August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new…
August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new…
August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various…
August 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund…
August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the…
August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu…
August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal…
August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next and a half…
August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time. The…
August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country.…
August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of…
August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad…
August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year.…
August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly.…
August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission…
August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states.…
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On Wednesday (August 4), the second-last trading day of this week, the NEPSE index posted a double digit gain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The index rose 12.05 points to close at 3,123.14. The transaction amount stood at over Rs 15.5 billion. Likewise, the sensitive index increased 0.71 points to stand at 578.23. Over 28 million shares of 225 companies were traded during this period.</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"">Of the total 13 subgroups, six increased and seven decreased. Banking sector gained 4.29 points, development banks 65.85, hydropower 194.07, finance 45.05, production 27.84 and investment 0.34. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, trade slumped 60 points while hotel and tourism 7.77, non-life insurance 82.98, others 21.01, microfinance 126.33, life insurance 2.75 and mutual fund 0.12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The companies that hit the upper circuit of 10 percent were Api Power Company Limited, Khanikhola Hydropower Company Limited, Dibyashwori Hydropower Limited, Kalika Power Company Limited, Upper Tamakoshi, Ghalemdi Hydro Limited, Union Life Insurance and Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-05', 'modified' => '2021-08-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13522', 'image' => '20210805111425_20210203112246_20200224104313_aaaaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-05 11:13:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13776', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CSR activities of Banks Concentrated in Bagmati Province: NRB Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, the commercial banks spend more than two-third of funds for CSR in Bagmati Province. The study has also shown that the commercial banks spent 67.95 percent of CSR fund in Bagmati Province in fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since FY 2076/77, commercial banks are required to spend a minimum of 10 percent of the CSR amount in each province. However, the study has shown that commercial banks have not implemented CSR programmes in the prescribed proportion. According to the study, except Bagmati Province, less than 10 percent CSR amount has been spent in other provinces in the fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Among the seven provinces, the banks have spent the least amount in Karnali Province. Only 3.56 percent of funds allocated for CSR have been spent in Karnali Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the share of CSR-related expenditure by banks is increasing. In FY 2075/76, commercial banks in Bagmati Province had spent about 75 percent of the CSR fund. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the same year, 1.13 percent CSR fund was spent in Karnali Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Executive director of NRB Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in every province. He is of the view that this may have been due to high demand in Bagmati due to various reasons. However, the CSR programme needs to be balanced as per the prescribed proportions. “Now we have brought out the real situation of the CSR programme. The reason behind the unbalanced distribution of CSR programmes needs to be further studied,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the ratio of spending to CSR has not been implemented. “The central bank has directed commercial banks to spend a minimum of 10 percent of fund allocated for CSR in a province. However, it has not been implemented yet,” he said, “But there has been improvement.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in all provinces, the overall banks and financial institutions have spent more than the stipulated amount on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BFIs are required to spend at least one percent of their net profit on CSR. However, the study has shown that they spent 1.58 percent of their profit. They have spent Rs 1.28 billion on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, A-class commercial banks have been allocating 1.54 percent of the profit for CSR on average. Similarly, Class B banks have been allocating 1.55 per cent, Class C finance companies 1.66 per cent and Class D microfinance institutions 2.1 per cent for CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Many banks and financial institutions participating in the survey have been conducting CSR programmes for the purpose of building their reputation. Similarly, the study has shown that such programmes are also done for business growth and customer satisfaction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Likewise, 85 percent of banks and financial institutions have their own corporate social responsibility policy. Moreover, the study has shown that 51 percent banks and financial institutions make annual plans in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In FY 2075/76, 35 percent of the commercial banks disclosed sectoral expenditure from the CSR Fund in their annual report, which increased to 38 percent in FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Furthermore, in FY 2075/76, 12 percent of the commercial banks disclosed the provincial expenditure from the CSR Fund in the annual report, which increased to 30.8 percent in FY 2076/77. However, according to the study, the expenditure details of the CSR fund have not been disclosed in the annual report as instructed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB had conducted a survey in this regard through virtual medium from November 5 to December 11. This is also the first survey on CSR. Most of the commercial banks had participated in the survey. Besides, Shrestha said that development banks, finance companies and microfinance financial institutions were also brought under the scope of the survey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“We conducted a survey in this regard by bringing limited information in a limited time. Therefore, it is not complete in itself,” he said, “Nevertheless, it shows the real state of the CSR programme. As a result, this survey will help us make additional policy arrangements in this regard.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the CSR programme needs to have a balance in terms of geographyl and region. In addition, Shrestha said that there is a need for clear guidance and direction to make CSR-related expenditure transparent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study also explores various aspects of CSR in the Nepal’s banking sector. According to the study, the size of the CSR fund is increasing and its proper use can have social benefits to the economy. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13521', 'image' => '20210804022551_20210308021619_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 14:24:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13775', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Interim Order not to Force BFIs to join SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF).', '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 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF). </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 interim order issued on Tuesday (August 3) has instructed government authorities not to force BFIs to join the social security fund unless they agree to be listed voluntarily.</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"">A full bench of Justices Anil Kumar Sinha, Dr Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi issued the interim order after hearing a writ petition filed by employees and unions of various banks. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The bench also asked the concerned authorities to keep all the activities related to listing BFIs in the social security fund in status quo.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13520', 'image' => '20210804115654_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:55:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13774', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Tourists Arrive in Nepal in July ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Immigration, 2,991 tourists arrived in Nepal in July, 2021 via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Of them, 1,940 were male, 1050 were female and one was of the other gender. </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"">With the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the government of late, the number of people entering the country from outside has been gradually increasing. In June, the number of tourists arriving in Nepal was 1,143.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past one month, people from 99 countries from across the world had arrived in Nepal with the highest number coming from India. The number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal was 1,105 followed by 819 from the US, 185 from the UK, and 165 from Turkey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Data provided by the department show people from other South Asian countries including four from Bangladesh, 14 from Bhutan, five from Pakistan and three from Sri Lanka also arrived in Nepal. </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""> Likewise, 78 Canadians, 50 Chinese, 45 Belgians, 41 French, 26 Dutch, and 19 Russian also arrived in Nepal during last month. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13519', 'image' => '20210804114148_20210326125058_20200930115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:40:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13773', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley till August 10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley by imposing a fresh ban on organizing trainings, seminars, meetings and conferences. As the infection of COVID-19 has started to increase, such programmes have been prohibited until August 10, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the government had allowed to conduct seminars, trainings, meetings and conferences with a limitation of 25 people. </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"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, told RSS that such events should be held virtually as the number of COVID-19 infection has started increasing. The Kathmandu district administration has concluded that the risk has increased due to violation of health protocol by the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur issued the fresh order after a meeting on Tuesday (August 3).</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"">Meanwhile, the administration has requested concerned persons to contact their respective local level and district hospital for antigen and PCR test provided by the Government of Nepal free of cost for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are in contact with the infected. It has also requested everyone to fully comply with the health protocol. Action will be taken as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance 2078 BS against any violation of the protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The latest order has given continuity to ban on all kinds of gatherings in conferences or at party palaces, cinema halls, dance bars, swimming pools, entertainment venues, museums, sports centres.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The order also states that people are not allowed to gather in open space, hold meetings/processions, hold festivals, banquets, among others. </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"">Medicine and health related shops can be opened round the clock but other shops and businesses will be allowed to open only till 7:00 pm. </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"">Vehicles for local transportation of goods will be allowed only from 9 to 11 in the morning and from 4 to 7 in the afternoon. The administration has stated that health standards should be followed while conducting others business. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Online orders for essentials, restaurants and fast food and other orders will be available for take-away or home delivery only until 7 pm. </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"">Passenger vehicles can be operated as per the seat capacity and by following all the health protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the previous order, long distance vehicles will be allowed to operate following health standards. Pre-scheduled examinations can be held with a maximum of 25 people in one room and all the health standards have to be followed. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13518', 'image' => '20210804111341_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:12:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13772', 'article_category_id' => '236', 'title' => 'Renault Nepal organizes Ride with KIGER Rally ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal .', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, recently organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal . The automobile trading company organized the rally along with an interaction program with journalists on July 30 with the aim of introducing the newly-launched SUV - KIGER.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ride with Kiger rally began from Renault Service Center in Teku, passed through Bhaktapur and Banepa showroom and concluded at the Mirabel Resort in Dhulikhel. The event was attended by media persons of different media houses. The participants interacted with the representative of the company regarding the specifications of Renault Kiger SUV. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhir Kumar Shrestha, general manager of Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, informed that Nepali car owners are shifting to SUVs in recent times. Analyzing this trend, Advanced Automobiles has introduced Kiger, an affordable SUV with luxury features.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Kiger has huge potential in the Nepali market, as we have introduced the car targeting the customers looking for an economical option for an SUV. We expect the segment will help Renault to expand its market in Nepal,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company had also offered the media person a test drive from the event venue in Dhulikhel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Advanced Automobiles had launched Kiger in the Nepal market on July 15 through a virtual event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has made Renault Kiger available in four trims - RXE, RXL, RXT, RXZ in Nepal. LED DRLs, C-Shaped signature LED tail lamps, 40.64 cm Wheels, roof rail bars, and dual-tone option available across all trims, the company said. The SUV has a ground clearance of 205 mm, best suited for Nepali roads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Renault Kiger is available in 15 sales outlets across Nepal. The SUV has a minimum of two airbags for safety along with a door and seat belt motion detector sensor. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Available in 6 color options, the Renault Kiger is priced between Rs 28,49,000 and 37,69,000.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13517', 'image' => '20210803040756_PIC 3 (1).JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 16:06:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13771', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal will Receive 20 Million Doses of Vaccines by mid-October.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next and a half months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next two and a half months. Announcing a 23-point action plan, he said that the government had procured the vaccine under the Covax facility.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the state minister, 20 million doses of vaccines will arrive into the country by mid-October and 52.2 million by January. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said that among the 15 million vaccines which have been decided to come to Nepal under the Covax facility, the process of 4 million has already been started.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He claimed that every citizen of Nepal would be vaccinated by 2078 BS adding that the process has been started accordingly. The government is also seeking a loan of USD 165 million from the Asian Development Bank to buy the vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Last year, Covisheild vaccination campaign was launched in Nepal from the second week of January with the help of the Government of India. However, the vaccination campaign was affected after India failed to deliver the vaccine Nepal had purchased. Even now, 1.348 million people are yet to be vaccinated with the second dose of covishield vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that the AstraZeneca vaccine is sure to arrive from Japan in two weeks, Minister of State, Shrestha said that Covishield will be given to those who have already received the first dose of vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that special strategies and action plans are being formulated to prevent the outbreak of the third wave, he claimed that work has been started for proper management of ICUs, HDUs, ventilators and oxygen across the country.</span></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"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">State Health Minister announced not to take government facility</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The newly appointed Minister of State for Health, Umesh Shrestha has announced that he will not take government services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">While announcing his action plan on Monday after being appointed as the Minister of State for Health, he will not accept any other facilities than security. Shrestha said he will not take any other state facilities including remuneration, salary, allowance, accommodation and vehicles as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He has also announced his resignation from all his personal business associations. He said that he has decided to detach himself from personal business participation after taking the responsibility of the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13516', 'image' => '20210803034247_20210121110447_1611185741.7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 15:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13770', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Passes Bills to Split CAAN into Two Entities ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time. The avia', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The aviation authority has been divided with the endorsement of the 'Nepal Air Service Authority Bill-2076' and 'Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill-2076'. These bills were registered by the then Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai in the National Assembly on March 26, 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until now, CAAN was working as both the regulator and service provider ever since its establishment under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act-2053 BS. CAAN will turn into two separate bodies as regulator and service provider soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshatriya, the spokesperson of CAAN, said that the bill has opened doors to split CAAN into two bodies. According to him, when the current structure is divided, the employees working under the regulatory body won't be included as the Nepal Air Service Authority jobholders, while the employees working at the aviation service section won't be able to work in the regulatory body. At present, CAAN has 1,225 employees.