August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on…
August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on…
August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers.…
August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra…
August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on…
August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous…
August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous…
August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food…
August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile…
…
August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the…
August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit…
August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital…
August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the…
August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the…
August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago.…
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As per the company, this program is aimed at engaging undergraduate students in ICT-related subjects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This is the second time that Huawei launched this program in Nepal. It was first launched in Thailand in 2008. The company informed that more than 12,000 students from more than 130 countries and regions have participated in the program since then.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, 256 applications were received from all over Nepal for the program this year. After receiving the application Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya and Prof. Dr. Manish Pokhrel interviewed the seven students who were selected on the basis of their GPA and motivation letter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the company, students who were selected in July are getting various opportunities in Nepal's ICT sector through various engagements since then. Similarly, the company said that they will be able to participate in the first regional on-site event to be held in Bangkok from August 19 to August 27.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15562', 'image' => '20220818033132_1660775901.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15820', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Britain to Sign Labour Pact on Monday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the MoU will be signed in Britain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ek Narayan Aryal and British ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt would sign the MoU on behalf of their respective countries, the ministry said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 14 had approved the labour pact related to sending human resources in the health sector from Nepal to the United Kingdom. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15561', 'image' => '20220818032427_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Great-Britain_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:23:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15819', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow tops Rs 1000 Billion during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.<br /> The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the remittance inflow in the review year (FY 2021/22) was Rs 1007.31 billion<br /> Similarly, the report further said that the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased significantly to 354,660 in the review year. The number includes new workers seeking labour permits included through institutional and individual basis.<br /> People seeking foreign employment in the previous year (FY 2020/2021) had decreased by 62.8. Meanwhile, the number of Nepali workers seeking renew entry for foreign employment increased by 198.5 percent to 282,453 in the review year. It had decreased by 46.8 percent in the previous year.<br /> According to the NRB report, net transfer increased by 4.3 percent to Rs 1117.88 billion in the review year. Such a transfer had increased 9.1 percent in the previous year.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15560', 'image' => '20220818032318_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:21:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15818', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Marks 37th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Addressing the ceremony, the executive director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, informed that currently about 96 percent of people are receiving electricity services and 42 districts are fully provided with electricity. He said that the authority is working day and night to fulfill the government's goal of providing 100 percent electricity service to the people within the next two years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director Ghising said that in its 35-year history, the authority for the first time made a profit of Rs 16.16 billion in the last year and said that this would continue to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“With the addition of a total of 735 megawatts of electricity to the national grid last year, including electricity produced by the authority's solar plant, we have reached a situation where we can produce more electricity than the demand during the rainy season,” said Ghising, adding, “We have been able to sell about 400 MW of electricity daily through competitive bid in the Indian Energy Exchange market from the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line after receiving permission from the Government of India to export 364 MW of electricity.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghising also informed that the leakage of electricity has reduced to 15.38 percent, which was 25.78 percent 6 years ago. The authority completed the construction of 16 substations and put them into operation in the fiscal year 2078/79. Ghising said that grid substations of 1383 MVA capacity have been completed and already put into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion of the anniversary, 15 employees and 17 subordinate offices were awarded and honored for their excellent work.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15559', 'image' => '20220818025947_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 14:59:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15817', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Current Account and Balance of Payments in Deficit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank, capital transfer decreased 34.5 percent to Rs 9.99 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) decreased 4.9 percent to Rs 18.56 billion in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs 15.26 billion and Rs 19.51 billion respectively, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a deficit of Rs 255.26 billion in the review year against a surplus of Rs 1.23 billion in the previous year. In the US dollar terms, the BOP remained at a deficit of 2.14 billion in the review year compared to a deficit of 3.1 million in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gross foreign exchange reserves decreased by 13.1 percent to Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1399.03 billion in mid-July 2021, the report further stated. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves decreased 18.9 percent to 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022 from 11.75 billion in mid-July 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves held by NRB decreased by 15.1 percent to Rs 1056.39 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1244.63 billion in mid-July 2021. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 3.2 percent to Rs 159.41 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 154.39 billion in mid-July 2021. The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 23.6 percent in mid-July 2022.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15558', 'image' => '20220818012503_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 13:24:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15816', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Increases to Rs 1720.42 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the export-import ratio increased to 10.4 percent in the review period from 9.2 percent in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review year, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 213.53 billion compared to Rs 190.54 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During 2021/22, merchandise exports increased by 41.7 percent to Rs 200.03 billion compared to an increase of 44.4 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and other countries increased 45.9 percent and 30.4 respectively whereas exports to China decreased 20.4 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, exports of palm oil, woolen carpet, polyester yarn and thread, zinc sheet, juice, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, cardamom, tea, medicine (ayurvedic), wire, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise imports increased by 24.7 percent to Rs 1920.45 billion compared to an increase of 28.7 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries increased 23.5 percent, 13.2 percent, and 36.3 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Imports of petroleum products, medicine, crude palm oil, sponge iron, gold, among others, increased whereas imports of MS billet, cement, rice/paddy, pulses, medical equipment and tools, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Kanchanpur Customs Office decreased whereas exports from all other major customs points increased in the review year. On the import side, imports from all major customs points increased in the review year. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15557', 'image' => '20220818010018_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15815', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Percent Population at Risk of Severe Food Crisis in Nepal despite Sufficient Reserve ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrigendra Singh Yadav said the existing food reserve is sufficient to meet the average daily food requirements for Nepalis, but still the risk of food insecurity prevails. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was presenting the fact during a seminar entitled 'Food Security in Nepal' jointly organised by the National Security Council and the Nepalese Army. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, food intake habits and culture, people's unequal access to food, food inaccessibility, lack of quality food, natural disasters and consequences, impact of climate change, artificial food shortage, COVID-19 and fluctuations of food prices in the national and international markets have posed uncertainty in the domestic food supply chain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, an exodus of youth force from the agricultural activities, pesticides attacks on crops and the increasing size of uncultivated land are additional challenges for keeping food security intact. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the World Food Summit 1996, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Bank defines the situation when the calorie intake remains under 1,800 per day per person as severe food insecurity and according to the WB definition, 7.8 percent of total population face a greater risk of severe food insecurity in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An adult with normal health condition requires an intake of 2,200 calorie each day for an active life and the calorie consumption mainly depends on the availability of food. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 15th five-year plan in Nepal states that 21 percent population in Nepal has still no access to sufficient food. It says that only 48.2 percent of the households are basically food secure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government data show that during the last fiscal year (2021/22), the food production in the country was 369 kilos per person and it was estimated to be 257 kilos after deducting seeds, preservation for animal feed and the loss during post-harvest stage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The figure suggests the food production is enough to meet the daily minimum food requirements of the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the review year, the annual food production in the country was 10. 77 million metric tonnes and it was around 7,530,000 metric tonnes after deducing the seeds, livestock preservation and post-harvest stage loss. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report says that Nepal needs around 5. 86 million metric tonnes of processed food to meet the food requirements of its population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the minister said, "The data about the availability of the food shows the quantity of food reserve is approximately 1,663,000 metric tons. Despite the food reserve at the national level, at the household level, around 21 still face the situation forcing them to limit their daily calorie intake below the requirements.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the minister, imbalanced production and distribution is likely to push around 20 districts at the risk of food insecurity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The time analysis of the past one decade shows that food reserve in the nation is good, except in the year 2015 that witnessed the major earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The import of large quantity of rice on the other hand is unexpected. The Annual Household Survey Report, 2017 prepared by the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the consumption of fine grain rice is on increasing trend. Domestic production of rice has not been able to meet the growing demand. However, opposed to this a large quantity of production of other cereals is being consumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In terms of food and nutritional security, the contribution of crops like millet and buckwheat has still not come in the mainstream. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seventy-seven percent of the daily total calorie requirement of a person should be supplied through plant-based food and materials while the rest should be supplied through animals, birds and fish. But the daily calorie requirement is not according to this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said. It is said 87 percent of the calorie requirement per person is derived from plant-based materials and the rest is derived from milk, dairy products, meat and egg. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Yadav said that the statistics shows that from the production point of view, the country is self-sufficient on fish, meat and egg while it is close to this in milk. He reiterated that the ministry is giving special stress on food security in terms of increasing the production and supply of animal-based food for nutritional security. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is necessary to put in extra investment for expanding the irrigation facility, the availability of improved varieties of seeds and breeds and modernization as well as commercialization of agriculture for production growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also required is collaboration among the three tiers of the government, NGOs, private organisations and development partners for research, technology expansion and infrastructure development to face the challenges seen in the food and nutrition security, Minister Yadav pointed out. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Defence Secretary and the National Security Council Secretariat coordinator Kiran Raj Sharma said this is the first seminar of its kind on contemporary topic. Stating that the issue of food security is not only linked to human security but is also directly linked to overall development, he said this programme has been organised in this light. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Food Summit organized in 1974 had acknowledged that food is the basic requirement and stressed on maintaining a balance regarding its quantity, price and supply. The World Food Summit held in 1996 in Rome stated that it can be considered the status of food security has been achieved only if every person has physical and economic access to healthy and nutritious food as per his/her requirement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary Sharma said it is regrettable that Nepal has not been able to produce the required quantity of food grain despite being predominantly an agrarian country. He added that a large number of populations in the country are deprived of food security due to the sustenance and traditional agriculture system, disparity in the availability and distribution of agricultural land, the complications related to the structure of cultivable land and over-dependence on import in agriculture. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sixty percent of the country's population is dependent on agriculture while its contribution to GDP is 32 percent. Statistics show that there is shortage of 600,000 metric tonnes of food grain in Nepal annually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts have come to the conclusion that food security in Nepal is also affected due to factors like COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and its adverse impact on the supply of food grains and fuel and the change in the policy of import and export of food grains adopted by various countries in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, among others. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15556', 'image' => '20220818122433_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:23:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SSF Contributors can get Special Credit Facility through Mobile App ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fund launched the app that allows the contributors to get special credit, housing loan, educational loan and social loan using the app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Labour Minister Sher Bahadur Kunwar launched the contributor special credit and mobile app during a programme organised at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Wednesday (August 17).</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, contributors Binay Kumar Mahato and Pawan Babu Pradhan received the amount of special credit and amount of retirement service through the mobile app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contributors who have been regularly contributing to the fund from mid-July 2019 can get special credit and other loan from the fund. As per the Contributors Credit Guidelines-2079, a contributor contributing to the fund continuously for three years can get such credit and loans. Around 700 contributors have now become eligible to get such facilities. Altogether 352,924 contributors are enrolled in the fund so far. A total of Rs 22.08 million have been deposited in the fund so far. The fund had started collecting such amount from Shrawan, 2076 BS (mid-July 2019). There is a provision that a contributor enrolled in the fund has to deposit 11 per cent of amount of his/her basic remuneration and the employer has to contribute 20 per cent monthly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Kunwar directed the fund to make its service technology-friendly and urged to widen the social security coverage. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15555', 'image' => '20220818114210_SSF (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 11:40:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KUSOM, KCM and NATHM Declared Best B-school for 2022', 'sub_title' => '16 colleges awarded under four categories during “6th Newbiz B-Schools Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) has bagged the “Best B-school of Nepal - MBA/MBS” award while Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) and Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) have won the “Best B-school of Nepal – BBA/BBA” and “Best B-school of Nepal – BHM” awards respectively. