in Nepal over a period of time. There have been lots of challenges but we have weathered them. We have learnt to cope up and adapt to the market and that's a great asset of being from the sub continent. I don't think we are very different from each other in the way we look at life, for example, our beliefs in god, family and value system etc. We follow a similar culture even though we may speak different languages we have so many languages in India too. It is easier to adapt much faster being from the sub continent. We have always maintained healthy relationships with all our stakeholders in Nepal the authorities, trade partners, key opinion leading consumers, associations etc.<strong><br />
	</strong></p>
<p>
	<strong>Do you see yourself making greater inroads into this market? How do you plan to treat this country as a market in the future?</strong></p>
<p>
	We are planning to launch many more brands in the premium range in Nepal since it is a very critical market for us. You must be aware that we also have our own distillery in Biratnagar and we are investing in it on a continued basis. It is important for us to ensure that we continue to remain leaders and grow with the market. We will continue to treat the market in Nepal with respect as we have always done. The market has tremendous potential as always and lot of growth opportunities are available. We will continue to ensure that we invest in brands in this country and that our consumers are happy and satisfied with our brands. In this way, all stakeholders consumers, trade, authorities and the company will remain aligned and satisfied which is very critical for us. We would like to participate in the growth that the government envisions for this country and be a part of the evolving Nepal growth story.&nbsp; <br />
	<br />
	 </p>',
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			'description' => 'It is to get myself reintroduced to our trade partners in the city as well as throughout the country as I have just taken over as the Chief Operating Officer for Nepal apart from my responsibilities in the eastern part of India',
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