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of posts has increased with the addition of Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports. After the disintegration of the authority, 125 people and other employees will go to the Nepal Airlines Authority for regulation. "When the authority separates to provide regulation and services, there won't be a conflict of interest," Kshetri said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had been suggesting CAAN to split as a service provider and a regulatory body since 2009. The European Union (EU) has blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector since 2013.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The EU, which has been showing serious interest in Nepal's aviation security, has banned Nepalese aircraft from operating in European skies. However, the ICAO lifted the ban in 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill stipulates that the Aviation Service Authority Nepal (ASAN) will work with the objective of making Nepal's air service safe, standard and reliable, by constructing, upgrading, and operating airports and air navigation services in accordance with international standards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill also states that this authority will work as an autonomous body. In addition, ASAN will provide ground handling services at the airport, approve aircraft flight schedules and issue flight permits. The bill stipulates that the Airlines Service Authority Nepal will do 17 works including helipad-related service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The newly formed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAA Nepal) will be established for the purpose of acting as a regulatory body for service providers. As an autonomous body, the authority has 29 tasks.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The body will also issue certificates for recreational aviation activities such as ultralight flights, microlight, hot-air balloon, and paragliding. Similarly, the authority will also provide security supervision to the organizations providing air security, airport operators, airline operators, and other service providers.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13515', 'image' => '20210803010706_20200827042104_1598477546.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 13:05:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13769', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Poultry Feed Industry sees Investment of Rs 35 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. Entrepreneurs claim that the country has become self-sufficient in production of poultry feed within a period of two decades.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">But even now, most of the raw materials are imported. According to Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, chairman of Nimbus Group, the first industrial establishment to start commercial production of poultry feeds, a grain industry requires investment of at least Rs 1 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the number of such industries has reached 35. Some industries have expanded their production units in different places. Agarwal says that more than Rs 35 billion has been invested in production of poultry feed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of OCB Feed, Suresh Rungta, says that the consumption of poultry feed has skyrocketed with the expansion of poultry business in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Currently, the market for poultry feed has reached Rs 100 billion annually. The market consumes 1.8 to 2 million metric tons of feed annually," said Rungta. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agarwal estimates that the investment will be more than Rs 1 billion if the animal and poultry feed and other related industries are included. Initially, the poultry industry that produced chicken feed has started producing animal feed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Many industries have even produced soybean oil to produce raw materials for poultry feed. Probiotech Industries, operated by Nimbus Group in Birgunj, has run a soybean oil industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Five other such industries have been established in Birgunj and Biratnagar. Agrawal claimed that the feed market has increased 10 times in the last two decades. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrialist Rungta says that although the country has been self-sufficient in production, majority of feed production industries depend on imports for raw materials. The raw materials such as maize and soybean for producing feed are mostly imported from India and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Different chemicals used for feed production are also dependent on import. The industrialists also complained that permission has to be obtained from various agencies for the import of raw materials and it becomes costly due to the lack of implementation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An importer said it took an unexpected time to get permission from the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Food and Quality Control and their office in the checkpoint to import raw materials. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The importers say that delays in the name of permission and seen/unseen costs have increased the cost of production. Rungta says that it will take at least four to five extra days to clear the truck from the customs. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13514', 'image' => '20210803125226_product-jpeg-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 12:51:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13768', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Gold Jumps 103 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Statistics show that Nepal imported gold worth Rs 27.34 billion in the last fiscal year, which is Rs 13.88 billion more than the previous fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on quantity, 3,924 kg of gold was imported last year. The quantity was 2,400 kg in the previous year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import of gold had greatly plummeted in the previous fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as significant rise in prices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2075/76, gold import was worth more than Rs 34.5 billion. This amount was reduced to 13.64 billion in fiscal year 2076/77. Although gold imports have doubled in the last fiscal year, it is less than that of fiscal year 2075/76.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%281%29.jpg" style="height:324px; width:546px" /></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports also increased last year as the coronavirus pandemic subsided and demand for gold jewelry increased. Due to the second wave of coronavirus, the business of gold jewelry again came to standstill when the prohibitory order was imposed in late April. But since the gold jewelry business was doing well prior to that, the overall gold import increased during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya said that the trade of gold jewelry was good even amidst the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the gold import has increased because of the increase in quota of gold import and increase in demand for jewelry in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the previous fiscal year, the price of gold rose in the international market due to the trade war between the US and China. Later, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of gold began to rise further. During that time, the price of gold in Nepal, which was around Rs 60,000 per tola, had gone up to Rs 103,500. As the price of gold rose, its trade plummeted in Nepal. Gold imports were affected by those reasons. However, gold imports seem to be on the rise currently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Last July, Nepal imported more gold than average. According to the statistics, raw gold worth Rs 6.27 billion had been imported. In Nepal, an average of up to Rs 3 billion worth of gold is imported monthly. However, in last July, gold imports were twice as high as the average i.e. Rs 6.27 billion. Statistics show that, 906 kg and 500 grams of raw gold had been imported in June itself.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gold import was completely null from mid-April to early June due to the second wave of coronavirus and the prohibitory order imposed to control it. Statistics have shown that gold imports have also been high since the prohibition was lifted in June. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only commercial banks in Nepal have the authority to import gold. However, they have been importing gold on the recommendation of the federation. They are allowed to import up to 20 kg of gold on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13513', 'image' => '20210803112813_1627860456.Clipboard17.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:27:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13767', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Shows Concern over Media Content Related to its Senior Vice President', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Chandra Prasad Dhakal (C) poses for a photo after being elected as senior vice president of FNCCI in this file photo.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday (August 2), the FNCCI expressed its concern over the news about the purchase of promoter share of Sarbottam Cement Limited and its connection with its senior office-bearer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The FNCCI had designated Dhakal as its representative in the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on December 15, 2020 as per the institutional provision, it said in the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal had attended the board meeting of SEBON since 24th January, 2021 while his brother Hem Raj Dhakal was involved in share transactions before the former assumed the responsibility as the FNCCI representative in SEBON. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To link the name of FNCCI Senior Vice President with the share transactions made around two months before his nomination to the post and appointment as a SEBON representative is totally false and misleading, said the statement adding that such news content was capable of harming the image of the institution and the dignity of the person.</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"">FNCCI has also urged the media to disseminate fact-based news. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13512', 'image' => '20210803110857_20201129114440_1606605443.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:07:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13765', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Preparing to Operate Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Airports within a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has made preparations to operate Gautam Buddha International Airport within the next six months, while Pokhara Regional Airport is expected to be ready by next year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshetri, the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), informed that the Gautam Buddha Airport is expected to be operational within six months after completing all the procedures. With the physical progress of the airport reaching 97.33 percent, CAAN is preparing for calibration flight to check the airport. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The calibration flight helps to check the runway, lighting system, air communication, radar, and other airport amenities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The airlines performing the calibration flight submit a report based on the test. If there is any problem or weakness in such a flight, a test flight is carried out only after improvement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetri said that the calibration flights are carried out at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as well as other airports every two to three years. Despite an agreement with Thailand's Aero Thai Company for a calibration flight at Gautam Buddha Airport, Kshetri said there was some delay due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, CAAN is preparing to sign an agreement with an Indian Airlines company for a calibration flight after the Aero Thai company did not show interest. However, he did not reveal the name of the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A test flight will be conducted after the calibration flight, and only after the test flight is successful CAAN will ask the airline companies to apply for scheduled flight. In the meantime, CAAN will design an internal procedure and write to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to certify the airport, he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the flight permit will be approved after receiving the ICAO certificate, and all these works will be finished within six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been pushed back by a year. The deadline for construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport has been fixed for July 10, 2022. Kshetri said that the construction of the airport was affected by Covid-19 and was extended by a year. The airport so far has made more than 83 percent physical progress, and now there is only one year to wait for the flight, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that two big airports should be operational within a year if there is no obstruction. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13510', 'image' => '20210802012108_1627860300.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:18:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13764', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Processed Oil worth Rs 38 Billion exported from Birgunj Customs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, refined soybean and sunflower oil worth Rs 38 billion were exported from Birgunj customs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a total of 28,204 metric tons of refined oil were exported in the review period. Domestic industries have been processing and exporting the semi-refined oil imported from third countries to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the refined oil is the main contributor of Nepal’s export trade, chief customs officer of Birgunj customs Harihar Poudel said that 197,326 tons of soybean oil and 10, 867 tons of sunflower oil were exported from Birgunj customs in the last fiscal year. This amount is significantly higher than the previous FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only 61,550 tons of refined soybean oil was exported from Birgunj in FY 2076/77. Likewise, the export of sunflower oil was limited to 420 tons. Earlier, there was a dominance of palm oil in the export trade, but the industrialists opted for soybean and sunflower oil as alternatives after India banned the import of palm oil.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of soybean oil exported last year was 337 percent higher than the previous year. Last year, industries of Bara and Parsa exported soybean oil worth Rs 36 billion and refined sunflower oil worth Rs 2 billion to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">OCB Food operator Suresh Rungta says that oil extraction will increase in the current fiscal year as India lifted the ban on palm oil imports a month ago. Imports were completely banned on May 12, 2020.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali entrepreneurs process raw oil imported from Indonesia and Malaysia and export it to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian government has set high tariffs on import of oil. Nepali importers have to pay 10 percent customs duty when importing raw oil from third countries. Nepali industries can export at zero tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) facility. Nineteen industries in Birgunj and Biratnagar have been exporting refined oil to India. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13509', 'image' => '20210802011105_1627860368.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13762', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jumla Connected with National Power Grid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to chief of Jumla-based National Electricity Authority (NEA) distribution centre, Gaurav Pandey, the district has been connected with 11-KV national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"NEA has connected Jumla with the 11-KV national transmission line through Kalikot for now," shared Pandey. NEA had intensified its works to bring Jumla to the transmission line once Kalikot came to the fold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, NEA had successfully tested the transmission line from Jumla to Manma of Kalikot along the Karnali Highway. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The shortage of electricity supply is expected to be resolved to some extent with the NEA successfully bringing the district to the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Parliamentarian Gajendra Bahadur Mahat expressed his happiness over the expansion of electricity transmission in Jumla and also highlighted the need of its sustainable management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA has set its target to expand electricity to main areas of all eight local levels of the district by the upcoming Dahsain festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13508', 'image' => '20210802112641_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 11:25:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13763', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders call for Connectivity for Development of Province 2', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. As the border of all the eight districts of Province 2 is connected with India, the concerned parties have said that the movement and transit should be made easy to tap in the potential.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2, Om Prakash Sharma says that the connectivity of the region should be strengthened as Birgunj is not only the main trade gateway but also a source of production and supply.