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were announced winners of the sixth edition of the “Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards” amid a grand ceremony held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Prabhu Bank is the main sponsor of the event organized by New Business Age Pvt Ltd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaha, Tata Nexon, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Everest Bank Ltd, Hama Steel, United Insurance, Nepali Patro, Dish Home FiberNet are other partners of the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Along with the best three business schools, a total of 16 colleges were awarded in four different categories. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The best three colleges under MBA/MBS, BBA/BBS and BHM categories were awarded trophies and certificates while the second and third best colleges received certificates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">One best college from each of the seven provinces were also felicitated during the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields had selected the best business schools after phase-wise evaluation, according to the organizer. A total of 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools. Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the schools’ mission, vision and slogan. A total of 87 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation. Among them, 16 were awarded during the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The organizer said that the annual event aims to honor business schools that have been consistently producing prospective future managers of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Presidential Business School was announced the “2nd Best School of Nepal-MBA/MBS'' while The British College won the award of ‘3rd Best B-school of Nepal-MBA/MBS’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Toward the BBA/BBS category, Uniglobe College and Shanker Dev Campus were announced second and third best B-schools respectively for 2022.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management was declared the “2nd Best B-school of Nepal” whereas Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality was adjudged the “3rd Best B-school of Nepal – BHM”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, the quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the schools for the awards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prior to the award ceremony, a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” was also organised during the event where education sector leaders highlighted the role of business schools in producing business executives and other human capital required for the country. Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, Management Educator Professor Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management’s Co-Founder Rachana Thapa were the panelists of the discussion moderated by Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seven colleges from each province felicitated</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the event, one college from each of the seven provinces was felicitated with the best B-school of the province award.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kailali Multiple Campus of Dhangadhi was declared the best business school of Sudur Paschim Province. Likewise, Sahara Campus won the award of the “Best Business School '' of Karnali Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Lumbini, it was Lumbini Banijya Campus that was handed with the “Best B School’ award. Novel Academy of Pokhara clinched the award of the “Best B School '' in Gandaki Province while “Special Recognition B School '' was provided to Presidency College of Management Sciences of Bharatpur in Bagamati Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Birgunj Public College of Birgunj was honored with the “Best B School” in Madhesh Province while Damak Multiple Campus won the award of the “Best B School” of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15554', 'image' => '20220817080008_IMG-20220817-WA0015.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:21:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Education Experts Emphasize on Enhancing Connection between Business Schools and Industries', 'sub_title' => 'Education sector leaders discuss ways to retain management students in the country', 'summary' => 'August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” during 6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022, they said that retaining students produced by business schools of Nepal has become a major challenge faced by management education in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The question is not about quality, but it’s about retention. The domestic business sector is not able to offer the competitive compensation packages that attract the human capital produced in the country,” said Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is a need for a strong tie-up between educational institutions and business groups,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rachana Thapa, co-founder of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, said that the emphasis should be on research-based and student-centric education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The world is a global village. People see opportunities abroad. You cannot stop them from exploring the world,” she said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“How to retain these people in the country? That answer is: invest in your quality and curriculum. Go back and revisit them. The world is changing. What was good 20 or 5 years ago may not be relevant right now,” she said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prof Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a management educator, called for a paradigm shift in the education system to produce good managers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is no interface between the business schools and the real businesses. What sort of skills do businesses need? It is a big challenge to identify their needs and produce students that they can absorb,” said Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding, said that the focus should be on improving employability rather than the education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Things are changing fast and we have to change accordingly,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the discussion, all panelists agreed that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is up to the mark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Some people say that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is not good. I partly agree to that, not fully. We have produced successful managers like Kulman Ghising and many CEOs in the banking sector who are the products of Nepal’s business schools,” said Management Educator Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">TU’s Faculty of Management’s Dean Prof Sharma insisted that Nepal’s curriculum and educational programmes meet international standards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“All programmes that we are running are sellable. We are developing courses including hotel management by consulting with respective business sectors,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15553', 'image' => '20220817060006_IMG-20220817-WA0003.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Heading in the Right Direction, Claims NPC Vice Chair Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The growth, the governing principles and demographic resilience are heading towards the right direction. We are making progress in various sectors. The pace may not be satisfactory, but there is progress in various key sectors,” said Dr Poudel, adding, “I urge the education sector to make its contribution toward this progress.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Poudel made such remarks while speaking at the “6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Krishna Prasad Adhikari, vice president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), said that the situation of the country will not improve if there is no practical and quality education that guarantees the bright future for the students. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have not been able to embrace technology in our schools and colleges,” said Adhikari. “Until the education sector is not changed, we cannot imagine a change in any other sector,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), said that the focus should be on attracting foreign students to study in Nepal’s educational institutions. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Our Nepali students are leaving the country to study abroad or for various opportunities. If it’s globalization, there should also be arrival of foreign students in Nepal to pursue their education,” he said, calling for collective efforts toward that end. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the SEBON recently started issuing license to private equity and venture capital, he said that they could become a source of financing for those business students who want to become entrepreneurs and implement their business ideas. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have started a process to issue license for private equity and venture capital. They provide capital and business knowledge to ideas or startups without any collateral. For business students, this can be a new opportunity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15552', 'image' => '20220817064731_IMG-20220817-WA0013.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at the inauguration of the awards ceremony, Madan Lamsal, editor-in-chief of New Business Age, said that the country must focus on quality education at a time when our economy is driven by remittance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We cannot sustain our economy driven by remittance. We need capable human resources which is possible through education,” said Lamsal, adding, “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education so that the students of Nepal do not have to go abroad for higher education.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organizers, the best colleges will be awarded in four different categories from among more than 2,300 business schools across the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 16 colleges will be awarded in four different categories during the award distribution ceremony that started at 4 pm today afternoon (August 17). The organizers informed that three best colleges for MBA/MBS, three each for BBA/BBS, three best colleges for BHM and one college from each of the seven provinces will be honored during the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Among them, one best college in the first three categories will be given trophies and certificates, while certificates will be distributed to the second and third-position holders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, certificates will be given to the best colleges in each province.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A panel discussion among experts on the topic of 'Future of Management Education' is also scheduled during the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields have selected the best school after phase-wise evaluation. According to the jury, 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the school's mission, vision and slogan. A total of 57 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the school for the awards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The main sponsor of the program is Prabhu Bank Limited, while Yamaha, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Tata Nexon, Everest Bank, Hama Steel, United Insurance, DishHome Fiber Net and Nepali Patro are the co-sponsors of the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15551', 'image' => '20220817062644_IMG-20220817-WA0012.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:23:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government not Supportive Towards Innovation and Entrepreneurship ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three major elections have been held since they developed the machine including two local level elections and one for the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, instead of encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation through the use of domestic products, the government and the Election Commission have been neglecting technology to the detriment of those engaged in such work. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Both these bodies are planning to continue using ballot papers which have to be imported from abroad by spending millions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is no need to doubt the reliability of the machine developed by the twin brothers. Using the same voting machine, 100 internal elections of political parties including CPN-UML, RPP and other organizations have been completed flawlessly. In addition, engineering students who design and develop hardware and software for various types of machines have also used the same machine during the elections of student unions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman's machine was used during the voting of the last union election at Pulchowk Campus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Elections of Nepal Chartered Accountants Association, Rotary Club, a prestigious organization of international level, etc. have also been completed with the voting machine prepared by Ram Lakshman's company Ram Lakshman Innovations Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to them, the Election Commission during a demonstration had said it would be easier for them to accept the machine if was used in the voting of an organization. Then they started using the machine in the elections of various organizations.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dozens of political parties and their sister organizations and other organizations successfully used the machine. Then they again went to the Election Commission but the commission is not yet ready to accept it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“They neither accept it nor reject it,” rued the Rimal brothers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The voting machine manufactured in Nepal has already been certified at the international level. The digital certificate issued by the Certification Office of the Government of Nepal has also confirmed that the software of the machine is safe.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman also clarified that they are not looking for profit. They say that if the government produces the machine, they are ready to provide all kind of support and let them use it without royalty.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15550', 'image' => '20220817054322_innovation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:42:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half a Dozen GI Wire Industries Shut Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had assured to correct the unequal tax rates but failed to keep his words. As a result, around 1,500 workers have become unemployed due to the faulty decision of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the industrialists, Hulas Wire, Aarti Wire, Arihant Wire Industry, Kamala Wire, Premier Wire and Pioneer Wire Pvt. Ltd. of Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor have been closed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pawan Sharda, director of Premier Steel and member of the Constituent Assembly, said that the government is not ready to correct the unequal tax rates. It shows that the government is not in favor of the industry. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The government does not want jobs to be created in the country. Otherwise why could the promise made by the minister not be fulfilled on time and the industry had to be closed today?” he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharda said that the industries have posted notices informing about their closure and the labor office has been informed about it. He added that the wrong policy of the government resulted in unemployment of 1,500 people. He claimed that the industries will incur monthly loss of Rs 1 million to Rs 1.5 million even if the industries remain closed. Sharda says that even if the government fixes the tax rate and tells them to start the industry, it will take 2 months to reopen the industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Through the budget announced for the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Sharma had increased the customs duty on mild steel (MS) wire rod, the raw material required for this industry from 5 to 10 percent. Excise duty was changed from Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.50 per kg. India also started levying a 15 percent duty on the export of MS wire to protect its industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Anil Sharda, general secretary of Chamber of Industries, Morang and owner of Pioneer Wire said that they had to pay 29.5 percent of import duty in total after adding India's export duty along with Nepal's import duty and excise duty on the import of MS wire. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On the other hand, GI wire produced from the same MS wire rod can be imported from India by paying 16 percent revenue under the SAFTA facility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suysha Raj Pyakurel, president of the chamber, said that GI wire export dropped from 22,740 metric tons in the year 2018/19 to 672 tons in the year 2021/22 due to the additional excise duty imposed by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Payakurel, after Sharma was reinstated as the Finance Minister, he had given verbal assurance to remove the unequal tax rates soon.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Naveen Rijal, president of the Morang Merchants Association, said that six large wire industries and 40 small industries dependent on them closed due to failure to fulfill the assurance given by Finance Minister Sharma. Yukti Golchha, owner and managing director of Hulas Wire said that the factory producing 150 tons of GI wire per day has been closed as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15549', 'image' => '20220817040716_Chamber of industries morang new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:06:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Average Consumer Price Inflation Stands at 6.32 Percent during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, global rise in fuel and food prices, supply chain disruptions and devaluation of Nepalese currency with US dollar contributed to build up inflationary pressures during the second half of Fiscal Year 2021/22.<br /> However, due to low level of inflation during initial months, the annual average consumer price inflation remained at 6.32 percent during the last fiscal year compared to 3.60 percent in FY 2020/2021, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. <br /> According to the report, the prices of ghee and oil, pulses and legumes, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks sub-categories rose by 26.13 percent, 9.92 percent, 9.84 percent and 8.57 percent respectively on annual basis under the Food and Beverage category. <br /> Likewise, under the non-food and services category, the prices of transportation, education, furnishing and household equipment and recreation and culture sub-categories rose by 15.82 percent, 8.78 percent, 7.09 percent and 6.68 percent respectively on annual basis. <br /> The annual average food and beverage inflation stood at 5.69 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 5.00 percent a year ago. The y-o-y food and beverage inflation stood at 6.89 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 5.81 percent a year ago. <br /> Similarly, the annual average non-food and services inflation stood at 6.83 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 2.51 percent a year ago. The y-o-y non-food and services inflation stood at 9.03 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 2.94 percent a year ago. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15548', 'image' => '20220817013642_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 13:35:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15821', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Huawei Concludes “Seeds for the Future 2022”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As per the company, this program is aimed at engaging undergraduate students in ICT-related subjects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This is the second time that Huawei launched this program in Nepal. It was first launched in Thailand in 2008. The company informed that more than 12,000 students from more than 130 countries and regions have participated in the program since then.