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The easier the movement from the Birgunj area, the easier it is to exploit the potential,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a program organized on Saturday in Birgunj, Minister Sharma said connectivity to India along with the main urban areas of Nepal is also important.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the Bara-Parsa area is the main industrial center, the private sector is of the view that the supply of raw materials and transportation of products should be facilitated. Sharma also mentioned that the state government has given priority to road and air transport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma reasoned that the federal government should facilitate inter-state communication as much as possible by understanding the economic potential and importance of Province 2. Sharma, who is also the former president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had been emphasizing on transportation since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"As transport is the basis of development, there is no alternative to making road and air services effective. Wherever transport reaches, development also reaches simultaneously,” said Sharma, who recently became the Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also taken initiative to use the infrastructure of Nepal-India in the border areas. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the chamber, Indian Railways officials have been called to Birgunj to take initiative for operating a direct train service from Raxaul to major Indian cities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma believes that the federal government should take immediate initiative to conduct at least one flight from Simara in Bara to Patna in Bihar, as Province 2 is connected to the Indian state of Bihar. “It is yet to be decided when the second international airport under construction at Nijgadh in Bara will be completed. For now, the Simara-Patna flight could be very convenient,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Participants of the program expressed concern over the traffic that gets disrupted due to hours of traffic jam at the railway crossing on Raxaul main road in India. Most of the traders have complained that the means of transportation carrying industrial raw materials and finished goods are jammed for a long interval of time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction of an overhead bridge for two-wheelers has been started at Raxaul Railway this year. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13507', 'image' => '20210802010102_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13777', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Hits Record 3,123 Points ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new history.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new history. On Wednesday (August 4), the second-last trading day of this week, the NEPSE index posted a double digit gain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The index rose 12.05 points to close at 3,123.14. The transaction amount stood at over Rs 15.5 billion. Likewise, the sensitive index increased 0.71 points to stand at 578.23. Over 28 million shares of 225 companies were traded during this period.</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"">Of the total 13 subgroups, six increased and seven decreased. Banking sector gained 4.29 points, development banks 65.85, hydropower 194.07, finance 45.05, production 27.84 and investment 0.34. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, trade slumped 60 points while hotel and tourism 7.77, non-life insurance 82.98, others 21.01, microfinance 126.33, life insurance 2.75 and mutual fund 0.12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The companies that hit the upper circuit of 10 percent were Api Power Company Limited, Khanikhola Hydropower Company Limited, Dibyashwori Hydropower Limited, Kalika Power Company Limited, Upper Tamakoshi, Ghalemdi Hydro Limited, Union Life Insurance and Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-05', 'modified' => '2021-08-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13522', 'image' => '20210805111425_20210203112246_20200224104313_aaaaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-05 11:13:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13776', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CSR activities of Banks Concentrated in Bagmati Province: NRB Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, the commercial banks spend more than two-third of funds for CSR in Bagmati Province. The study has also shown that the commercial banks spent 67.95 percent of CSR fund in Bagmati Province in fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since FY 2076/77, commercial banks are required to spend a minimum of 10 percent of the CSR amount in each province. However, the study has shown that commercial banks have not implemented CSR programmes in the prescribed proportion. According to the study, except Bagmati Province, less than 10 percent CSR amount has been spent in other provinces in the fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Among the seven provinces, the banks have spent the least amount in Karnali Province. Only 3.56 percent of funds allocated for CSR have been spent in Karnali Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the share of CSR-related expenditure by banks is increasing. In FY 2075/76, commercial banks in Bagmati Province had spent about 75 percent of the CSR fund. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the same year, 1.13 percent CSR fund was spent in Karnali Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Executive director of NRB Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in every province. He is of the view that this may have been due to high demand in Bagmati due to various reasons. However, the CSR programme needs to be balanced as per the prescribed proportions. “Now we have brought out the real situation of the CSR programme. The reason behind the unbalanced distribution of CSR programmes needs to be further studied,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the ratio of spending to CSR has not been implemented. “The central bank has directed commercial banks to spend a minimum of 10 percent of fund allocated for CSR in a province. However, it has not been implemented yet,” he said, “But there has been improvement.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in all provinces, the overall banks and financial institutions have spent more than the stipulated amount on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BFIs are required to spend at least one percent of their net profit on CSR. However, the study has shown that they spent 1.58 percent of their profit. They have spent Rs 1.28 billion on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, A-class commercial banks have been allocating 1.54 percent of the profit for CSR on average. Similarly, Class B banks have been allocating 1.55 per cent, Class C finance companies 1.66 per cent and Class D microfinance institutions 2.1 per cent for CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Many banks and financial institutions participating in the survey have been conducting CSR programmes for the purpose of building their reputation. Similarly, the study has shown that such programmes are also done for business growth and customer satisfaction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Likewise, 85 percent of banks and financial institutions have their own corporate social responsibility policy. Moreover, the study has shown that 51 percent banks and financial institutions make annual plans in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In FY 2075/76, 35 percent of the commercial banks disclosed sectoral expenditure from the CSR Fund in their annual report, which increased to 38 percent in FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Furthermore, in FY 2075/76, 12 percent of the commercial banks disclosed the provincial expenditure from the CSR Fund in the annual report, which increased to 30.8 percent in FY 2076/77. However, according to the study, the expenditure details of the CSR fund have not been disclosed in the annual report as instructed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB had conducted a survey in this regard through virtual medium from November 5 to December 11. This is also the first survey on CSR. Most of the commercial banks had participated in the survey. Besides, Shrestha said that development banks, finance companies and microfinance financial institutions were also brought under the scope of the survey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“We conducted a survey in this regard by bringing limited information in a limited time. Therefore, it is not complete in itself,” he said, “Nevertheless, it shows the real state of the CSR programme. As a result, this survey will help us make additional policy arrangements in this regard.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the CSR programme needs to have a balance in terms of geographyl and region. In addition, Shrestha said that there is a need for clear guidance and direction to make CSR-related expenditure transparent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study also explores various aspects of CSR in the Nepal’s banking sector. According to the study, the size of the CSR fund is increasing and its proper use can have social benefits to the economy. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13521', 'image' => '20210804022551_20210308021619_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 14:24:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13775', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Interim Order not to Force BFIs to join SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF).', '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 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF). </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 interim order issued on Tuesday (August 3) has instructed government authorities not to force BFIs to join the social security fund unless they agree to be listed voluntarily.</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"">A full bench of Justices Anil Kumar Sinha, Dr Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi issued the interim order after hearing a writ petition filed by employees and unions of various banks. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The bench also asked the concerned authorities to keep all the activities related to listing BFIs in the social security fund in status quo.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13520', 'image' => '20210804115654_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:55:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13774', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Tourists Arrive in Nepal in July ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Immigration, 2,991 tourists arrived in Nepal in July, 2021 via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Of them, 1,940 were male, 1050 were female and one was of the other gender. </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"">With the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the government of late, the number of people entering the country from outside has been gradually increasing. In June, the number of tourists arriving in Nepal was 1,143.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past one month, people from 99 countries from across the world had arrived in Nepal with the highest number coming from India. The number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal was 1,105 followed by 819 from the US, 185 from the UK, and 165 from Turkey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Data provided by the department show people from other South Asian countries including four from Bangladesh, 14 from Bhutan, five from Pakistan and three from Sri Lanka also arrived in Nepal. </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""> Likewise, 78 Canadians, 50 Chinese, 45 Belgians, 41 French, 26 Dutch, and 19 Russian also arrived in Nepal during last month. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13519', 'image' => '20210804114148_20210326125058_20200930115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:40:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13773', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley till August 10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley by imposing a fresh ban on organizing trainings, seminars, meetings and conferences. As the infection of COVID-19 has started to increase, such programmes have been prohibited until August 10, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the government had allowed to conduct seminars, trainings, meetings and conferences with a limitation of 25 people. </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"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, told RSS that such events should be held virtually as the number of COVID-19 infection has started increasing. The Kathmandu district administration has concluded that the risk has increased due to violation of health protocol by the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur issued the fresh order after a meeting on Tuesday (August 3).</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"">Meanwhile, the administration has requested concerned persons to contact their respective local level and district hospital for antigen and PCR test provided by the Government of Nepal free of cost for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are in contact with the infected. It has also requested everyone to fully comply with the health protocol. Action will be taken as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance 2078 BS against any violation of the protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The latest order has given continuity to ban on all kinds of gatherings in conferences or at party palaces, cinema halls, dance bars, swimming pools, entertainment venues, museums, sports centres.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The order also states that people are not allowed to gather in open space, hold meetings/processions, hold festivals, banquets, among others. </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"">Medicine and health related shops can be opened round the clock but other shops and businesses will be allowed to open only till 7:00 pm. </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"">Vehicles for local transportation of goods will be allowed only from 9 to 11 in the morning and from 4 to 7 in the afternoon. The administration has stated that health standards should be followed while conducting others business. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Online orders for essentials, restaurants and fast food and other orders will be available for take-away or home delivery only until 7 pm. </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"">Passenger vehicles can be operated as per the seat capacity and by following all the health protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the previous order, long distance vehicles will be allowed to operate following health standards. Pre-scheduled examinations can be held with a maximum of 25 people in one room and all the health standards have to be followed. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13518', 'image' => '20210804111341_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:12:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13772', 'article_category_id' => '236', 'title' => 'Renault Nepal organizes Ride with KIGER Rally ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal .', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, recently organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal . The automobile trading company organized the rally along with an interaction program with journalists on July 30 with the aim of introducing the newly-launched SUV - KIGER.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ride with Kiger rally began from Renault Service Center in Teku, passed through Bhaktapur and Banepa showroom and concluded at the Mirabel Resort in Dhulikhel. The event was attended by media persons of different media houses. The participants interacted with the representative of the company regarding the specifications of Renault Kiger SUV. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhir Kumar Shrestha, general manager of Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, informed that Nepali car owners are shifting to SUVs in recent times. Analyzing this trend, Advanced Automobiles has introduced Kiger, an affordable SUV with luxury features.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Kiger has huge potential in the Nepali market, as we have introduced the car targeting the customers looking for an economical option for an SUV. We expect the segment will help Renault to expand its market in Nepal,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company had also offered the media person a test drive from the event venue in Dhulikhel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Advanced Automobiles had launched Kiger in the Nepal market on July 15 through a virtual event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has made Renault Kiger available in four trims - RXE, RXL, RXT, RXZ in Nepal. LED DRLs, C-Shaped signature LED tail lamps, 40.64 cm Wheels, roof rail bars, and dual-tone option available across all trims, the company said. The SUV has a ground clearance of 205 mm, best suited for Nepali roads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Renault Kiger is available in 15 sales outlets across Nepal. The SUV has a minimum of two airbags for safety along with a door and seat belt motion detector sensor. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Available in 6 color options, the Renault Kiger is priced between Rs 28,49,000 and 37,69,000.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13517', 'image' => '20210803040756_PIC 3 (1).JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 16:06:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13771', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal will Receive 20 Million Doses of Vaccines by mid-October.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next and a half months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next two and a half months. Announcing a 23-point action plan, he said that the government had procured the vaccine under the Covax facility.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the state minister, 20 million doses of vaccines will arrive into the country by mid-October and 52.2 million by January. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said that among the 15 million vaccines which have been decided to come to Nepal under the Covax facility, the process of 4 million has already been started.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He claimed that every citizen of Nepal would be vaccinated by 2078 BS adding that the process has been started accordingly. The government is also seeking a loan of USD 165 million from the Asian Development Bank to buy the vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Last year, Covisheild vaccination campaign was launched in Nepal from the second week of January with the help of the Government of India. However, the vaccination campaign was affected after India failed to deliver the vaccine Nepal had purchased. Even now, 1.348 million people are yet to be vaccinated with the second dose of covishield vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that the AstraZeneca vaccine is sure to arrive from Japan in two weeks, Minister of State, Shrestha said that Covishield will be given to those who have already received the first dose of vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that special strategies and action plans are being formulated to prevent the outbreak of the third wave, he claimed that work has been started for proper management of ICUs, HDUs, ventilators and oxygen across the country.