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, 256 applications were received from all over Nepal for the program this year. After receiving the application Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya and Prof. Dr. Manish Pokhrel interviewed the seven students who were selected on the basis of their GPA and motivation letter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the company, students who were selected in July are getting various opportunities in Nepal's ICT sector through various engagements since then. Similarly, the company said that they will be able to participate in the first regional on-site event to be held in Bangkok from August 19 to August 27.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15562', 'image' => '20220818033132_1660775901.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15820', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Britain to Sign Labour Pact on Monday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the MoU will be signed in Britain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ek Narayan Aryal and British ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt would sign the MoU on behalf of their respective countries, the ministry said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 14 had approved the labour pact related to sending human resources in the health sector from Nepal to the United Kingdom. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15561', 'image' => '20220818032427_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Great-Britain_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:23:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15819', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow tops Rs 1000 Billion during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.<br /> The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the remittance inflow in the review year (FY 2021/22) was Rs 1007.31 billion<br /> Similarly, the report further said that the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased significantly to 354,660 in the review year. The number includes new workers seeking labour permits included through institutional and individual basis.<br /> People seeking foreign employment in the previous year (FY 2020/2021) had decreased by 62.8. Meanwhile, the number of Nepali workers seeking renew entry for foreign employment increased by 198.5 percent to 282,453 in the review year. It had decreased by 46.8 percent in the previous year.<br /> According to the NRB report, net transfer increased by 4.3 percent to Rs 1117.88 billion in the review year. Such a transfer had increased 9.1 percent in the previous year.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15560', 'image' => '20220818032318_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:21:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15818', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Marks 37th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Addressing the ceremony, the executive director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, informed that currently about 96 percent of people are receiving electricity services and 42 districts are fully provided with electricity. He said that the authority is working day and night to fulfill the government's goal of providing 100 percent electricity service to the people within the next two years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director Ghising said that in its 35-year history, the authority for the first time made a profit of Rs 16.16 billion in the last year and said that this would continue to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“With the addition of a total of 735 megawatts of electricity to the national grid last year, including electricity produced by the authority's solar plant, we have reached a situation where we can produce more electricity than the demand during the rainy season,” said Ghising, adding, “We have been able to sell about 400 MW of electricity daily through competitive bid in the Indian Energy Exchange market from the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line after receiving permission from the Government of India to export 364 MW of electricity.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghising also informed that the leakage of electricity has reduced to 15.38 percent, which was 25.78 percent 6 years ago. The authority completed the construction of 16 substations and put them into operation in the fiscal year 2078/79. Ghising said that grid substations of 1383 MVA capacity have been completed and already put into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion of the anniversary, 15 employees and 17 subordinate offices were awarded and honored for their excellent work.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15559', 'image' => '20220818025947_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 14:59:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15817', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Current Account and Balance of Payments in Deficit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank, capital transfer decreased 34.5 percent to Rs 9.99 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) decreased 4.9 percent to Rs 18.56 billion in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs 15.26 billion and Rs 19.51 billion respectively, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a deficit of Rs 255.26 billion in the review year against a surplus of Rs 1.23 billion in the previous year. In the US dollar terms, the BOP remained at a deficit of 2.14 billion in the review year compared to a deficit of 3.1 million in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gross foreign exchange reserves decreased by 13.1 percent to Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1399.03 billion in mid-July 2021, the report further stated. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves decreased 18.9 percent to 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022 from 11.75 billion in mid-July 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves held by NRB decreased by 15.1 percent to Rs 1056.39 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1244.63 billion in mid-July 2021. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 3.2 percent to Rs 159.41 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 154.39 billion in mid-July 2021. The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 23.6 percent in mid-July 2022.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15558', 'image' => '20220818012503_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 13:24:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15816', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Increases to Rs 1720.42 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the export-import ratio increased to 10.4 percent in the review period from 9.2 percent in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review year, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 213.53 billion compared to Rs 190.54 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During 2021/22, merchandise exports increased by 41.7 percent to Rs 200.03 billion compared to an increase of 44.4 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and other countries increased 45.9 percent and 30.4 respectively whereas exports to China decreased 20.4 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, exports of palm oil, woolen carpet, polyester yarn and thread, zinc sheet, juice, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, cardamom, tea, medicine (ayurvedic), wire, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise imports increased by 24.7 percent to Rs 1920.45 billion compared to an increase of 28.7 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries increased 23.5 percent, 13.2 percent, and 36.3 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Imports of petroleum products, medicine, crude palm oil, sponge iron, gold, among others, increased whereas imports of MS billet, cement, rice/paddy, pulses, medical equipment and tools, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Kanchanpur Customs Office decreased whereas exports from all other major customs points increased in the review year. On the import side, imports from all major customs points increased in the review year. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15557', 'image' => '20220818010018_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15815', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Percent Population at Risk of Severe Food Crisis in Nepal despite Sufficient Reserve ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrigendra Singh Yadav said the existing food reserve is sufficient to meet the average daily food requirements for Nepalis, but still the risk of food insecurity prevails. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was presenting the fact during a seminar entitled 'Food Security in Nepal' jointly organised by the National Security Council and the Nepalese Army. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, food intake habits and culture, people's unequal access to food, food inaccessibility, lack of quality food, natural disasters and consequences, impact of climate change, artificial food shortage, COVID-19 and fluctuations of food prices in the national and international markets have posed uncertainty in the domestic food supply chain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, an exodus of youth force from the agricultural activities, pesticides attacks on crops and the increasing size of uncultivated land are additional challenges for keeping food security intact. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the World Food Summit 1996, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Bank defines the situation when the calorie intake remains under 1,800 per day per person as severe food insecurity and according to the WB definition, 7.8 percent of total population face a greater risk of severe food insecurity in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An adult with normal health condition requires an intake of 2,200 calorie each day for an active life and the calorie consumption mainly depends on the availability of food. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 15th five-year plan in Nepal states that 21 percent population in Nepal has still no access to sufficient food. It says that only 48.2 percent of the households are basically food secure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government data show that during the last fiscal year (2021/22), the food production in the country was 369 kilos per person and it was estimated to be 257 kilos after deducting seeds, preservation for animal feed and the loss during post-harvest stage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The figure suggests the food production is enough to meet the daily minimum food requirements of the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the review year, the annual food production in the country was 10. 77 million metric tonnes and it was around 7,530,000 metric tonnes after deducing the seeds, livestock preservation and post-harvest stage loss. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report says that Nepal needs around 5. 86 million metric tonnes of processed food to meet the food requirements of its population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the minister said, "The data about the availability of the food shows the quantity of food reserve is approximately 1,663,000 metric tons. Despite the food reserve at the national level, at the household level, around 21 still face the situation forcing them to limit their daily calorie intake below the requirements.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the minister, imbalanced production and distribution is likely to push around 20 districts at the risk of food insecurity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The time analysis of the past one decade shows that food reserve in the nation is good, except in the year 2015 that witnessed the major earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The import of large quantity of rice on the other hand is unexpected. The Annual Household Survey Report, 2017 prepared by the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the consumption of fine grain rice is on increasing trend. Domestic production of rice has not been able to meet the growing demand. However, opposed to this a large quantity of production of other cereals is being consumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In terms of food and nutritional security, the contribution of crops like millet and buckwheat has still not come in the mainstream. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seventy-seven percent of the daily total calorie requirement of a person should be supplied through plant-based food and materials while the rest should be supplied through animals, birds and fish. But the daily calorie requirement is not according to this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said. It is said 87 percent of the calorie requirement per person is derived from plant-based materials and the rest is derived from milk, dairy products, meat and egg. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Yadav said that the statistics shows that from the production point of view, the country is self-sufficient on fish, meat and egg while it is close to this in milk. He reiterated that the ministry is giving special stress on food security in terms of increasing the production and supply of animal-based food for nutritional security. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is necessary to put in extra investment for expanding the irrigation facility, the availability of improved varieties of seeds and breeds and modernization as well as commercialization of agriculture for production growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also required is collaboration among the three tiers of the government, NGOs, private organisations and development partners for research, technology expansion and infrastructure development to face the challenges seen in the food and nutrition security, Minister Yadav pointed out. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Defence Secretary and the National Security Council Secretariat coordinator Kiran Raj Sharma said this is the first seminar of its kind on contemporary topic. Stating that the issue of food security is not only linked to human security but is also directly linked to overall development, he said this programme has been organised in this light. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Food Summit organized in 1974 had acknowledged that food is the basic requirement and stressed on maintaining a balance regarding its quantity, price and supply. The World Food Summit held in 1996 in Rome stated that it can be considered the status of food security has been achieved only if every person has physical and economic access to healthy and nutritious food as per his/her requirement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary Sharma said it is regrettable that Nepal has not been able to produce the required quantity of food grain despite being predominantly an agrarian country. He added that a large number of populations in the country are deprived of food security due to the sustenance and traditional agriculture system, disparity in the availability and distribution of agricultural land, the complications related to the structure of cultivable land and over-dependence on import in agriculture. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sixty percent of the country's population is dependent on agriculture while its contribution to GDP is 32 percent. Statistics show that there is shortage of 600,000 metric tonnes of food grain in Nepal annually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts have come to the conclusion that food security in Nepal is also affected due to factors like COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and its adverse impact on the supply of food grains and fuel and the change in the policy of import and export of food grains adopted by various countries in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, among others. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15556', 'image' => '20220818122433_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:23:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SSF Contributors can get Special Credit Facility through Mobile App ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fund launched the app that allows the contributors to get special credit, housing loan, educational loan and social loan using the app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Labour Minister Sher Bahadur Kunwar launched the contributor special credit and mobile app during a programme organised at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Wednesday (August 17).</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, contributors Binay Kumar Mahato and Pawan Babu Pradhan received the amount of special credit and amount of retirement service through the mobile app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contributors who have been regularly contributing to the fund from mid-July 2019 can get special credit and other loan from the fund. As per the Contributors Credit Guidelines-2079, a contributor contributing to the fund continuously for three years can get such credit and loans. Around 700 contributors have now become eligible to get such facilities. Altogether 352,924 contributors are enrolled in the fund so far. A total of Rs 22.08 million have been deposited in the fund so far. The fund had started collecting such amount from Shrawan, 2076 BS (mid-July 2019). There is a provision that a contributor enrolled in the fund has to deposit 11 per cent of amount of his/her basic remuneration and the employer has to contribute 20 per cent monthly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Kunwar directed the fund to make its service technology-friendly and urged to widen the social security coverage. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15555', 'image' => '20220818114210_SSF (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 11:40:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KUSOM, KCM and NATHM Declared Best B-school for 2022', 'sub_title' => '16 colleges awarded under four categories during “6th Newbiz B-Schools Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) has bagged the “Best B-school of Nepal - MBA/MBS” award while Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) and Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) have won the “Best B-school of Nepal – BBA/BBA” and “Best B-school of Nepal – BHM” awards respectively. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were announced winners of the sixth edition of the “Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards” amid a grand ceremony held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Prabhu Bank is the main sponsor of the event organized by New Business Age Pvt Ltd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaha, Tata Nexon, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Everest Bank Ltd, Hama Steel, United Insurance, Nepali Patro, Dish Home FiberNet are other partners of the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Along with the best three business schools, a total of 16 colleges were awarded in four different categories. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The best three colleges under MBA/MBS, BBA/BBS and BHM categories were awarded trophies and certificates while the second and third best colleges received certificates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">One best college from each of the seven provinces were also felicitated during the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields had selected the best business schools after phase-wise evaluation, according to the organizer. A total of 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools. Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the schools’ mission, vision and slogan. A total of 87 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation. Among them, 16 were awarded during the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The organizer said that the annual event aims to honor business schools that have been consistently producing prospective future managers of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Presidential Business School was announced the “2nd Best School of Nepal-MBA/MBS'' while The British College won the award of ‘3rd Best B-school of Nepal-MBA/MBS’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Toward the BBA/BBS category, Uniglobe College and Shanker Dev Campus were announced second and third best B-schools respectively for 2022.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management was declared the “2nd Best B-school of Nepal” whereas Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality was adjudged the “3rd Best B-school of Nepal – BHM”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, the quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the schools for the awards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prior to the award ceremony, a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” was also organised during the event where education sector leaders highlighted the role of business schools in producing business executives and other human capital required for the country. Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, Management Educator Professor Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management’s Co-Founder Rachana Thapa were the panelists of the discussion moderated by Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seven colleges from each province felicitated</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the event, one college from each of the seven provinces was felicitated with the best B-school of the province award.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kailali Multiple Campus of Dhangadhi was declared the best business school of Sudur Paschim Province. Likewise, Sahara Campus won the award of the “Best Business School '' of Karnali Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Lumbini, it was Lumbini Banijya Campus that was handed with the “Best B School’ award. Novel Academy of Pokhara clinched the award of the “Best B School '' in Gandaki Province while “Special Recognition B School '' was provided to Presidency College of Management Sciences of Bharatpur in Bagamati Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Birgunj Public College of Birgunj was honored with the “Best B School” in Madhesh Province while Damak Multiple Campus won the award of the “Best B School” of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15554', 'image' => '20220817080008_IMG-20220817-WA0015.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:21:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Education Experts Emphasize on Enhancing Connection between Business Schools and Industries', 'sub_title' => 'Education sector leaders discuss ways to retain management students in the country', 'summary' => 'August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” during 6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022, they said that retaining students produced by business schools of Nepal has become a major challenge faced by management education in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The question is not about quality, but it’s about retention. The domestic business sector is not able to offer the competitive compensation packages that attract the human capital produced in the country,” said Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is a need for a strong tie-up between educational institutions and business groups,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rachana Thapa, co-founder of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, said that the emphasis should be on research-based and student-centric education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The world is a global village. People see opportunities abroad. You cannot stop them from exploring the world,” she said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“How to retain these people in the country? That answer is: invest in your quality and curriculum. Go back and revisit them. The world is changing. What was good 20 or 5 years ago may not be relevant right now,” she said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prof Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a management educator, called for a paradigm shift in the education system to produce good managers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is no interface between the business schools and the real businesses. What sort of skills do businesses need? It is a big challenge to identify their needs and produce students that they can absorb,” said Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding, said that the focus should be on improving employability rather than the education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Things are changing fast and we have to change accordingly,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the discussion, all panelists agreed that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is up to the mark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Some people say that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is not good. I partly agree to that, not fully. We have produced successful managers like Kulman Ghising and many CEOs in the banking sector who are the products of Nepal’s business schools,” said Management Educator Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">TU’s Faculty of Management’s Dean Prof Sharma insisted that Nepal’s curriculum and educational programmes meet international standards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“All programmes that we are running are sellable. We are developing courses including hotel management by consulting with respective business sectors,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15553', 'image' => '20220817060006_IMG-20220817-WA0003.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Heading in the Right Direction, Claims NPC Vice Chair Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The growth, the governing principles and demographic resilience are heading towards the right direction. We are making progress in various sectors. The pace may not be satisfactory, but there is progress in various key sectors,” said Dr Poudel, adding, “I urge the education sector to make its contribution toward this progress.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Poudel made such remarks while speaking at the “6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Krishna Prasad Adhikari, vice president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), said that the situation of the country will not improve if there is no practical and quality education that guarantees the bright future for the students. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have not been able to embrace technology in our schools and colleges,” said Adhikari. “Until the education sector is not changed, we cannot imagine a change in any other sector,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), said that the focus should be on attracting foreign students to study in Nepal’s educational institutions. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Our Nepali students are leaving the country to study abroad or for various opportunities. If it’s globalization, there should also be arrival of foreign students in Nepal to pursue their education,” he said, calling for collective efforts toward that end. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the SEBON recently started issuing license to private equity and venture capital, he said that they could become a source of financing for those business students who want to become entrepreneurs and implement their business ideas. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have started a process to issue license for private equity and venture capital. They provide capital and business knowledge to ideas or startups without any collateral. For business students, this can be a new opportunity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15552', 'image' => '20220817064731_IMG-20220817-WA0013.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at the inauguration of the awards ceremony, Madan Lamsal, editor-in-chief of New Business Age, said that the country must focus on quality education at a time when our economy is driven by remittance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We cannot sustain our economy driven by remittance. We need capable human resources which is possible through education,” said Lamsal, adding, “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education so that the students of Nepal do not have to go abroad for higher education.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organizers, the best colleges will be awarded in four different categories from among more than 2,300 business schools across the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 16 colleges will be awarded in four different categories during the award distribution ceremony that started at 4 pm today afternoon (August 17). The organizers informed that three best colleges for MBA/MBS, three each for BBA/BBS, three best colleges for BHM and one college from each of the seven provinces will be honored during the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Among them, one best college in the first three categories will be given trophies and certificates, while certificates will be distributed to the second and third-position holders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, certificates will be given to the best colleges in each province.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A panel discussion among experts on the topic of 'Future of Management Education' is also scheduled during the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields have selected the best school after phase-wise evaluation. According to the jury, 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the school's mission, vision and slogan. A total of 57 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the school for the awards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The main sponsor of the program is Prabhu Bank Limited, while Yamaha, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Tata Nexon, Everest Bank, Hama Steel, United Insurance, DishHome Fiber Net and Nepali Patro are the co-sponsors of the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15551', 'image' => '20220817062644_IMG-20220817-WA0012.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:23:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government not Supportive Towards Innovation and Entrepreneurship ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three major elections have been held since they developed the machine including two local level elections and one for the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, instead of encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation through the use of domestic products, the government and the Election Commission have been neglecting technology to the detriment of those engaged in such work. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Both these bodies are planning to continue using ballot papers which have to be imported from abroad by spending millions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is no need to doubt the reliability of the machine developed by the twin brothers. Using the same voting machine, 100 internal elections of political parties including CPN-UML, RPP and other organizations have been completed flawlessly. In addition, engineering students who design and develop hardware and software for various types of machines have also used the same machine during the elections of student unions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman's machine was used during the voting of the last union election at Pulchowk Campus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Elections of Nepal Chartered Accountants Association, Rotary Club, a prestigious organization of international level, etc. have also been completed with the voting machine prepared by Ram Lakshman's company Ram Lakshman Innovations Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to them, the Election Commission during a demonstration had said it would be easier for them to accept the machine if was used in the voting of an organization. Then they started using the machine in the elections of various organizations.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dozens of political parties and their sister organizations and other organizations successfully used the machine. Then they again went to the Election Commission but the commission is not yet ready to accept it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“They neither accept it nor reject it,” rued the Rimal brothers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The voting machine manufactured in Nepal has already been certified at the international level. The digital certificate issued by the Certification Office of the Government of Nepal has also confirmed that the software of the machine is safe.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman also clarified that they are not looking for profit. They say that if the government produces the machine, they are ready to provide all kind of support and let them use it without royalty.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15550', 'image' => '20220817054322_innovation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:42:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half a Dozen GI Wire Industries Shut Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had assured to correct the unequal tax rates but failed to keep his words. As a result, around 1,500 workers have become unemployed due to the faulty decision of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the industrialists, Hulas Wire, Aarti Wire, Arihant Wire Industry, Kamala Wire, Premier Wire and Pioneer Wire Pvt. Ltd. of Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor have been closed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pawan Sharda, director of Premier Steel and member of the Constituent Assembly, said that the government is not ready to correct the unequal tax rates. It shows that the government is not in favor of the industry. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The government does not want jobs to be created in the country. Otherwise why could the promise made by the minister not be fulfilled on time and the industry had to be closed today?” he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharda said that the industries have posted notices informing about their closure and the labor office has been informed about it. He added that the wrong policy of the government resulted in unemployment of 1,500 people. He claimed that the industries will incur monthly loss of Rs 1 million to Rs 1.5 million even if the industries remain closed. Sharda says that even if the government fixes the tax rate and tells them to start the industry, it will take 2 months to reopen the industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Through the budget announced for the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Sharma had increased the customs duty on mild steel (MS) wire rod, the raw material required for this industry from 5 to 10 percent. Excise duty was changed from Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.50 per kg. India also started levying a 15 percent duty on the export of MS wire to protect its industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Anil Sharda, general secretary of Chamber of Industries, Morang and owner of Pioneer Wire said that they had to pay 29.5 percent of import duty in total after adding India's export duty along with Nepal's import duty and excise duty on the import of MS wire. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On the other hand, GI wire produced from the same MS wire rod can be imported from India by paying 16 percent revenue under the SAFTA facility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suysha Raj Pyakurel, president of the chamber, said that GI wire export dropped from 22,740 metric tons in the year 2018/19 to 672 tons in the year 2021/22 due to the additional excise duty imposed by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Payakurel, after Sharma was reinstated as the Finance Minister, he had given verbal assurance to remove the unequal tax rates soon.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Naveen Rijal, president of the Morang Merchants Association, said that six large wire industries and 40 small industries dependent on them closed due to failure to fulfill the assurance given by Finance Minister Sharma. Yukti Golchha, owner and managing director of Hulas Wire said that the factory producing 150 tons of GI wire per day has been closed as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15549', 'image' => '20220817040716_Chamber of industries morang new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:06:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Average Consumer Price Inflation Stands at 6.32 Percent during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, global rise in fuel and food prices, supply chain disruptions and devaluation of Nepalese currency with US dollar contributed to build up inflationary pressures during the second half of Fiscal Year 2021/22.<br /> However, due to low level of inflation during initial months, the annual average consumer price inflation remained at 6.32 percent during the last fiscal year compared to 3.60 percent in FY 2020/2021, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. <br /> According to the report, the prices of ghee and oil, pulses and legumes, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks sub-categories rose by 26.13 percent, 9.92 percent, 9.84 percent and 8.57 percent respectively on annual basis under the Food and Beverage category. <br /> Likewise, under the non-food and services category, the prices of transportation, education, furnishing and household equipment and recreation and culture sub-categories rose by 15.82 percent, 8.78 percent, 7.09 percent and 6.68 percent respectively on annual basis. <br /> The annual average food and beverage inflation stood at 5.69 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 5.00 percent a year ago. The y-o-y food and beverage inflation stood at 6.89 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 5.81 percent a year ago. <br /> Similarly, the annual average non-food and services inflation stood at 6.83 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 2.51 percent a year ago. The y-o-y non-food and services inflation stood at 9.03 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 2.94 percent a year ago. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15548', 'image' => '20220817013642_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 13:35:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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As per the company, this program is aimed at engaging undergraduate students in ICT-related subjects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This is the second time that Huawei launched this program in Nepal. It was first launched in Thailand in 2008. The company informed that more than 12,000 students from more than 130 countries and regions have participated in the program since then.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, 256 applications were received from all over Nepal for the program this year. After receiving the application Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya and Prof. Dr. Manish Pokhrel interviewed the seven students who were selected on the basis of their GPA and motivation letter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the company, students who were selected in July are getting various opportunities in Nepal's ICT sector through various engagements since then. Similarly, the company said that they will be able to participate in the first regional on-site event to be held in Bangkok from August 19 to August 27.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15562', 'image' => '20220818033132_1660775901.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15820', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Britain to Sign Labour Pact on Monday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the MoU will be signed in Britain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ek Narayan Aryal and British ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt would sign the MoU on behalf of their respective countries, the ministry said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 14 had approved the labour pact related to sending human resources in the health sector from Nepal to the United Kingdom. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15561', 'image' => '20220818032427_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Great-Britain_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:23:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15819', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow tops Rs 1000 Billion during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.<br /> The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the remittance inflow in the review year (FY 2021/22) was Rs 1007.31 billion<br /> Similarly, the report further said that the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased significantly to 354,660 in the review year. The number includes new workers seeking labour permits included through institutional and individual basis.<br /> People seeking foreign employment in the previous year (FY 2020/2021) had decreased by 62.8. Meanwhile, the number of Nepali workers seeking renew entry for foreign employment increased by 198.5 percent to 282,453 in the review year. It had decreased by 46.8 percent in the previous year.<br /> According to the NRB report, net transfer increased by 4.3 percent to Rs 1117.88 billion in the review year. Such a transfer had increased 9.1 percent in the previous year.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15560', 'image' => '20220818032318_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:21:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15818', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Marks 37th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Addressing the ceremony, the executive director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, informed that currently about 96 percent of people are receiving electricity services and 42 districts are fully provided with electricity. He said that the authority is working day and night to fulfill the government's goal of providing 100 percent electricity service to the people within the next two years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director Ghising said that in its 35-year history, the authority for the first time made a profit of Rs 16.16 billion in the last year and said that this would continue to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“With the addition of a total of 735 megawatts of electricity to the national grid last year, including electricity produced by the authority's solar plant, we have reached a situation where we can produce more electricity than the demand during the rainy season,” said Ghising, adding, “We have been able to sell about 400 MW of electricity daily through competitive bid in the Indian Energy Exchange market from the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line after receiving permission from the Government of India to export 364 MW of electricity.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghising also informed that the leakage of electricity has reduced to 15.38 percent, which was 25.78 percent 6 years ago. The authority completed the construction of 16 substations and put them into operation in the fiscal year 2078/79. Ghising said that grid substations of 1383 MVA capacity have been completed and already put into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion of the anniversary, 15 employees and 17 subordinate offices were awarded and honored for their excellent work.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15559', 'image' => '20220818025947_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 14:59:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15817', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Current Account and Balance of Payments in Deficit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank, capital transfer decreased 34.5 percent to Rs 9.99 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) decreased 4.9 percent to Rs 18.56 billion in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs 15.26 billion and Rs 19.51 billion respectively, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a deficit of Rs 255.26 billion in the review year against a surplus of Rs 1.23 billion in the previous year. In the US dollar terms, the BOP remained at a deficit of 2.14 billion in the review year compared to a deficit of 3.1 million in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gross foreign exchange reserves decreased by 13.1 percent to Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1399.03 billion in mid-July 2021, the report further stated. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves decreased 18.9 percent to 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022 from 11.75 billion in mid-July 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves held by NRB decreased by 15.1 percent to Rs 1056.39 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1244.63 billion in mid-July 2021. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 3.2 percent to Rs 159.41 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 154.39 billion in mid-July 2021. The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 23.6 percent in mid-July 2022.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15558', 'image' => '20220818012503_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 13:24:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15816', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Increases to Rs 1720.42 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the export-import ratio increased to 10.4 percent in the review period from 9.2 percent in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review year, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 213.53 billion compared to Rs 190.54 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During 2021/22, merchandise exports increased by 41.7 percent to Rs 200.03 billion compared to an increase of 44.4 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and other countries increased 45.9 percent and 30.4 respectively whereas exports to China decreased 20.4 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, exports of palm oil, woolen carpet, polyester yarn and thread, zinc sheet, juice, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, cardamom, tea, medicine (ayurvedic), wire, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise imports increased by 24.7 percent to Rs 1920.45 billion compared to an increase of 28.7 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries increased 23.5 percent, 13.2 percent, and 36.3 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Imports of petroleum products, medicine, crude palm oil, sponge iron, gold, among others, increased whereas imports of MS billet, cement, rice/paddy, pulses, medical equipment and tools, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Kanchanpur Customs Office decreased whereas exports from all other major customs points increased in the review year. On the import side, imports from all major customs points increased in the review year. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15557', 'image' => '20220818010018_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15815', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Percent Population at Risk of Severe Food Crisis in Nepal despite Sufficient Reserve ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrigendra Singh Yadav said the existing food reserve is sufficient to meet the average daily food requirements for Nepalis, but still the risk of food insecurity prevails. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was presenting the fact during a seminar entitled 'Food Security in Nepal' jointly organised by the National Security Council and the Nepalese Army. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, food intake habits and culture, people's unequal access to food, food inaccessibility, lack of quality food, natural disasters and consequences, impact of climate change, artificial food shortage, COVID-19 and fluctuations of food prices in the national and international markets have posed uncertainty in the domestic food supply chain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, an exodus of youth force from the agricultural activities, pesticides attacks on crops and the increasing size of uncultivated land are additional challenges for keeping food security intact. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the World Food Summit 1996, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Bank defines the situation when the calorie intake remains under 1,800 per day per person as severe food insecurity and according to the WB definition, 7.8 percent of total population face a greater risk of severe food insecurity in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An adult with normal health condition requires an intake of 2,200 calorie each day for an active life and the calorie consumption mainly depends on the availability of food. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 15th five-year plan in Nepal states that 21 percent population in Nepal has still no access to sufficient food. It says that only 48.2 percent of the households are basically food secure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government data show that during the last fiscal year (2021/22), the food production in the country was 369 kilos per person and it was estimated to be 257 kilos after deducting seeds, preservation for animal feed and the loss during post-harvest stage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The figure suggests the food production is enough to meet the daily minimum food requirements of the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the review year, the annual food production in the country was 10. 77 million metric tonnes and it was around 7,530,000 metric tonnes after deducing the seeds, livestock preservation and post-harvest stage loss. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report says that Nepal needs around 5. 86 million metric tonnes of processed food to meet the food requirements of its population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the minister said, "The data about the availability of the food shows the quantity of food reserve is approximately 1,663,000 metric tons. Despite the food reserve at the national level, at the household level, around 21 still face the situation forcing them to limit their daily calorie intake below the requirements.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the minister, imbalanced production and distribution is likely to push around 20 districts at the risk of food insecurity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The time analysis of the past one decade shows that food reserve in the nation is good, except in the year 2015 that witnessed the major earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The import of large quantity of rice on the other hand is unexpected. The Annual Household Survey Report, 2017 prepared by the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the consumption of fine grain rice is on increasing trend. Domestic production of rice has not been able to meet the growing demand. However, opposed to this a large quantity of production of other cereals is being consumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In terms of food and nutritional security, the contribution of crops like millet and buckwheat has still not come in the mainstream. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seventy-seven percent of the daily total calorie requirement of a person should be supplied through plant-based food and materials while the rest should be supplied through animals, birds and fish. But the daily calorie requirement is not according to this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said. It is said 87 percent of the calorie requirement per person is derived from plant-based materials and the rest is derived from milk, dairy products, meat and egg. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Yadav said that the statistics shows that from the production point of view, the country is self-sufficient on fish, meat and egg while it is close to this in milk. He reiterated that the ministry is giving special stress on food security in terms of increasing the production and supply of animal-based food for nutritional security. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is necessary to put in extra investment for expanding the irrigation facility, the availability of improved varieties of seeds and breeds and modernization as well as commercialization of agriculture for production growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also required is collaboration among the three tiers of the government, NGOs, private organisations and development partners for research, technology expansion and infrastructure development to face the challenges seen in the food and nutrition security, Minister Yadav pointed out. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Defence Secretary and the National Security Council Secretariat coordinator Kiran Raj Sharma said this is the first seminar of its kind on contemporary topic. Stating that the issue of food security is not only linked to human security but is also directly linked to overall development, he said this programme has been organised in this light. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Food Summit organized in 1974 had acknowledged that food is the basic requirement and stressed on maintaining a balance regarding its quantity, price and supply. The World Food Summit held in 1996 in Rome stated that it can be considered the status of food security has been achieved only if every person has physical and economic access to healthy and nutritious food as per his/her requirement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary Sharma said it is regrettable that Nepal has not been able to produce the required quantity of food grain despite being predominantly an agrarian country. He added that a large number of populations in the country are deprived of food security due to the sustenance and traditional agriculture system, disparity in the availability and distribution of agricultural land, the complications related to the structure of cultivable land and over-dependence on import in agriculture. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sixty percent of the country's population is dependent on agriculture while its contribution to GDP is 32 percent. Statistics show that there is shortage of 600,000 metric tonnes of food grain in Nepal annually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts have come to the conclusion that food security in Nepal is also affected due to factors like COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and its adverse impact on the supply of food grains and fuel and the change in the policy of import and export of food grains adopted by various countries in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, among others. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15556', 'image' => '20220818122433_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:23:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SSF Contributors can get Special Credit Facility through Mobile App ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fund launched the app that allows the contributors to get special credit, housing loan, educational loan and social loan using the app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Labour Minister Sher Bahadur Kunwar launched the contributor special credit and mobile app during a programme organised at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Wednesday (August 17).</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, contributors Binay Kumar Mahato and Pawan Babu Pradhan received the amount of special credit and amount of retirement service through the mobile app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contributors who have been regularly contributing to the fund from mid-July 2019 can get special credit and other loan from the fund. As per the Contributors Credit Guidelines-2079, a contributor contributing to the fund continuously for three years can get such credit and loans. Around 700 contributors have now become eligible to get such facilities. Altogether 352,924 contributors are enrolled in the fund so far. A total of Rs 22.08 million have been deposited in the fund so far. The fund had started collecting such amount from Shrawan, 2076 BS (mid-July 2019). There is a provision that a contributor enrolled in the fund has to deposit 11 per cent of amount of his/her basic remuneration and the employer has to contribute 20 per cent monthly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Kunwar directed the fund to make its service technology-friendly and urged to widen the social security coverage. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15555', 'image' => '20220818114210_SSF (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 11:40:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KUSOM, KCM and NATHM Declared Best B-school for 2022', 'sub_title' => '16 colleges awarded under four categories during “6th Newbiz B-Schools Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) has bagged the “Best B-school of Nepal - MBA/MBS” award while Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) and Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) have won the “Best B-school of Nepal – BBA/BBA” and “Best B-school of Nepal – BHM” awards respectively. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were announced winners of the sixth edition of the “Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards” amid a grand ceremony held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Prabhu Bank is the main sponsor of the event organized by New Business Age Pvt Ltd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaha, Tata Nexon, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Everest Bank Ltd, Hama Steel, United Insurance, Nepali Patro, Dish Home FiberNet are other partners of the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Along with the best three business schools, a total of 16 colleges were awarded in four different categories. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The best three colleges under MBA/MBS, BBA/BBS and BHM categories were awarded trophies and certificates while the second and third best colleges received certificates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">One best college from each of the seven provinces were also felicitated during the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields had selected the best business schools after phase-wise evaluation, according to the organizer. A total of 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools. Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the schools’ mission, vision and slogan. A total of 87 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation. Among them, 16 were awarded during the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The organizer said that the annual event aims to honor business schools that have been consistently producing prospective future managers of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Presidential Business School was announced the “2nd Best School of Nepal-MBA/MBS'' while The British College won the award of ‘3rd Best B-school of Nepal-MBA/MBS’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Toward the BBA/BBS category, Uniglobe College and Shanker Dev Campus were announced second and third best B-schools respectively for 2022.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management was declared the “2nd Best B-school of Nepal” whereas Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality was adjudged the “3rd Best B-school of Nepal – BHM”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, the quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the schools for the awards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prior to the award ceremony, a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” was also organised during the event where education sector leaders highlighted the role of business schools in producing business executives and other human capital required for the country. Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, Management Educator Professor Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management’s Co-Founder Rachana Thapa were the panelists of the discussion moderated by Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seven colleges from each province felicitated</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the event, one college from each of the seven provinces was felicitated with the best B-school of the province award.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kailali Multiple Campus of Dhangadhi was declared the best business school of Sudur Paschim Province. Likewise, Sahara Campus won the award of the “Best Business School '' of Karnali Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Lumbini, it was Lumbini Banijya Campus that was handed with the “Best B School’ award. Novel Academy of Pokhara clinched the award of the “Best B School '' in Gandaki Province while “Special Recognition B School '' was provided to Presidency College of Management Sciences of Bharatpur in Bagamati Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Birgunj Public College of Birgunj was honored with the “Best B School” in Madhesh Province while Damak Multiple Campus won the award of the “Best B School” of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15554', 'image' => '20220817080008_IMG-20220817-WA0015.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:21:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Education Experts Emphasize on Enhancing Connection between Business Schools and Industries', 'sub_title' => 'Education sector leaders discuss ways to retain management students in the country', 'summary' => 'August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” during 6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022, they said that retaining students produced by business schools of Nepal has become a major challenge faced by management education in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The question is not about quality, but it’s about retention. The domestic business sector is not able to offer the competitive compensation packages that attract the human capital produced in the country,” said Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is a need for a strong tie-up between educational institutions and business groups,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rachana Thapa, co-founder of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, said that the emphasis should be on research-based and student-centric education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The world is a global village. People see opportunities abroad. You cannot stop them from exploring the world,” she said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“How to retain these people in the country? That answer is: invest in your quality and curriculum. Go back and revisit them. The world is changing. What was good 20 or 5 years ago may not be relevant right now,” she said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prof Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a management educator, called for a paradigm shift in the education system to produce good managers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is no interface between the business schools and the real businesses. What sort of skills do businesses need? It is a big challenge to identify their needs and produce students that they can absorb,” said Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding, said that the focus should be on improving employability rather than the education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Things are changing fast and we have to change accordingly,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the discussion, all panelists agreed that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is up to the mark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Some people say that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is not good. I partly agree to that, not fully. We have produced successful managers like Kulman Ghising and many CEOs in the banking sector who are the products of Nepal’s business schools,” said Management Educator Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">TU’s Faculty of Management’s Dean Prof Sharma insisted that Nepal’s curriculum and educational programmes meet international standards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“All programmes that we are running are sellable. We are developing courses including hotel management by consulting with respective business sectors,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15553', 'image' => '20220817060006_IMG-20220817-WA0003.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Heading in the Right Direction, Claims NPC Vice Chair Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The growth, the governing principles and demographic resilience are heading towards the right direction. We are making progress in various sectors. The pace may not be satisfactory, but there is progress in various key sectors,” said Dr Poudel, adding, “I urge the education sector to make its contribution toward this progress.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Poudel made such remarks while speaking at the “6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Krishna Prasad Adhikari, vice president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), said that the situation of the country will not improve if there is no practical and quality education that guarantees the bright future for the students. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have not been able to embrace technology in our schools and colleges,” said Adhikari. “Until the education sector is not changed, we cannot imagine a change in any other sector,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), said that the focus should be on attracting foreign students to study in Nepal’s educational institutions. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Our Nepali students are leaving the country to study abroad or for various opportunities. If it’s globalization, there should also be arrival of foreign students in Nepal to pursue their education,” he said, calling for collective efforts toward that end. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the SEBON recently started issuing license to private equity and venture capital, he said that they could become a source of financing for those business students who want to become entrepreneurs and implement their business ideas. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have started a process to issue license for private equity and venture capital. They provide capital and business knowledge to ideas or startups without any collateral. For business students, this can be a new opportunity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15552', 'image' => '20220817064731_IMG-20220817-WA0013.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at the inauguration of the awards ceremony, Madan Lamsal, editor-in-chief of New Business Age, said that the country must focus on quality education at a time when our economy is driven by remittance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We cannot sustain our economy driven by remittance. We need capable human resources which is possible through education,” said Lamsal, adding, “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education so that the students of Nepal do not have to go abroad for higher education.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organizers, the best colleges will be awarded in four different categories from among more than 2,300 business schools across the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 16 colleges will be awarded in four different categories during the award distribution ceremony that started at 4 pm today afternoon (August 17). The organizers informed that three best colleges for MBA/MBS, three each for BBA/BBS, three best colleges for BHM and one college from each of the seven provinces will be honored during the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Among them, one best college in the first three categories will be given trophies and certificates, while certificates will be distributed to the second and third-position holders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, certificates will be given to the best colleges in each province.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A panel discussion among experts on the topic of 'Future of Management Education' is also scheduled during the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields have selected the best school after phase-wise evaluation. According to the jury, 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the school's mission, vision and slogan. A total of 57 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the school for the awards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The main sponsor of the program is Prabhu Bank Limited, while Yamaha, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Tata Nexon, Everest Bank, Hama Steel, United Insurance, DishHome Fiber Net and Nepali Patro are the co-sponsors of the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15551', 'image' => '20220817062644_IMG-20220817-WA0012.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:23:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government not Supportive Towards Innovation and Entrepreneurship ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three major elections have been held since they developed the machine including two local level elections and one for the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, instead of encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation through the use of domestic products, the government and the Election Commission have been neglecting technology to the detriment of those engaged in such work. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Both these bodies are planning to continue using ballot papers which have to be imported from abroad by spending millions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is no need to doubt the reliability of the machine developed by the twin brothers. Using the same voting machine, 100 internal elections of political parties including CPN-UML, RPP and other organizations have been completed flawlessly. In addition, engineering students who design and develop hardware and software for various types of machines have also used the same machine during the elections of student unions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman's machine was used during the voting of the last union election at Pulchowk Campus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Elections of Nepal Chartered Accountants Association, Rotary Club, a prestigious organization of international level, etc. have also been completed with the voting machine prepared by Ram Lakshman's company Ram Lakshman Innovations Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to them, the Election Commission during a demonstration had said it would be easier for them to accept the machine if was used in the voting of an organization. Then they started using the machine in the elections of various organizations.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dozens of political parties and their sister organizations and other organizations successfully used the machine. Then they again went to the Election Commission but the commission is not yet ready to accept it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“They neither accept it nor reject it,” rued the Rimal brothers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The voting machine manufactured in Nepal has already been certified at the international level. The digital certificate issued by the Certification Office of the Government of Nepal has also confirmed that the software of the machine is safe.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman also clarified that they are not looking for profit. They say that if the government produces the machine, they are ready to provide all kind of support and let them use it without royalty.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15550', 'image' => '20220817054322_innovation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:42:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half a Dozen GI Wire Industries Shut Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had assured to correct the unequal tax rates but failed to keep his words. As a result, around 1,500 workers have become unemployed due to the faulty decision of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the industrialists, Hulas Wire, Aarti Wire, Arihant Wire Industry, Kamala Wire, Premier Wire and Pioneer Wire Pvt. Ltd. of Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor have been closed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pawan Sharda, director of Premier Steel and member of the Constituent Assembly, said that the government is not ready to correct the unequal tax rates. It shows that the government is not in favor of the industry. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The government does not want jobs to be created in the country. Otherwise why could the promise made by the minister not be fulfilled on time and the industry had to be closed today?” he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharda said that the industries have posted notices informing about their closure and the labor office has been informed about it. He added that the wrong policy of the government resulted in unemployment of 1,500 people. He claimed that the industries will incur monthly loss of Rs 1 million to Rs 1.5 million even if the industries remain closed. Sharda says that even if the government fixes the tax rate and tells them to start the industry, it will take 2 months to reopen the industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Through the budget announced for the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Sharma had increased the customs duty on mild steel (MS) wire rod, the raw material required for this industry from 5 to 10 percent. Excise duty was changed from Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.50 per kg. India also started levying a 15 percent duty on the export of MS wire to protect its industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Anil Sharda, general secretary of Chamber of Industries, Morang and owner of Pioneer Wire said that they had to pay 29.5 percent of import duty in total after adding India's export duty along with Nepal's import duty and excise duty on the import of MS wire. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On the other hand, GI wire produced from the same MS wire rod can be imported from India by paying 16 percent revenue under the SAFTA facility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suysha Raj Pyakurel, president of the chamber, said that GI wire export dropped from 22,740 metric tons in the year 2018/19 to 672 tons in the year 2021/22 due to the additional excise duty imposed by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Payakurel, after Sharma was reinstated as the Finance Minister, he had given verbal assurance to remove the unequal tax rates soon.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Naveen Rijal, president of the Morang Merchants Association, said that six large wire industries and 40 small industries dependent on them closed due to failure to fulfill the assurance given by Finance Minister Sharma. Yukti Golchha, owner and managing director of Hulas Wire said that the factory producing 150 tons of GI wire per day has been closed as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15549', 'image' => '20220817040716_Chamber of industries morang new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:06:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Average Consumer Price Inflation Stands at 6.32 Percent during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, global rise in fuel and food prices, supply chain disruptions and devaluation of Nepalese currency with US dollar contributed to build up inflationary pressures during the second half of Fiscal Year 2021/22.<br /> However, due to low level of inflation during initial months, the annual average consumer price inflation remained at 6.32 percent during the last fiscal year compared to 3.60 percent in FY 2020/2021, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. <br /> According to the report, the prices of ghee and oil, pulses and legumes, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks sub-categories rose by 26.13 percent, 9.92 percent, 9.84 percent and 8.57 percent respectively on annual basis under the Food and Beverage category. <br /> Likewise, under the non-food and services category, the prices of transportation, education, furnishing and household equipment and recreation and culture sub-categories rose by 15.82 percent, 8.78 percent, 7.09 percent and 6.68 percent respectively on annual basis. <br /> The annual average food and beverage inflation stood at 5.69 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 5.00 percent a year ago. The y-o-y food and beverage inflation stood at 6.89 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 5.81 percent a year ago. <br /> Similarly, the annual average non-food and services inflation stood at 6.83 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 2.51 percent a year ago. The y-o-y non-food and services inflation stood at 9.03 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 2.94 percent a year ago. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15548', 'image' => '20220817013642_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 13:35:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15821', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Huawei Concludes “Seeds for the Future 2022”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Smartphone manufacturer Huawei concluded its flagship CSR programme 'Seeds for the Future 2022' in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As per the company, this program is aimed at engaging undergraduate students in ICT-related subjects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This is the second time that Huawei launched this program in Nepal. It was first launched in Thailand in 2008. The company informed that more than 12,000 students from more than 130 countries and regions have participated in the program since then.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, 256 applications were received from all over Nepal for the program this year. After receiving the application Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya and Prof. Dr. Manish Pokhrel interviewed the seven students who were selected on the basis of their GPA and motivation letter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the company, students who were selected in July are getting various opportunities in Nepal's ICT sector through various engagements since then. Similarly, the company said that they will be able to participate in the first regional on-site event to be held in Bangkok from August 19 to August 27.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15562', 'image' => '20220818033132_1660775901.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15820', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Britain to Sign Labour Pact on Monday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: The Government of Nepal is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK on coming Monday for the supply of health workers. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the MoU will be signed in Britain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ek Narayan Aryal and British ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt would sign the MoU on behalf of their respective countries, the ministry said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 14 had approved the labour pact related to sending human resources in the health sector from Nepal to the United Kingdom. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15561', 'image' => '20220818032427_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Great-Britain_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:23:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15819', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow tops Rs 1000 Billion during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 18: Inflow of remittance in the country increased by 4.8 percent in the last fiscal year compared to 9.8 percent in the previous year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.