</span></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"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">State Health Minister announced not to take government facility</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The newly appointed Minister of State for Health, Umesh Shrestha has announced that he will not take government services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">While announcing his action plan on Monday after being appointed as the Minister of State for Health, he will not accept any other facilities than security. Shrestha said he will not take any other state facilities including remuneration, salary, allowance, accommodation and vehicles as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He has also announced his resignation from all his personal business associations. He said that he has decided to detach himself from personal business participation after taking the responsibility of the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13516', 'image' => '20210803034247_20210121110447_1611185741.7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 15:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13770', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Passes Bills to Split CAAN into Two Entities ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time. The avia', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The aviation authority has been divided with the endorsement of the 'Nepal Air Service Authority Bill-2076' and 'Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill-2076'. These bills were registered by the then Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai in the National Assembly on March 26, 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until now, CAAN was working as both the regulator and service provider ever since its establishment under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act-2053 BS. CAAN will turn into two separate bodies as regulator and service provider soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshatriya, the spokesperson of CAAN, said that the bill has opened doors to split CAAN into two bodies. According to him, when the current structure is divided, the employees working under the regulatory body won't be included as the Nepal Air Service Authority jobholders, while the employees working at the aviation service section won't be able to work in the regulatory body. At present, CAAN has 1,225 employees.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of posts has increased with the addition of Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports. After the disintegration of the authority, 125 people and other employees will go to the Nepal Airlines Authority for regulation. "When the authority separates to provide regulation and services, there won't be a conflict of interest," Kshetri said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had been suggesting CAAN to split as a service provider and a regulatory body since 2009. The European Union (EU) has blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector since 2013.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The EU, which has been showing serious interest in Nepal's aviation security, has banned Nepalese aircraft from operating in European skies. However, the ICAO lifted the ban in 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill stipulates that the Aviation Service Authority Nepal (ASAN) will work with the objective of making Nepal's air service safe, standard and reliable, by constructing, upgrading, and operating airports and air navigation services in accordance with international standards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill also states that this authority will work as an autonomous body. In addition, ASAN will provide ground handling services at the airport, approve aircraft flight schedules and issue flight permits. The bill stipulates that the Airlines Service Authority Nepal will do 17 works including helipad-related service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The newly formed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAA Nepal) will be established for the purpose of acting as a regulatory body for service providers. As an autonomous body, the authority has 29 tasks.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The body will also issue certificates for recreational aviation activities such as ultralight flights, microlight, hot-air balloon, and paragliding. Similarly, the authority will also provide security supervision to the organizations providing air security, airport operators, airline operators, and other service providers.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13515', 'image' => '20210803010706_20200827042104_1598477546.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 13:05:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13769', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Poultry Feed Industry sees Investment of Rs 35 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. Entrepreneurs claim that the country has become self-sufficient in production of poultry feed within a period of two decades.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">But even now, most of the raw materials are imported. According to Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, chairman of Nimbus Group, the first industrial establishment to start commercial production of poultry feeds, a grain industry requires investment of at least Rs 1 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the number of such industries has reached 35. Some industries have expanded their production units in different places. Agarwal says that more than Rs 35 billion has been invested in production of poultry feed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of OCB Feed, Suresh Rungta, says that the consumption of poultry feed has skyrocketed with the expansion of poultry business in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Currently, the market for poultry feed has reached Rs 100 billion annually. The market consumes 1.8 to 2 million metric tons of feed annually," said Rungta. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agarwal estimates that the investment will be more than Rs 1 billion if the animal and poultry feed and other related industries are included. Initially, the poultry industry that produced chicken feed has started producing animal feed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Many industries have even produced soybean oil to produce raw materials for poultry feed. Probiotech Industries, operated by Nimbus Group in Birgunj, has run a soybean oil industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Five other such industries have been established in Birgunj and Biratnagar. Agrawal claimed that the feed market has increased 10 times in the last two decades. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrialist Rungta says that although the country has been self-sufficient in production, majority of feed production industries depend on imports for raw materials. The raw materials such as maize and soybean for producing feed are mostly imported from India and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Different chemicals used for feed production are also dependent on import. The industrialists also complained that permission has to be obtained from various agencies for the import of raw materials and it becomes costly due to the lack of implementation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An importer said it took an unexpected time to get permission from the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Food and Quality Control and their office in the checkpoint to import raw materials. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The importers say that delays in the name of permission and seen/unseen costs have increased the cost of production. Rungta says that it will take at least four to five extra days to clear the truck from the customs. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13514', 'image' => '20210803125226_product-jpeg-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 12:51:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13768', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Gold Jumps 103 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Statistics show that Nepal imported gold worth Rs 27.34 billion in the last fiscal year, which is Rs 13.88 billion more than the previous fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on quantity, 3,924 kg of gold was imported last year. The quantity was 2,400 kg in the previous year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import of gold had greatly plummeted in the previous fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as significant rise in prices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2075/76, gold import was worth more than Rs 34.5 billion. This amount was reduced to 13.64 billion in fiscal year 2076/77. Although gold imports have doubled in the last fiscal year, it is less than that of fiscal year 2075/76.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%281%29.jpg" style="height:324px; width:546px" /></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports also increased last year as the coronavirus pandemic subsided and demand for gold jewelry increased. Due to the second wave of coronavirus, the business of gold jewelry again came to standstill when the prohibitory order was imposed in late April. But since the gold jewelry business was doing well prior to that, the overall gold import increased during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya said that the trade of gold jewelry was good even amidst the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the gold import has increased because of the increase in quota of gold import and increase in demand for jewelry in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the previous fiscal year, the price of gold rose in the international market due to the trade war between the US and China. Later, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of gold began to rise further. During that time, the price of gold in Nepal, which was around Rs 60,000 per tola, had gone up to Rs 103,500. As the price of gold rose, its trade plummeted in Nepal. Gold imports were affected by those reasons. However, gold imports seem to be on the rise currently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Last July, Nepal imported more gold than average. According to the statistics, raw gold worth Rs 6.27 billion had been imported. In Nepal, an average of up to Rs 3 billion worth of gold is imported monthly. However, in last July, gold imports were twice as high as the average i.e. Rs 6.27 billion. Statistics show that, 906 kg and 500 grams of raw gold had been imported in June itself.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gold import was completely null from mid-April to early June due to the second wave of coronavirus and the prohibitory order imposed to control it. Statistics have shown that gold imports have also been high since the prohibition was lifted in June. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only commercial banks in Nepal have the authority to import gold. However, they have been importing gold on the recommendation of the federation. They are allowed to import up to 20 kg of gold on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13513', 'image' => '20210803112813_1627860456.Clipboard17.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:27:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13767', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Shows Concern over Media Content Related to its Senior Vice President', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Chandra Prasad Dhakal (C) poses for a photo after being elected as senior vice president of FNCCI in this file photo.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday (August 2), the FNCCI expressed its concern over the news about the purchase of promoter share of Sarbottam Cement Limited and its connection with its senior office-bearer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The FNCCI had designated Dhakal as its representative in the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on December 15, 2020 as per the institutional provision, it said in the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal had attended the board meeting of SEBON since 24th January, 2021 while his brother Hem Raj Dhakal was involved in share transactions before the former assumed the responsibility as the FNCCI representative in SEBON. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To link the name of FNCCI Senior Vice President with the share transactions made around two months before his nomination to the post and appointment as a SEBON representative is totally false and misleading, said the statement adding that such news content was capable of harming the image of the institution and the dignity of the person.</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"">FNCCI has also urged the media to disseminate fact-based news. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13512', 'image' => '20210803110857_20201129114440_1606605443.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:07:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13765', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Preparing to Operate Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Airports within a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has made preparations to operate Gautam Buddha International Airport within the next six months, while Pokhara Regional Airport is expected to be ready by next year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshetri, the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), informed that the Gautam Buddha Airport is expected to be operational within six months after completing all the procedures. With the physical progress of the airport reaching 97.33 percent, CAAN is preparing for calibration flight to check the airport. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The calibration flight helps to check the runway, lighting system, air communication, radar, and other airport amenities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The airlines performing the calibration flight submit a report based on the test. If there is any problem or weakness in such a flight, a test flight is carried out only after improvement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetri said that the calibration flights are carried out at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as well as other airports every two to three years. Despite an agreement with Thailand's Aero Thai Company for a calibration flight at Gautam Buddha Airport, Kshetri said there was some delay due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, CAAN is preparing to sign an agreement with an Indian Airlines company for a calibration flight after the Aero Thai company did not show interest. However, he did not reveal the name of the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A test flight will be conducted after the calibration flight, and only after the test flight is successful CAAN will ask the airline companies to apply for scheduled flight. In the meantime, CAAN will design an internal procedure and write to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to certify the airport, he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the flight permit will be approved after receiving the ICAO certificate, and all these works will be finished within six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been pushed back by a year. The deadline for construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport has been fixed for July 10, 2022. Kshetri said that the construction of the airport was affected by Covid-19 and was extended by a year. The airport so far has made more than 83 percent physical progress, and now there is only one year to wait for the flight, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that two big airports should be operational within a year if there is no obstruction. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13510', 'image' => '20210802012108_1627860300.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:18:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13764', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Processed Oil worth Rs 38 Billion exported from Birgunj Customs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, refined soybean and sunflower oil worth Rs 38 billion were exported from Birgunj customs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a total of 28,204 metric tons of refined oil were exported in the review period. Domestic industries have been processing and exporting the semi-refined oil imported from third countries to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the refined oil is the main contributor of Nepal’s export trade, chief customs officer of Birgunj customs Harihar Poudel said that 197,326 tons of soybean oil and 10, 867 tons of sunflower oil were exported from Birgunj customs in the last fiscal year. This amount is significantly higher than the previous FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only 61,550 tons of refined soybean oil was exported from Birgunj in FY 2076/77. Likewise, the export of sunflower oil was limited to 420 tons. Earlier, there was a dominance of palm oil in the export trade, but the industrialists opted for soybean and sunflower oil as alternatives after India banned the import of palm oil.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of soybean oil exported last year was 337 percent higher than the previous year. Last year, industries of Bara and Parsa exported soybean oil worth Rs 36 billion and refined sunflower oil worth Rs 2 billion to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">OCB Food operator Suresh Rungta says that oil extraction will increase in the current fiscal year as India lifted the ban on palm oil imports a month ago. Imports were completely banned on May 12, 2020.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali entrepreneurs process raw oil imported from Indonesia and Malaysia and export it to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian government has set high tariffs on import of oil. Nepali importers have to pay 10 percent customs duty when importing raw oil from third countries. Nepali industries can export at zero tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) facility. Nineteen industries in Birgunj and Biratnagar have been exporting refined oil to India. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13509', 'image' => '20210802011105_1627860368.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13762', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jumla Connected with National Power Grid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to chief of Jumla-based National Electricity Authority (NEA) distribution centre, Gaurav Pandey, the district has been connected with 11-KV national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"NEA has connected Jumla with the 11-KV national transmission line through Kalikot for now," shared Pandey. NEA had intensified its works to bring Jumla to the transmission line once Kalikot came to the fold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, NEA had successfully tested the transmission line from Jumla to Manma of Kalikot along the Karnali Highway. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The shortage of electricity supply is expected to be resolved to some extent with the NEA successfully bringing the district to the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Parliamentarian Gajendra Bahadur Mahat expressed his happiness over the expansion of electricity transmission in Jumla and also highlighted the need of its sustainable management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA has set its target to expand electricity to main areas of all eight local levels of the district by the upcoming Dahsain festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13508', 'image' => '20210802112641_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 11:25:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13763', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders call for Connectivity for Development of Province 2', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. As the border of all the eight districts of Province 2 is connected with India, the concerned parties have said that the movement and transit should be made easy to tap in the potential.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2, Om Prakash Sharma says that the connectivity of the region should be strengthened as Birgunj is not only the main trade gateway but also a source of production and supply.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The easier the movement from the Birgunj area, the easier it is to exploit the potential,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a program organized on Saturday in Birgunj, Minister Sharma said connectivity to India along with the main urban areas of Nepal is also important.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the Bara-Parsa area is the main industrial center, the private sector is of the view that the supply of raw materials and transportation of products should be facilitated. Sharma also mentioned that the state government has given priority to road and air transport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma reasoned that the federal government should facilitate inter-state communication as much as possible by understanding the economic potential and importance of Province 2. Sharma, who is also the former president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had been emphasizing on transportation since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"As transport is the basis of development, there is no alternative to making road and air services effective. Wherever transport reaches, development also reaches simultaneously,” said Sharma, who recently became the Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also taken initiative to use the infrastructure of Nepal-India in the border areas. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the chamber, Indian Railways officials have been called to Birgunj to take initiative for operating a direct train service from Raxaul to major Indian cities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma believes that the federal government should take immediate initiative to conduct at least one flight from Simara in Bara to Patna in Bihar, as Province 2 is connected to the Indian state of Bihar. “It is yet to be decided when the second international airport under construction at Nijgadh in Bara will be completed. For now, the Simara-Patna flight could be very convenient,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Participants of the program expressed concern over the traffic that gets disrupted due to hours of traffic jam at the railway crossing on Raxaul main road in India. Most of the traders have complained that the means of transportation carrying industrial raw materials and finished goods are jammed for a long interval of time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction of an overhead bridge for two-wheelers has been started at Raxaul Railway this year. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13507', 'image' => '20210802010102_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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On Wednesday (August 4), the second-last trading day of this week, the NEPSE index posted a double digit gain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The index rose 12.05 points to close at 3,123.14. The transaction amount stood at over Rs 15.5 billion. Likewise, the sensitive index increased 0.71 points to stand at 578.23. Over 28 million shares of 225 companies were traded during this period.</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"">Of the total 13 subgroups, six increased and seven decreased. Banking sector gained 4.29 points, development banks 65.85, hydropower 194.07, finance 45.05, production 27.84 and investment 0.34. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, trade slumped 60 points while hotel and tourism 7.77, non-life insurance 82.98, others 21.01, microfinance 126.33, life insurance 2.75 and mutual fund 0.12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The companies that hit the upper circuit of 10 percent were Api Power Company Limited, Khanikhola Hydropower Company Limited, Dibyashwori Hydropower Limited, Kalika Power Company Limited, Upper Tamakoshi, Ghalemdi Hydro Limited, Union Life Insurance and Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-05', 'modified' => '2021-08-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13522', 'image' => '20210805111425_20210203112246_20200224104313_aaaaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-05 11:13:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13776', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CSR activities of Banks Concentrated in Bagmati Province: NRB Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, the commercial banks spend more than two-third of funds for CSR in Bagmati Province. The study has also shown that the commercial banks spent 67.95 percent of CSR fund in Bagmati Province in fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since FY 2076/77, commercial banks are required to spend a minimum of 10 percent of the CSR amount in each province. However, the study has shown that commercial banks have not implemented CSR programmes in the prescribed proportion. According to the study, except Bagmati Province, less than 10 percent CSR amount has been spent in other provinces in the fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Among the seven provinces, the banks have spent the least amount in Karnali Province. Only 3.56 percent of funds allocated for CSR have been spent in Karnali Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the share of CSR-related expenditure by banks is increasing. In FY 2075/76, commercial banks in Bagmati Province had spent about 75 percent of the CSR fund. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the same year, 1.13 percent CSR fund was spent in Karnali Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Executive director of NRB Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in every province. He is of the view that this may have been due to high demand in Bagmati due to various reasons. However, the CSR programme needs to be balanced as per the prescribed proportions. “Now we have brought out the real situation of the CSR programme. The reason behind the unbalanced distribution of CSR programmes needs to be further studied,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the ratio of spending to CSR has not been implemented. “The central bank has directed commercial banks to spend a minimum of 10 percent of fund allocated for CSR in a province. However, it has not been implemented yet,” he said, “But there has been improvement.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in all provinces, the overall banks and financial institutions have spent more than the stipulated amount on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BFIs are required to spend at least one percent of their net profit on CSR. However, the study has shown that they spent 1.58 percent of their profit. They have spent Rs 1.28 billion on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, A-class commercial banks have been allocating 1.54 percent of the profit for CSR on average. Similarly, Class B banks have been allocating 1.55 per cent, Class C finance companies 1.66 per cent and Class D microfinance institutions 2.1 per cent for CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Many banks and financial institutions participating in the survey have been conducting CSR programmes for the purpose of building their reputation. Similarly, the study has shown that such programmes are also done for business growth and customer satisfaction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Likewise, 85 percent of banks and financial institutions have their own corporate social responsibility policy. Moreover, the study has shown that 51 percent banks and financial institutions make annual plans in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In FY 2075/76, 35 percent of the commercial banks disclosed sectoral expenditure from the CSR Fund in their annual report, which increased to 38 percent in FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Furthermore, in FY 2075/76, 12 percent of the commercial banks disclosed the provincial expenditure from the CSR Fund in the annual report, which increased to 30.8 percent in FY 2076/77. However, according to the study, the expenditure details of the CSR fund have not been disclosed in the annual report as instructed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB had conducted a survey in this regard through virtual medium from November 5 to December 11. This is also the first survey on CSR. Most of the commercial banks had participated in the survey. Besides, Shrestha said that development banks, finance companies and microfinance financial institutions were also brought under the scope of the survey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“We conducted a survey in this regard by bringing limited information in a limited time. Therefore, it is not complete in itself,” he said, “Nevertheless, it shows the real state of the CSR programme. As a result, this survey will help us make additional policy arrangements in this regard.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the CSR programme needs to have a balance in terms of geographyl and region. In addition, Shrestha said that there is a need for clear guidance and direction to make CSR-related expenditure transparent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study also explores various aspects of CSR in the Nepal’s banking sector. According to the study, the size of the CSR fund is increasing and its proper use can have social benefits to the economy. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13521', 'image' => '20210804022551_20210308021619_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 14:24:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13775', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Interim Order not to Force BFIs to join SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF).', '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 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF). </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 interim order issued on Tuesday (August 3) has instructed government authorities not to force BFIs to join the social security fund unless they agree to be listed voluntarily.</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"">A full bench of Justices Anil Kumar Sinha, Dr Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi issued the interim order after hearing a writ petition filed by employees and unions of various banks. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The bench also asked the concerned authorities to keep all the activities related to listing BFIs in the social security fund in status quo.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13520', 'image' => '20210804115654_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:55:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13774', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Tourists Arrive in Nepal in July ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Immigration, 2,991 tourists arrived in Nepal in July, 2021 via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Of them, 1,940 were male, 1050 were female and one was of the other gender. </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"">With the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the government of late, the number of people entering the country from outside has been gradually increasing. In June, the number of tourists arriving in Nepal was 1,143.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past one month, people from 99 countries from across the world had arrived in Nepal with the highest number coming from India. The number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal was 1,105 followed by 819 from the US, 185 from the UK, and 165 from Turkey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Data provided by the department show people from other South Asian countries including four from Bangladesh, 14 from Bhutan, five from Pakistan and three from Sri Lanka also arrived in Nepal. </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""> Likewise, 78 Canadians, 50 Chinese, 45 Belgians, 41 French, 26 Dutch, and 19 Russian also arrived in Nepal during last month. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13519', 'image' => '20210804114148_20210326125058_20200930115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:40:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13773', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley till August 10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley by imposing a fresh ban on organizing trainings, seminars, meetings and conferences. As the infection of COVID-19 has started to increase, such programmes have been prohibited until August 10, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the government had allowed to conduct seminars, trainings, meetings and conferences with a limitation of 25 people. </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"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, told RSS that such events should be held virtually as the number of COVID-19 infection has started increasing. The Kathmandu district administration has concluded that the risk has increased due to violation of health protocol by the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur issued the fresh order after a meeting on Tuesday (August 3).</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"">Meanwhile, the administration has requested concerned persons to contact their respective local level and district hospital for antigen and PCR test provided by the Government of Nepal free of cost for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are in contact with the infected. It has also requested everyone to fully comply with the health protocol. Action will be taken as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance 2078 BS against any violation of the protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The latest order has given continuity to ban on all kinds of gatherings in conferences or at party palaces, cinema halls, dance bars, swimming pools, entertainment venues, museums, sports centres.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The order also states that people are not allowed to gather in open space, hold meetings/processions, hold festivals, banquets, among others. </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"">Medicine and health related shops can be opened round the clock but other shops and businesses will be allowed to open only till 7:00 pm. </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"">Vehicles for local transportation of goods will be allowed only from 9 to 11 in the morning and from 4 to 7 in the afternoon. The administration has stated that health standards should be followed while conducting others business. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Online orders for essentials, restaurants and fast food and other orders will be available for take-away or home delivery only until 7 pm. </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"">Passenger vehicles can be operated as per the seat capacity and by following all the health protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the previous order, long distance vehicles will be allowed to operate following health standards. Pre-scheduled examinations can be held with a maximum of 25 people in one room and all the health standards have to be followed. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13518', 'image' => '20210804111341_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:12:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13772', 'article_category_id' => '236', 'title' => 'Renault Nepal organizes Ride with KIGER Rally ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal .', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, recently organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal . The automobile trading company organized the rally along with an interaction program with journalists on July 30 with the aim of introducing the newly-launched SUV - KIGER.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ride with Kiger rally began from Renault Service Center in Teku, passed through Bhaktapur and Banepa showroom and concluded at the Mirabel Resort in Dhulikhel. The event was attended by media persons of different media houses. The participants interacted with the representative of the company regarding the specifications of Renault Kiger SUV. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhir Kumar Shrestha, general manager of Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, informed that Nepali car owners are shifting to SUVs in recent times. Analyzing this trend, Advanced Automobiles has introduced Kiger, an affordable SUV with luxury features.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Kiger has huge potential in the Nepali market, as we have introduced the car targeting the customers looking for an economical option for an SUV. We expect the segment will help Renault to expand its market in Nepal,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company had also offered the media person a test drive from the event venue in Dhulikhel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Advanced Automobiles had launched Kiger in the Nepal market on July 15 through a virtual event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has made Renault Kiger available in four trims - RXE, RXL, RXT, RXZ in Nepal. LED DRLs, C-Shaped signature LED tail lamps, 40.64 cm Wheels, roof rail bars, and dual-tone option available across all trims, the company said. The SUV has a ground clearance of 205 mm, best suited for Nepali roads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Renault Kiger is available in 15 sales outlets across Nepal. The SUV has a minimum of two airbags for safety along with a door and seat belt motion detector sensor. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Available in 6 color options, the Renault Kiger is priced between Rs 28,49,000 and 37,69,000.