<br /> The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the remittance inflow in the review year (FY 2021/22) was Rs 1007.31 billion<br /> Similarly, the report further said that the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased significantly to 354,660 in the review year. The number includes new workers seeking labour permits included through institutional and individual basis.<br /> People seeking foreign employment in the previous year (FY 2020/2021) had decreased by 62.8. Meanwhile, the number of Nepali workers seeking renew entry for foreign employment increased by 198.5 percent to 282,453 in the review year. It had decreased by 46.8 percent in the previous year.<br /> According to the NRB report, net transfer increased by 4.3 percent to Rs 1117.88 billion in the review year. Such a transfer had increased 9.1 percent in the previous year.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15560', 'image' => '20220818032318_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 15:21:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15818', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Marks 37th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 18: Nepal Electricity Authority celebrated its 37th anniversary by organising a special ceremony in Kathmandu on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Addressing the ceremony, the executive director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, informed that currently about 96 percent of people are receiving electricity services and 42 districts are fully provided with electricity. He said that the authority is working day and night to fulfill the government's goal of providing 100 percent electricity service to the people within the next two years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director Ghising said that in its 35-year history, the authority for the first time made a profit of Rs 16.16 billion in the last year and said that this would continue to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“With the addition of a total of 735 megawatts of electricity to the national grid last year, including electricity produced by the authority's solar plant, we have reached a situation where we can produce more electricity than the demand during the rainy season,” said Ghising, adding, “We have been able to sell about 400 MW of electricity daily through competitive bid in the Indian Energy Exchange market from the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line after receiving permission from the Government of India to export 364 MW of electricity.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghising also informed that the leakage of electricity has reduced to 15.38 percent, which was 25.78 percent 6 years ago. The authority completed the construction of 16 substations and put them into operation in the fiscal year 2078/79. Ghising said that grid substations of 1383 MVA capacity have been completed and already put into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion of the anniversary, 15 employees and 17 subordinate offices were awarded and honored for their excellent work.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15559', 'image' => '20220818025947_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 14:59:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15817', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Current Account and Balance of Payments in Deficit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s current account remained at a deficit of Rs 623.33 billion during Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to a deficit of Rs 333.67 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank, capital transfer decreased 34.5 percent to Rs 9.99 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) decreased 4.9 percent to Rs 18.56 billion in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs 15.26 billion and Rs 19.51 billion respectively, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a deficit of Rs 255.26 billion in the review year against a surplus of Rs 1.23 billion in the previous year. In the US dollar terms, the BOP remained at a deficit of 2.14 billion in the review year compared to a deficit of 3.1 million in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gross foreign exchange reserves decreased by 13.1 percent to Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1399.03 billion in mid-July 2021, the report further stated. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves decreased 18.9 percent to 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022 from 11.75 billion in mid-July 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves held by NRB decreased by 15.1 percent to Rs 1056.39 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 1244.63 billion in mid-July 2021. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 3.2 percent to Rs 159.41 billion in mid-July 2022 from Rs 154.39 billion in mid-July 2021. The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 23.6 percent in mid-July 2022.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15558', 'image' => '20220818012503_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 13:24:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15816', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Increases to Rs 1720.42 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 18: Nepal’s trade deficit increased by 23.0 percent to Rs 1720.42 billion in the last fiscal year. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, such a deficit had increased 27.3 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday states that the export-import ratio increased to 10.4 percent in the review period from 9.2 percent in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review year, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 213.53 billion compared to Rs 190.54 billion in the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During 2021/22, merchandise exports increased by 41.7 percent to Rs 200.03 billion compared to an increase of 44.4 percent in the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and other countries increased 45.9 percent and 30.4 respectively whereas exports to China decreased 20.4 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, exports of palm oil, woolen carpet, polyester yarn and thread, zinc sheet, juice, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, cardamom, tea, medicine (ayurvedic), wire, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise imports increased by 24.7 percent to Rs 1920.45 billion compared to an increase of 28.7 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries increased 23.5 percent, 13.2 percent, and 36.3 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Imports of petroleum products, medicine, crude palm oil, sponge iron, gold, among others, increased whereas imports of MS billet, cement, rice/paddy, pulses, medical equipment and tools, among others, decreased in the review year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Kanchanpur Customs Office decreased whereas exports from all other major customs points increased in the review year. On the import side, imports from all major customs points increased in the review year. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15557', 'image' => '20220818010018_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15815', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Percent Population at Risk of Severe Food Crisis in Nepal despite Sufficient Reserve ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Data show that the country has sufficient food reserve, but food imbalance due to disproportionate production and distribution poses a threat to food security in Nepal with 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrigendra Singh Yadav said the existing food reserve is sufficient to meet the average daily food requirements for Nepalis, but still the risk of food insecurity prevails. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was presenting the fact during a seminar entitled 'Food Security in Nepal' jointly organised by the National Security Council and the Nepalese Army. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, food intake habits and culture, people's unequal access to food, food inaccessibility, lack of quality food, natural disasters and consequences, impact of climate change, artificial food shortage, COVID-19 and fluctuations of food prices in the national and international markets have posed uncertainty in the domestic food supply chain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, an exodus of youth force from the agricultural activities, pesticides attacks on crops and the increasing size of uncultivated land are additional challenges for keeping food security intact. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the World Food Summit 1996, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Bank defines the situation when the calorie intake remains under 1,800 per day per person as severe food insecurity and according to the WB definition, 7.8 percent of total population face a greater risk of severe food insecurity in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An adult with normal health condition requires an intake of 2,200 calorie each day for an active life and the calorie consumption mainly depends on the availability of food. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 15th five-year plan in Nepal states that 21 percent population in Nepal has still no access to sufficient food. It says that only 48.2 percent of the households are basically food secure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government data show that during the last fiscal year (2021/22), the food production in the country was 369 kilos per person and it was estimated to be 257 kilos after deducting seeds, preservation for animal feed and the loss during post-harvest stage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The figure suggests the food production is enough to meet the daily minimum food requirements of the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the review year, the annual food production in the country was 10. 77 million metric tonnes and it was around 7,530,000 metric tonnes after deducing the seeds, livestock preservation and post-harvest stage loss. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report says that Nepal needs around 5. 86 million metric tonnes of processed food to meet the food requirements of its population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the minister said, "The data about the availability of the food shows the quantity of food reserve is approximately 1,663,000 metric tons. Despite the food reserve at the national level, at the household level, around 21 still face the situation forcing them to limit their daily calorie intake below the requirements.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the minister, imbalanced production and distribution is likely to push around 20 districts at the risk of food insecurity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The time analysis of the past one decade shows that food reserve in the nation is good, except in the year 2015 that witnessed the major earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The import of large quantity of rice on the other hand is unexpected. The Annual Household Survey Report, 2017 prepared by the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the consumption of fine grain rice is on increasing trend. Domestic production of rice has not been able to meet the growing demand. However, opposed to this a large quantity of production of other cereals is being consumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In terms of food and nutritional security, the contribution of crops like millet and buckwheat has still not come in the mainstream. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seventy-seven percent of the daily total calorie requirement of a person should be supplied through plant-based food and materials while the rest should be supplied through animals, birds and fish. But the daily calorie requirement is not according to this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said. It is said 87 percent of the calorie requirement per person is derived from plant-based materials and the rest is derived from milk, dairy products, meat and egg. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Yadav said that the statistics shows that from the production point of view, the country is self-sufficient on fish, meat and egg while it is close to this in milk. He reiterated that the ministry is giving special stress on food security in terms of increasing the production and supply of animal-based food for nutritional security. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is necessary to put in extra investment for expanding the irrigation facility, the availability of improved varieties of seeds and breeds and modernization as well as commercialization of agriculture for production growth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also required is collaboration among the three tiers of the government, NGOs, private organisations and development partners for research, technology expansion and infrastructure development to face the challenges seen in the food and nutrition security, Minister Yadav pointed out. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Defence Secretary and the National Security Council Secretariat coordinator Kiran Raj Sharma said this is the first seminar of its kind on contemporary topic. Stating that the issue of food security is not only linked to human security but is also directly linked to overall development, he said this programme has been organised in this light. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The World Food Summit organized in 1974 had acknowledged that food is the basic requirement and stressed on maintaining a balance regarding its quantity, price and supply. The World Food Summit held in 1996 in Rome stated that it can be considered the status of food security has been achieved only if every person has physical and economic access to healthy and nutritious food as per his/her requirement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary Sharma said it is regrettable that Nepal has not been able to produce the required quantity of food grain despite being predominantly an agrarian country. He added that a large number of populations in the country are deprived of food security due to the sustenance and traditional agriculture system, disparity in the availability and distribution of agricultural land, the complications related to the structure of cultivable land and over-dependence on import in agriculture. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sixty percent of the country's population is dependent on agriculture while its contribution to GDP is 32 percent. Statistics show that there is shortage of 600,000 metric tonnes of food grain in Nepal annually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts have come to the conclusion that food security in Nepal is also affected due to factors like COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and its adverse impact on the supply of food grains and fuel and the change in the policy of import and export of food grains adopted by various countries in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, among others. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15556', 'image' => '20220818122433_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 12:23:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SSF Contributors can get Special Credit Facility through Mobile App ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 18: Contributors to the Social Security Fund (SSF) can now avail different types of loan facilities through their mobile application. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fund launched the app that allows the contributors to get special credit, housing loan, educational loan and social loan using the app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Labour Minister Sher Bahadur Kunwar launched the contributor special credit and mobile app during a programme organised at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Wednesday (August 17).</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, contributors Binay Kumar Mahato and Pawan Babu Pradhan received the amount of special credit and amount of retirement service through the mobile app. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contributors who have been regularly contributing to the fund from mid-July 2019 can get special credit and other loan from the fund. As per the Contributors Credit Guidelines-2079, a contributor contributing to the fund continuously for three years can get such credit and loans. Around 700 contributors have now become eligible to get such facilities. Altogether 352,924 contributors are enrolled in the fund so far. A total of Rs 22.08 million have been deposited in the fund so far. The fund had started collecting such amount from Shrawan, 2076 BS (mid-July 2019). There is a provision that a contributor enrolled in the fund has to deposit 11 per cent of amount of his/her basic remuneration and the employer has to contribute 20 per cent monthly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister Kunwar directed the fund to make its service technology-friendly and urged to widen the social security coverage. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-18', 'modified' => '2022-08-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15555', 'image' => '20220818114210_SSF (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-18 11:40:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KUSOM, KCM and NATHM Declared Best B-school for 2022', 'sub_title' => '16 colleges awarded under four categories during “6th Newbiz B-Schools Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) has bagged the “Best B-school of Nepal - MBA/MBS” award while Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) and Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) have won the “Best B-school of Nepal – BBA/BBA” and “Best B-school of Nepal – BHM” awards respectively. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were announced winners of the sixth edition of the “Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards” amid a grand ceremony held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Prabhu Bank is the main sponsor of the event organized by New Business Age Pvt Ltd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaha, Tata Nexon, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Everest Bank Ltd, Hama Steel, United Insurance, Nepali Patro, Dish Home FiberNet are other partners of the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Along with the best three business schools, a total of 16 colleges were awarded in four different categories. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The best three colleges under MBA/MBS, BBA/BBS and BHM categories were awarded trophies and certificates while the second and third best colleges received certificates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">One best college from each of the seven provinces were also felicitated during the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields had selected the best business schools after phase-wise evaluation, according to the organizer. A total of 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools. Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the schools’ mission, vision and slogan. A total of 87 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation. Among them, 16 were awarded during the event. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The organizer said that the annual event aims to honor business schools that have been consistently producing prospective future managers of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Presidential Business School was announced the “2nd Best School of Nepal-MBA/MBS'' while The British College won the award of ‘3rd Best B-school of Nepal-MBA/MBS’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Toward the BBA/BBS category, Uniglobe College and Shanker Dev Campus were announced second and third best B-schools respectively for 2022.