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13517', 'image' => '20210803040756_PIC 3 (1).JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 16:06:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13771', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal will Receive 20 Million Doses of Vaccines by mid-October.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next and a half months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next two and a half months. Announcing a 23-point action plan, he said that the government had procured the vaccine under the Covax facility.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the state minister, 20 million doses of vaccines will arrive into the country by mid-October and 52.2 million by January. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said that among the 15 million vaccines which have been decided to come to Nepal under the Covax facility, the process of 4 million has already been started.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He claimed that every citizen of Nepal would be vaccinated by 2078 BS adding that the process has been started accordingly. The government is also seeking a loan of USD 165 million from the Asian Development Bank to buy the vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Last year, Covisheild vaccination campaign was launched in Nepal from the second week of January with the help of the Government of India. However, the vaccination campaign was affected after India failed to deliver the vaccine Nepal had purchased. Even now, 1.348 million people are yet to be vaccinated with the second dose of covishield vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that the AstraZeneca vaccine is sure to arrive from Japan in two weeks, Minister of State, Shrestha said that Covishield will be given to those who have already received the first dose of vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that special strategies and action plans are being formulated to prevent the outbreak of the third wave, he claimed that work has been started for proper management of ICUs, HDUs, ventilators and oxygen across the country.</span></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"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">State Health Minister announced not to take government facility</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The newly appointed Minister of State for Health, Umesh Shrestha has announced that he will not take government services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">While announcing his action plan on Monday after being appointed as the Minister of State for Health, he will not accept any other facilities than security. Shrestha said he will not take any other state facilities including remuneration, salary, allowance, accommodation and vehicles as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He has also announced his resignation from all his personal business associations. He said that he has decided to detach himself from personal business participation after taking the responsibility of the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13516', 'image' => '20210803034247_20210121110447_1611185741.7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 15:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13770', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Passes Bills to Split CAAN into Two Entities ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time. The avia', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The aviation authority has been divided with the endorsement of the 'Nepal Air Service Authority Bill-2076' and 'Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill-2076'. These bills were registered by the then Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai in the National Assembly on March 26, 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until now, CAAN was working as both the regulator and service provider ever since its establishment under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act-2053 BS. CAAN will turn into two separate bodies as regulator and service provider soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshatriya, the spokesperson of CAAN, said that the bill has opened doors to split CAAN into two bodies. According to him, when the current structure is divided, the employees working under the regulatory body won't be included as the Nepal Air Service Authority jobholders, while the employees working at the aviation service section won't be able to work in the regulatory body. At present, CAAN has 1,225 employees.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of posts has increased with the addition of Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports. After the disintegration of the authority, 125 people and other employees will go to the Nepal Airlines Authority for regulation. "When the authority separates to provide regulation and services, there won't be a conflict of interest," Kshetri said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had been suggesting CAAN to split as a service provider and a regulatory body since 2009. The European Union (EU) has blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector since 2013.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The EU, which has been showing serious interest in Nepal's aviation security, has banned Nepalese aircraft from operating in European skies. However, the ICAO lifted the ban in 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill stipulates that the Aviation Service Authority Nepal (ASAN) will work with the objective of making Nepal's air service safe, standard and reliable, by constructing, upgrading, and operating airports and air navigation services in accordance with international standards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill also states that this authority will work as an autonomous body. In addition, ASAN will provide ground handling services at the airport, approve aircraft flight schedules and issue flight permits. The bill stipulates that the Airlines Service Authority Nepal will do 17 works including helipad-related service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The newly formed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAA Nepal) will be established for the purpose of acting as a regulatory body for service providers. As an autonomous body, the authority has 29 tasks.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The body will also issue certificates for recreational aviation activities such as ultralight flights, microlight, hot-air balloon, and paragliding. Similarly, the authority will also provide security supervision to the organizations providing air security, airport operators, airline operators, and other service providers.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13515', 'image' => '20210803010706_20200827042104_1598477546.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 13:05:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13769', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Poultry Feed Industry sees Investment of Rs 35 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. Entrepreneurs claim that the country has become self-sufficient in production of poultry feed within a period of two decades.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">But even now, most of the raw materials are imported. According to Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, chairman of Nimbus Group, the first industrial establishment to start commercial production of poultry feeds, a grain industry requires investment of at least Rs 1 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the number of such industries has reached 35. Some industries have expanded their production units in different places. Agarwal says that more than Rs 35 billion has been invested in production of poultry feed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of OCB Feed, Suresh Rungta, says that the consumption of poultry feed has skyrocketed with the expansion of poultry business in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Currently, the market for poultry feed has reached Rs 100 billion annually. The market consumes 1.8 to 2 million metric tons of feed annually," said Rungta. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agarwal estimates that the investment will be more than Rs 1 billion if the animal and poultry feed and other related industries are included. Initially, the poultry industry that produced chicken feed has started producing animal feed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Many industries have even produced soybean oil to produce raw materials for poultry feed. Probiotech Industries, operated by Nimbus Group in Birgunj, has run a soybean oil industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Five other such industries have been established in Birgunj and Biratnagar. Agrawal claimed that the feed market has increased 10 times in the last two decades. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrialist Rungta says that although the country has been self-sufficient in production, majority of feed production industries depend on imports for raw materials. The raw materials such as maize and soybean for producing feed are mostly imported from India and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Different chemicals used for feed production are also dependent on import. The industrialists also complained that permission has to be obtained from various agencies for the import of raw materials and it becomes costly due to the lack of implementation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An importer said it took an unexpected time to get permission from the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Food and Quality Control and their office in the checkpoint to import raw materials. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The importers say that delays in the name of permission and seen/unseen costs have increased the cost of production. Rungta says that it will take at least four to five extra days to clear the truck from the customs. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13514', 'image' => '20210803125226_product-jpeg-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 12:51:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13768', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Gold Jumps 103 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Statistics show that Nepal imported gold worth Rs 27.34 billion in the last fiscal year, which is Rs 13.88 billion more than the previous fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on quantity, 3,924 kg of gold was imported last year. The quantity was 2,400 kg in the previous year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import of gold had greatly plummeted in the previous fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as significant rise in prices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2075/76, gold import was worth more than Rs 34.5 billion. This amount was reduced to 13.64 billion in fiscal year 2076/77. Although gold imports have doubled in the last fiscal year, it is less than that of fiscal year 2075/76.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%281%29.jpg" style="height:324px; width:546px" /></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports also increased last year as the coronavirus pandemic subsided and demand for gold jewelry increased. Due to the second wave of coronavirus, the business of gold jewelry again came to standstill when the prohibitory order was imposed in late April. But since the gold jewelry business was doing well prior to that, the overall gold import increased during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya said that the trade of gold jewelry was good even amidst the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the gold import has increased because of the increase in quota of gold import and increase in demand for jewelry in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the previous fiscal year, the price of gold rose in the international market due to the trade war between the US and China. Later, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of gold began to rise further. During that time, the price of gold in Nepal, which was around Rs 60,000 per tola, had gone up to Rs 103,500. As the price of gold rose, its trade plummeted in Nepal. Gold imports were affected by those reasons. However, gold imports seem to be on the rise currently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Last July, Nepal imported more gold than average. According to the statistics, raw gold worth Rs 6.27 billion had been imported. In Nepal, an average of up to Rs 3 billion worth of gold is imported monthly. However, in last July, gold imports were twice as high as the average i.e. Rs 6.27 billion. Statistics show that, 906 kg and 500 grams of raw gold had been imported in June itself.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gold import was completely null from mid-April to early June due to the second wave of coronavirus and the prohibitory order imposed to control it. Statistics have shown that gold imports have also been high since the prohibition was lifted in June. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only commercial banks in Nepal have the authority to import gold. However, they have been importing gold on the recommendation of the federation. They are allowed to import up to 20 kg of gold on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13513', 'image' => '20210803112813_1627860456.Clipboard17.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:27:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13767', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Shows Concern over Media Content Related to its Senior Vice President', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Chandra Prasad Dhakal (C) poses for a photo after being elected as senior vice president of FNCCI in this file photo.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday (August 2), the FNCCI expressed its concern over the news about the purchase of promoter share of Sarbottam Cement Limited and its connection with its senior office-bearer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The FNCCI had designated Dhakal as its representative in the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on December 15, 2020 as per the institutional provision, it said in the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal had attended the board meeting of SEBON since 24th January, 2021 while his brother Hem Raj Dhakal was involved in share transactions before the former assumed the responsibility as the FNCCI representative in SEBON. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To link the name of FNCCI Senior Vice President with the share transactions made around two months before his nomination to the post and appointment as a SEBON representative is totally false and misleading, said the statement adding that such news content was capable of harming the image of the institution and the dignity of the person.</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"">FNCCI has also urged the media to disseminate fact-based news. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13512', 'image' => '20210803110857_20201129114440_1606605443.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:07:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13765', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Preparing to Operate Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Airports within a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has made preparations to operate Gautam Buddha International Airport within the next six months, while Pokhara Regional Airport is expected to be ready by next year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshetri, the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), informed that the Gautam Buddha Airport is expected to be operational within six months after completing all the procedures. With the physical progress of the airport reaching 97.33 percent, CAAN is preparing for calibration flight to check the airport. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The calibration flight helps to check the runway, lighting system, air communication, radar, and other airport amenities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The airlines performing the calibration flight submit a report based on the test. If there is any problem or weakness in such a flight, a test flight is carried out only after improvement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetri said that the calibration flights are carried out at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as well as other airports every two to three years. Despite an agreement with Thailand's Aero Thai Company for a calibration flight at Gautam Buddha Airport, Kshetri said there was some delay due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, CAAN is preparing to sign an agreement with an Indian Airlines company for a calibration flight after the Aero Thai company did not show interest. However, he did not reveal the name of the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A test flight will be conducted after the calibration flight, and only after the test flight is successful CAAN will ask the airline companies to apply for scheduled flight. In the meantime, CAAN will design an internal procedure and write to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to certify the airport, he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the flight permit will be approved after receiving the ICAO certificate, and all these works will be finished within six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been pushed back by a year. The deadline for construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport has been fixed for July 10, 2022. Kshetri said that the construction of the airport was affected by Covid-19 and was extended by a year. The airport so far has made more than 83 percent physical progress, and now there is only one year to wait for the flight, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that two big airports should be operational within a year if there is no obstruction. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13510', 'image' => '20210802012108_1627860300.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:18:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13764', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Processed Oil worth Rs 38 Billion exported from Birgunj Customs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, refined soybean and sunflower oil worth Rs 38 billion were exported from Birgunj customs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a total of 28,204 metric tons of refined oil were exported in the review period. Domestic industries have been processing and exporting the semi-refined oil imported from third countries to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the refined oil is the main contributor of Nepal’s export trade, chief customs officer of Birgunj customs Harihar Poudel said that 197,326 tons of soybean oil and 10, 867 tons of sunflower oil were exported from Birgunj customs in the last fiscal year. This amount is significantly higher than the previous FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only 61,550 tons of refined soybean oil was exported from Birgunj in FY 2076/77. Likewise, the export of sunflower oil was limited to 420 tons. Earlier, there was a dominance of palm oil in the export trade, but the industrialists opted for soybean and sunflower oil as alternatives after India banned the import of palm oil.