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management was declared the “2nd Best B-school of Nepal” whereas Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality was adjudged the “3rd Best B-school of Nepal – BHM”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, the quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the schools for the awards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prior to the award ceremony, a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” was also organised during the event where education sector leaders highlighted the role of business schools in producing business executives and other human capital required for the country. Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, Management Educator Professor Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management’s Co-Founder Rachana Thapa were the panelists of the discussion moderated by Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seven colleges from each province felicitated</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the event, one college from each of the seven provinces was felicitated with the best B-school of the province award.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kailali Multiple Campus of Dhangadhi was declared the best business school of Sudur Paschim Province. Likewise, Sahara Campus won the award of the “Best Business School '' of Karnali Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Lumbini, it was Lumbini Banijya Campus that was handed with the “Best B School’ award. Novel Academy of Pokhara clinched the award of the “Best B School '' in Gandaki Province while “Special Recognition B School '' was provided to Presidency College of Management Sciences of Bharatpur in Bagamati Province.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Birgunj Public College of Birgunj was honored with the “Best B School” in Madhesh Province while Damak Multiple Campus won the award of the “Best B School” of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15554', 'image' => '20220817080008_IMG-20220817-WA0015.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:21:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Education Experts Emphasize on Enhancing Connection between Business Schools and Industries', 'sub_title' => 'Education sector leaders discuss ways to retain management students in the country', 'summary' => 'August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 17: Education sector leaders have underlined the need to enhance the connection between business schools and domestic industries to retain students in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a panel discussion on “Future of Business Education” during 6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022, they said that retaining students produced by business schools of Nepal has become a major challenge faced by management education in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The question is not about quality, but it’s about retention. The domestic business sector is not able to offer the competitive compensation packages that attract the human capital produced in the country,” said Professor Dilli Raj Sharma, dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is a need for a strong tie-up between educational institutions and business groups,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rachana Thapa, co-founder of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, said that the emphasis should be on research-based and student-centric education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The world is a global village. People see opportunities abroad. You cannot stop them from exploring the world,” she said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“How to retain these people in the country? That answer is: invest in your quality and curriculum. Go back and revisit them. The world is changing. What was good 20 or 5 years ago may not be relevant right now,” she said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prof Dr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a management educator, called for a paradigm shift in the education system to produce good managers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There is no interface between the business schools and the real businesses. What sort of skills do businesses need? It is a big challenge to identify their needs and produce students that they can absorb,” said Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sabin Joshi, managing director of RB Advisory and Ednopsis Holding, said that the focus should be on improving employability rather than the education system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Things are changing fast and we have to change accordingly,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the discussion, all panelists agreed that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is up to the mark.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Some people say that the quality of Nepal’s business schools is not good. I partly agree to that, not fully. We have produced successful managers like Kulman Ghising and many CEOs in the banking sector who are the products of Nepal’s business schools,” said Management Educator Prof Dr Shrestha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">TU’s Faculty of Management’s Dean Prof Sharma insisted that Nepal’s curriculum and educational programmes meet international standards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“All programmes that we are running are sellable. We are developing courses including hotel management by consulting with respective business sectors,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15553', 'image' => '20220817060006_IMG-20220817-WA0003.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Heading in the Right Direction, Claims NPC Vice Chair Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 17: Dr Biswo Nath Poudel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has said that the country is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The growth, the governing principles and demographic resilience are heading towards the right direction. We are making progress in various sectors. The pace may not be satisfactory, but there is progress in various key sectors,” said Dr Poudel, adding, “I urge the education sector to make its contribution toward this progress.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Poudel made such remarks while speaking at the “6th Newbiz B School Ratings, Ranking and Awards 2022”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Krishna Prasad Adhikari, vice president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), said that the situation of the country will not improve if there is no practical and quality education that guarantees the bright future for the students. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have not been able to embrace technology in our schools and colleges,” said Adhikari. “Until the education sector is not changed, we cannot imagine a change in any other sector,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), said that the focus should be on attracting foreign students to study in Nepal’s educational institutions. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Our Nepali students are leaving the country to study abroad or for various opportunities. If it’s globalization, there should also be arrival of foreign students in Nepal to pursue their education,” he said, calling for collective efforts toward that end. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the SEBON recently started issuing license to private equity and venture capital, he said that they could become a source of financing for those business students who want to become entrepreneurs and implement their business ideas. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have started a process to issue license for private equity and venture capital. They provide capital and business knowledge to ideas or startups without any collateral. For business students, this can be a new opportunity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15552', 'image' => '20220817064731_IMG-20220817-WA0013.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 18:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: The sixth edition of the Newbiz B-School Ratings, Ranking and Awards has kicked off amid a programme in the capital today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at the inauguration of the awards ceremony, Madan Lamsal, editor-in-chief of New Business Age, said that the country must focus on quality education at a time when our economy is driven by remittance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We cannot sustain our economy driven by remittance. We need capable human resources which is possible through education,” said Lamsal, adding, “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education so that the students of Nepal do not have to go abroad for higher education.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organizers, the best colleges will be awarded in four different categories from among more than 2,300 business schools across the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 16 colleges will be awarded in four different categories during the award distribution ceremony that started at 4 pm today afternoon (August 17). The organizers informed that three best colleges for MBA/MBS, three each for BBA/BBS, three best colleges for BHM and one college from each of the seven provinces will be honored during the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Among them, one best college in the first three categories will be given trophies and certificates, while certificates will be distributed to the second and third-position holders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, certificates will be given to the best colleges in each province.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A panel discussion among experts on the topic of 'Future of Management Education' is also scheduled during the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An independent jury consisting of experts from various fields have selected the best school after phase-wise evaluation. According to the jury, 602 out of 2,300 schools were shortlisted based on the website of the schools.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 300 schools were selected in the second stage based on the school's mission, vision and slogan. A total of 57 schools were selected in the third round on the basis of five years of operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the jury, quality and standard, educational infrastructure, quality of academic activities, student-led activities, entrepreneurship promotion programme, relationship with real professional organizations, and employment opportunities were taken into consideration while selecting the school for the awards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The main sponsor of the program is Prabhu Bank Limited, while Yamaha, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd, Tata Nexon, Everest Bank, Hama Steel, United Insurance, DishHome Fiber Net and Nepali Patro are the co-sponsors of the event.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15551', 'image' => '20220817062644_IMG-20220817-WA0012.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:23:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government not Supportive Towards Innovation and Entrepreneurship ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: It has been a decade since Ram Prasad Rimal and his twin brother Lakshman Prasad developed an electronic voting machine in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three major elections have been held since they developed the machine including two local level elections and one for the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, instead of encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation through the use of domestic products, the government and the Election Commission have been neglecting technology to the detriment of those engaged in such work. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Both these bodies are planning to continue using ballot papers which have to be imported from abroad by spending millions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is no need to doubt the reliability of the machine developed by the twin brothers. Using the same voting machine, 100 internal elections of political parties including CPN-UML, RPP and other organizations have been completed flawlessly. In addition, engineering students who design and develop hardware and software for various types of machines have also used the same machine during the elections of student unions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman's machine was used during the voting of the last union election at Pulchowk Campus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Elections of Nepal Chartered Accountants Association, Rotary Club, a prestigious organization of international level, etc. have also been completed with the voting machine prepared by Ram Lakshman's company Ram Lakshman Innovations Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to them, the Election Commission during a demonstration had said it would be easier for them to accept the machine if was used in the voting of an organization. Then they started using the machine in the elections of various organizations.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dozens of political parties and their sister organizations and other organizations successfully used the machine. Then they again went to the Election Commission but the commission is not yet ready to accept it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“They neither accept it nor reject it,” rued the Rimal brothers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The voting machine manufactured in Nepal has already been certified at the international level. The digital certificate issued by the Certification Office of the Government of Nepal has also confirmed that the software of the machine is safe.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ram Lakshman also clarified that they are not looking for profit. They say that if the government produces the machine, they are ready to provide all kind of support and let them use it without royalty.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15550', 'image' => '20220817054322_innovation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 17:42:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half a Dozen GI Wire Industries Shut Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 17: Six galvanized iron (GI) wire industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have been shut down due to the unfair tax rates imposed by the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had assured to correct the unequal tax rates but failed to keep his words. As a result, around 1,500 workers have become unemployed due to the faulty decision of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the industrialists, Hulas Wire, Aarti Wire, Arihant Wire Industry, Kamala Wire, Premier Wire and Pioneer Wire Pvt. Ltd. of Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor have been closed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pawan Sharda, director of Premier Steel and member of the Constituent Assembly, said that the government is not ready to correct the unequal tax rates. It shows that the government is not in favor of the industry. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The government does not want jobs to be created in the country. Otherwise why could the promise made by the minister not be fulfilled on time and the industry had to be closed today?” he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharda said that the industries have posted notices informing about their closure and the labor office has been informed about it. He added that the wrong policy of the government resulted in unemployment of 1,500 people. He claimed that the industries will incur monthly loss of Rs 1 million to Rs 1.5 million even if the industries remain closed. Sharda says that even if the government fixes the tax rate and tells them to start the industry, it will take 2 months to reopen the industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Through the budget announced for the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Sharma had increased the customs duty on mild steel (MS) wire rod, the raw material required for this industry from 5 to 10 percent. Excise duty was changed from Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.50 per kg. India also started levying a 15 percent duty on the export of MS wire to protect its industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Anil Sharda, general secretary of Chamber of Industries, Morang and owner of Pioneer Wire said that they had to pay 29.5 percent of import duty in total after adding India's export duty along with Nepal's import duty and excise duty on the import of MS wire. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On the other hand, GI wire produced from the same MS wire rod can be imported from India by paying 16 percent revenue under the SAFTA facility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suysha Raj Pyakurel, president of the chamber, said that GI wire export dropped from 22,740 metric tons in the year 2018/19 to 672 tons in the year 2021/22 due to the additional excise duty imposed by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Payakurel, after Sharma was reinstated as the Finance Minister, he had given verbal assurance to remove the unequal tax rates soon.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Naveen Rijal, president of the Morang Merchants Association, said that six large wire industries and 40 small industries dependent on them closed due to failure to fulfill the assurance given by Finance Minister Sharma. Yukti Golchha, owner and managing director of Hulas Wire said that the factory producing 150 tons of GI wire per day has been closed as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15549', 'image' => '20220817040716_Chamber of industries morang new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 16:06:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Average Consumer Price Inflation Stands at 6.32 Percent during Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 17: The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 8.08 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 4.19 percent a year ago. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, global rise in fuel and food prices, supply chain disruptions and devaluation of Nepalese currency with US dollar contributed to build up inflationary pressures during the second half of Fiscal Year 2021/22.<br /> However, due to low level of inflation during initial months, the annual average consumer price inflation remained at 6.32 percent during the last fiscal year compared to 3.60 percent in FY 2020/2021, states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday. <br /> According to the report, the prices of ghee and oil, pulses and legumes, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks sub-categories rose by 26.13 percent, 9.92 percent, 9.84 percent and 8.57 percent respectively on annual basis under the Food and Beverage category. <br /> Likewise, under the non-food and services category, the prices of transportation, education, furnishing and household equipment and recreation and culture sub-categories rose by 15.82 percent, 8.78 percent, 7.09 percent and 6.68 percent respectively on annual basis. <br /> The annual average food and beverage inflation stood at 5.69 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 5.00 percent a year ago. The y-o-y food and beverage inflation stood at 6.89 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 5.81 percent a year ago. <br /> Similarly, the annual average non-food and services inflation stood at 6.83 percent in FY 2021/22 compared to 2.51 percent a year ago. The y-o-y non-food and services inflation stood at 9.03 percent in mid-July 2022 compared to 2.94 percent a year ago. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-08-17', 'modified' => '2022-08-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15548', 'image' => '20220817013642_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-08-17 13:35:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