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of soybean oil exported last year was 337 percent higher than the previous year. Last year, industries of Bara and Parsa exported soybean oil worth Rs 36 billion and refined sunflower oil worth Rs 2 billion to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">OCB Food operator Suresh Rungta says that oil extraction will increase in the current fiscal year as India lifted the ban on palm oil imports a month ago. Imports were completely banned on May 12, 2020.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali entrepreneurs process raw oil imported from Indonesia and Malaysia and export it to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian government has set high tariffs on import of oil. Nepali importers have to pay 10 percent customs duty when importing raw oil from third countries. Nepali industries can export at zero tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) facility. Nineteen industries in Birgunj and Biratnagar have been exporting refined oil to India. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13509', 'image' => '20210802011105_1627860368.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13762', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jumla Connected with National Power Grid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to chief of Jumla-based National Electricity Authority (NEA) distribution centre, Gaurav Pandey, the district has been connected with 11-KV national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"NEA has connected Jumla with the 11-KV national transmission line through Kalikot for now," shared Pandey. NEA had intensified its works to bring Jumla to the transmission line once Kalikot came to the fold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, NEA had successfully tested the transmission line from Jumla to Manma of Kalikot along the Karnali Highway. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The shortage of electricity supply is expected to be resolved to some extent with the NEA successfully bringing the district to the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Parliamentarian Gajendra Bahadur Mahat expressed his happiness over the expansion of electricity transmission in Jumla and also highlighted the need of its sustainable management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA has set its target to expand electricity to main areas of all eight local levels of the district by the upcoming Dahsain festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13508', 'image' => '20210802112641_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 11:25:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13763', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders call for Connectivity for Development of Province 2', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. As the border of all the eight districts of Province 2 is connected with India, the concerned parties have said that the movement and transit should be made easy to tap in the potential.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2, Om Prakash Sharma says that the connectivity of the region should be strengthened as Birgunj is not only the main trade gateway but also a source of production and supply.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The easier the movement from the Birgunj area, the easier it is to exploit the potential,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a program organized on Saturday in Birgunj, Minister Sharma said connectivity to India along with the main urban areas of Nepal is also important.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the Bara-Parsa area is the main industrial center, the private sector is of the view that the supply of raw materials and transportation of products should be facilitated. Sharma also mentioned that the state government has given priority to road and air transport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma reasoned that the federal government should facilitate inter-state communication as much as possible by understanding the economic potential and importance of Province 2. Sharma, who is also the former president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had been emphasizing on transportation since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"As transport is the basis of development, there is no alternative to making road and air services effective. Wherever transport reaches, development also reaches simultaneously,” said Sharma, who recently became the Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also taken initiative to use the infrastructure of Nepal-India in the border areas. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the chamber, Indian Railways officials have been called to Birgunj to take initiative for operating a direct train service from Raxaul to major Indian cities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma believes that the federal government should take immediate initiative to conduct at least one flight from Simara in Bara to Patna in Bihar, as Province 2 is connected to the Indian state of Bihar. “It is yet to be decided when the second international airport under construction at Nijgadh in Bara will be completed. For now, the Simara-Patna flight could be very convenient,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Participants of the program expressed concern over the traffic that gets disrupted due to hours of traffic jam at the railway crossing on Raxaul main road in India. Most of the traders have complained that the means of transportation carrying industrial raw materials and finished goods are jammed for a long interval of time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction of an overhead bridge for two-wheelers has been started at Raxaul Railway this year. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13507', 'image' => '20210802010102_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13777', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Hits Record 3,123 Points ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new history.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index continues to record a new history. On Wednesday (August 4), the second-last trading day of this week, the NEPSE index posted a double digit gain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The index rose 12.05 points to close at 3,123.14. The transaction amount stood at over Rs 15.5 billion. Likewise, the sensitive index increased 0.71 points to stand at 578.23. Over 28 million shares of 225 companies were traded during this period.</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"">Of the total 13 subgroups, six increased and seven decreased. Banking sector gained 4.29 points, development banks 65.85, hydropower 194.07, finance 45.05, production 27.84 and investment 0.34. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, trade slumped 60 points while hotel and tourism 7.77, non-life insurance 82.98, others 21.01, microfinance 126.33, life insurance 2.75 and mutual fund 0.12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The companies that hit the upper circuit of 10 percent were Api Power Company Limited, Khanikhola Hydropower Company Limited, Dibyashwori Hydropower Limited, Kalika Power Company Limited, Upper Tamakoshi, Ghalemdi Hydro Limited, Union Life Insurance and Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-05', 'modified' => '2021-08-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13522', 'image' => '20210805111425_20210203112246_20200224104313_aaaaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-05 11:13:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13776', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CSR activities of Banks Concentrated in Bagmati Province: NRB Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 4: A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) has shown that the CSR programmes of commercial banks have not been equally divided in various provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, the commercial banks spend more than two-third of funds for CSR in Bagmati Province. The study has also shown that the commercial banks spent 67.95 percent of CSR fund in Bagmati Province in fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since FY 2076/77, commercial banks are required to spend a minimum of 10 percent of the CSR amount in each province. However, the study has shown that commercial banks have not implemented CSR programmes in the prescribed proportion. According to the study, except Bagmati Province, less than 10 percent CSR amount has been spent in other provinces in the fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Among the seven provinces, the banks have spent the least amount in Karnali Province. Only 3.56 percent of funds allocated for CSR have been spent in Karnali Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the share of CSR-related expenditure by banks is increasing. In FY 2075/76, commercial banks in Bagmati Province had spent about 75 percent of the CSR fund. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the same year, 1.13 percent CSR fund was spent in Karnali Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Executive director of NRB Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in every province. He is of the view that this may have been due to high demand in Bagmati due to various reasons. However, the CSR programme needs to be balanced as per the prescribed proportions. “Now we have brought out the real situation of the CSR programme. The reason behind the unbalanced distribution of CSR programmes needs to be further studied,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the ratio of spending to CSR has not been implemented. “The central bank has directed commercial banks to spend a minimum of 10 percent of fund allocated for CSR in a province. However, it has not been implemented yet,” he said, “But there has been improvement.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the CSR programme of commercial banks is not balanced in all provinces, the overall banks and financial institutions have spent more than the stipulated amount on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BFIs are required to spend at least one percent of their net profit on CSR. However, the study has shown that they spent 1.58 percent of their profit. They have spent Rs 1.28 billion on CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the study, A-class commercial banks have been allocating 1.54 percent of the profit for CSR on average. Similarly, Class B banks have been allocating 1.55 per cent, Class C finance companies 1.66 per cent and Class D microfinance institutions 2.1 per cent for CSR.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Many banks and financial institutions participating in the survey have been conducting CSR programmes for the purpose of building their reputation. Similarly, the study has shown that such programmes are also done for business growth and customer satisfaction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Likewise, 85 percent of banks and financial institutions have their own corporate social responsibility policy. Moreover, the study has shown that 51 percent banks and financial institutions make annual plans in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In FY 2075/76, 35 percent of the commercial banks disclosed sectoral expenditure from the CSR Fund in their annual report, which increased to 38 percent in FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Furthermore, in FY 2075/76, 12 percent of the commercial banks disclosed the provincial expenditure from the CSR Fund in the annual report, which increased to 30.8 percent in FY 2076/77. However, according to the study, the expenditure details of the CSR fund have not been disclosed in the annual report as instructed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB had conducted a survey in this regard through virtual medium from November 5 to December 11. This is also the first survey on CSR. Most of the commercial banks had participated in the survey. Besides, Shrestha said that development banks, finance companies and microfinance financial institutions were also brought under the scope of the survey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“We conducted a survey in this regard by bringing limited information in a limited time. Therefore, it is not complete in itself,” he said, “Nevertheless, it shows the real state of the CSR programme. As a result, this survey will help us make additional policy arrangements in this regard.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study has shown that the CSR programme needs to have a balance in terms of geographyl and region. In addition, Shrestha said that there is a need for clear guidance and direction to make CSR-related expenditure transparent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The study also explores various aspects of CSR in the Nepal’s banking sector. According to the study, the size of the CSR fund is increasing and its proper use can have social benefits to the economy. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13521', 'image' => '20210804022551_20210308021619_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 14:24:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13775', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Interim Order not to Force BFIs to join SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF).', '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 4: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to immediately implement the provision of mandatory enlisting of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) in the Social Security Fund (SSF). </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 interim order issued on Tuesday (August 3) has instructed government authorities not to force BFIs to join the social security fund unless they agree to be listed voluntarily.</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"">A full bench of Justices Anil Kumar Sinha, Dr Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi issued the interim order after hearing a writ petition filed by employees and unions of various banks. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The bench also asked the concerned authorities to keep all the activities related to listing BFIs in the social security fund in status quo.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13520', 'image' => '20210804115654_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:55:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13774', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Tourists Arrive in Nepal in July ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Nepal welcomed around 3,000 international tourists last month (July) while 3157 people left the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Immigration, 2,991 tourists arrived in Nepal in July, 2021 via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Of them, 1,940 were male, 1050 were female and one was of the other gender. </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"">With the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the government of late, the number of people entering the country from outside has been gradually increasing. In June, the number of tourists arriving in Nepal was 1,143.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past one month, people from 99 countries from across the world had arrived in Nepal with the highest number coming from India. The number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal was 1,105 followed by 819 from the US, 185 from the UK, and 165 from Turkey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Data provided by the department show people from other South Asian countries including four from Bangladesh, 14 from Bhutan, five from Pakistan and three from Sri Lanka also arrived in Nepal. </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""> Likewise, 78 Canadians, 50 Chinese, 45 Belgians, 41 French, 26 Dutch, and 19 Russian also arrived in Nepal during last month. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13519', 'image' => '20210804114148_20210326125058_20200930115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:40:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13773', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley till August 10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 4: Government authorities have extended the prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley by imposing a fresh ban on organizing trainings, seminars, meetings and conferences. As the infection of COVID-19 has started to increase, such programmes have been prohibited until August 10, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the government had allowed to conduct seminars, trainings, meetings and conferences with a limitation of 25 people. </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"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, told RSS that such events should be held virtually as the number of COVID-19 infection has started increasing. The Kathmandu district administration has concluded that the risk has increased due to violation of health protocol by the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur issued the fresh order after a meeting on Tuesday (August 3).</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"">Meanwhile, the administration has requested concerned persons to contact their respective local level and district hospital for antigen and PCR test provided by the Government of Nepal free of cost for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are in contact with the infected. It has also requested everyone to fully comply with the health protocol. Action will be taken as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance 2078 BS against any violation of the protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The latest order has given continuity to ban on all kinds of gatherings in conferences or at party palaces, cinema halls, dance bars, swimming pools, entertainment venues, museums, sports centres.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The order also states that people are not allowed to gather in open space, hold meetings/processions, hold festivals, banquets, among others. </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"">Medicine and health related shops can be opened round the clock but other shops and businesses will be allowed to open only till 7:00 pm. </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"">Vehicles for local transportation of goods will be allowed only from 9 to 11 in the morning and from 4 to 7 in the afternoon. The administration has stated that health standards should be followed while conducting others business. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Online orders for essentials, restaurants and fast food and other orders will be available for take-away or home delivery only until 7 pm. </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"">Passenger vehicles can be operated as per the seat capacity and by following all the health protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the previous order, long distance vehicles will be allowed to operate following health standards. Pre-scheduled examinations can be held with a maximum of 25 people in one room and all the health standards have to be followed. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-04', 'modified' => '2021-08-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13518', 'image' => '20210804111341_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-04 11:12:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13772', 'article_category_id' => '236', 'title' => 'Renault Nepal organizes Ride with KIGER Rally ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal .', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributor of Renault automobiles for Nepal, recently organized Ride with Kiger Rally to introduce the newly-launched SUV in Nepal . The automobile trading company organized the rally along with an interaction program with journalists on July 30 with the aim of introducing the newly-launched SUV - KIGER.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ride with Kiger rally began from Renault Service Center in Teku, passed through Bhaktapur and Banepa showroom and concluded at the Mirabel Resort in Dhulikhel. The event was attended by media persons of different media houses. The participants interacted with the representative of the company regarding the specifications of Renault Kiger SUV. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhir Kumar Shrestha, general manager of Advanced Automobiles Pvt Ltd, informed that Nepali car owners are shifting to SUVs in recent times. Analyzing this trend, Advanced Automobiles has introduced Kiger, an affordable SUV with luxury features.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Kiger has huge potential in the Nepali market, as we have introduced the car targeting the customers looking for an economical option for an SUV. We expect the segment will help Renault to expand its market in Nepal,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company had also offered the media person a test drive from the event venue in Dhulikhel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Advanced Automobiles had launched Kiger in the Nepal market on July 15 through a virtual event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has made Renault Kiger available in four trims - RXE, RXL, RXT, RXZ in Nepal. LED DRLs, C-Shaped signature LED tail lamps, 40.64 cm Wheels, roof rail bars, and dual-tone option available across all trims, the company said. The SUV has a ground clearance of 205 mm, best suited for Nepali roads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Renault Kiger is available in 15 sales outlets across Nepal. The SUV has a minimum of two airbags for safety along with a door and seat belt motion detector sensor. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Available in 6 color options, the Renault Kiger is priced between Rs 28,49,000 and 37,69,000.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13517', 'image' => '20210803040756_PIC 3 (1).JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 16:06:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13771', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal will Receive 20 Million Doses of Vaccines by mid-October.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next and a half months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 3: State Minister for Health Umesh Shrestha has assured that the government will bring 20 million doses of vaccines within the next two and a half months. Announcing a 23-point action plan, he said that the government had procured the vaccine under the Covax facility.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the state minister, 20 million doses of vaccines will arrive into the country by mid-October and 52.2 million by January. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said that among the 15 million vaccines which have been decided to come to Nepal under the Covax facility, the process of 4 million has already been started.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He claimed that every citizen of Nepal would be vaccinated by 2078 BS adding that the process has been started accordingly. The government is also seeking a loan of USD 165 million from the Asian Development Bank to buy the vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Last year, Covisheild vaccination campaign was launched in Nepal from the second week of January with the help of the Government of India. However, the vaccination campaign was affected after India failed to deliver the vaccine Nepal had purchased. Even now, 1.348 million people are yet to be vaccinated with the second dose of covishield vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that the AstraZeneca vaccine is sure to arrive from Japan in two weeks, Minister of State, Shrestha said that Covishield will be given to those who have already received the first dose of vaccine.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that special strategies and action plans are being formulated to prevent the outbreak of the third wave, he claimed that work has been started for proper management of ICUs, HDUs, ventilators and oxygen across the country.</span></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"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">State Health Minister announced not to take government facility</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The newly appointed Minister of State for Health, Umesh Shrestha has announced that he will not take government services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">While announcing his action plan on Monday after being appointed as the Minister of State for Health, he will not accept any other facilities than security. Shrestha said he will not take any other state facilities including remuneration, salary, allowance, accommodation and vehicles as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He has also announced his resignation from all his personal business associations. He said that he has decided to detach himself from personal business participation after taking the responsibility of the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13516', 'image' => '20210803034247_20210121110447_1611185741.7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 15:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13770', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Passes Bills to Split CAAN into Two Entities ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time. The avia', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The National Assembly on Monday (August 2) passed two bills that has effectively split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The decision has made it easier to separate CAAN as an air service provider and regulatory body, which was planned since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The aviation authority has been divided with the endorsement of the 'Nepal Air Service Authority Bill-2076' and 'Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill-2076'. These bills were registered by the then Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai in the National Assembly on March 26, 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until now, CAAN was working as both the regulator and service provider ever since its establishment under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act-2053 BS. CAAN will turn into two separate bodies as regulator and service provider soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshatriya, the spokesperson of CAAN, said that the bill has opened doors to split CAAN into two bodies. According to him, when the current structure is divided, the employees working under the regulatory body won't be included as the Nepal Air Service Authority jobholders, while the employees working at the aviation service section won't be able to work in the regulatory body. At present, CAAN has 1,225 employees.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of posts has increased with the addition of Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports. After the disintegration of the authority, 125 people and other employees will go to the Nepal Airlines Authority for regulation. "When the authority separates to provide regulation and services, there won't be a conflict of interest," Kshetri said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had been suggesting CAAN to split as a service provider and a regulatory body since 2009. The European Union (EU) has blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector since 2013.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The EU, which has been showing serious interest in Nepal's aviation security, has banned Nepalese aircraft from operating in European skies. However, the ICAO lifted the ban in 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill stipulates that the Aviation Service Authority Nepal (ASAN) will work with the objective of making Nepal's air service safe, standard and reliable, by constructing, upgrading, and operating airports and air navigation services in accordance with international standards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill also states that this authority will work as an autonomous body. In addition, ASAN will provide ground handling services at the airport, approve aircraft flight schedules and issue flight permits. The bill stipulates that the Airlines Service Authority Nepal will do 17 works including helipad-related service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The newly formed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAA Nepal) will be established for the purpose of acting as a regulatory body for service providers. As an autonomous body, the authority has 29 tasks.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The body will also issue certificates for recreational aviation activities such as ultralight flights, microlight, hot-air balloon, and paragliding. Similarly, the authority will also provide security supervision to the organizations providing air security, airport operators, airline operators, and other service providers.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13515', 'image' => '20210803010706_20200827042104_1598477546.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 13:05:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13769', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Poultry Feed Industry sees Investment of Rs 35 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: Nepal has made a remarkable progress in production of poultry and animal feed within the country. Entrepreneurs claim that the country has become self-sufficient in production of poultry feed within a period of two decades.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">But even now, most of the raw materials are imported. According to Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, chairman of Nimbus Group, the first industrial establishment to start commercial production of poultry feeds, a grain industry requires investment of at least Rs 1 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the number of such industries has reached 35. Some industries have expanded their production units in different places. Agarwal says that more than Rs 35 billion has been invested in production of poultry feed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of OCB Feed, Suresh Rungta, says that the consumption of poultry feed has skyrocketed with the expansion of poultry business in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Currently, the market for poultry feed has reached Rs 100 billion annually. The market consumes 1.8 to 2 million metric tons of feed annually," said Rungta. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agarwal estimates that the investment will be more than Rs 1 billion if the animal and poultry feed and other related industries are included. Initially, the poultry industry that produced chicken feed has started producing animal feed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Many industries have even produced soybean oil to produce raw materials for poultry feed. Probiotech Industries, operated by Nimbus Group in Birgunj, has run a soybean oil industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Five other such industries have been established in Birgunj and Biratnagar. Agrawal claimed that the feed market has increased 10 times in the last two decades. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrialist Rungta says that although the country has been self-sufficient in production, majority of feed production industries depend on imports for raw materials. The raw materials such as maize and soybean for producing feed are mostly imported from India and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Different chemicals used for feed production are also dependent on import. The industrialists also complained that permission has to be obtained from various agencies for the import of raw materials and it becomes costly due to the lack of implementation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An importer said it took an unexpected time to get permission from the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Food and Quality Control and their office in the checkpoint to import raw materials. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The importers say that delays in the name of permission and seen/unseen costs have increased the cost of production. Rungta says that it will take at least four to five extra days to clear the truck from the customs. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13514', 'image' => '20210803125226_product-jpeg-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 12:51:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13768', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Gold Jumps 103 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 3: The import of gold has increased by 103.14 percent in the last fiscal year 2077/78. This has been revealed by the data on import and export made public by the Department of Customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Statistics show that Nepal imported gold worth Rs 27.34 billion in the last fiscal year, which is Rs 13.88 billion more than the previous fiscal year 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on quantity, 3,924 kg of gold was imported last year. The quantity was 2,400 kg in the previous year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import of gold had greatly plummeted in the previous fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as significant rise in prices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2075/76, gold import was worth more than Rs 34.5 billion. This amount was reduced to 13.64 billion in fiscal year 2076/77. Although gold imports have doubled in the last fiscal year, it is less than that of fiscal year 2075/76.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%281%29.jpg" style="height:324px; width:546px" /></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports also increased last year as the coronavirus pandemic subsided and demand for gold jewelry increased. Due to the second wave of coronavirus, the business of gold jewelry again came to standstill when the prohibitory order was imposed in late April. But since the gold jewelry business was doing well prior to that, the overall gold import increased during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya said that the trade of gold jewelry was good even amidst the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the gold import has increased because of the increase in quota of gold import and increase in demand for jewelry in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the previous fiscal year, the price of gold rose in the international market due to the trade war between the US and China. Later, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of gold began to rise further. During that time, the price of gold in Nepal, which was around Rs 60,000 per tola, had gone up to Rs 103,500. As the price of gold rose, its trade plummeted in Nepal. Gold imports were affected by those reasons. However, gold imports seem to be on the rise currently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Last July, Nepal imported more gold than average. According to the statistics, raw gold worth Rs 6.27 billion had been imported. In Nepal, an average of up to Rs 3 billion worth of gold is imported monthly. However, in last July, gold imports were twice as high as the average i.e. Rs 6.27 billion. Statistics show that, 906 kg and 500 grams of raw gold had been imported in June itself.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gold import was completely null from mid-April to early June due to the second wave of coronavirus and the prohibitory order imposed to control it. Statistics have shown that gold imports have also been high since the prohibition was lifted in June. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only commercial banks in Nepal have the authority to import gold. However, they have been importing gold on the recommendation of the federation. They are allowed to import up to 20 kg of gold on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13513', 'image' => '20210803112813_1627860456.Clipboard17.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:27:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13767', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Shows Concern over Media Content Related to its Senior Vice President', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Chandra Prasad Dhakal (C) poses for a photo after being elected as senior vice president of FNCCI in this file photo.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said its serious attention has been drawn towards a news content published by linking the name of its senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday (August 2), the FNCCI expressed its concern over the news about the purchase of promoter share of Sarbottam Cement Limited and its connection with its senior office-bearer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The FNCCI had designated Dhakal as its representative in the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on December 15, 2020 as per the institutional provision, it said in the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal had attended the board meeting of SEBON since 24th January, 2021 while his brother Hem Raj Dhakal was involved in share transactions before the former assumed the responsibility as the FNCCI representative in SEBON. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To link the name of FNCCI Senior Vice President with the share transactions made around two months before his nomination to the post and appointment as a SEBON representative is totally false and misleading, said the statement adding that such news content was capable of harming the image of the institution and the dignity of the person.</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"">FNCCI has also urged the media to disseminate fact-based news. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-03', 'modified' => '2021-08-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13512', 'image' => '20210803110857_20201129114440_1606605443.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-03 11:07:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13765', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Preparing to Operate Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Airports within a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The two major airport projects -- Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport -- are expected to be operational within a year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has made preparations to operate Gautam Buddha International Airport within the next six months, while Pokhara Regional Airport is expected to be ready by next year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Kshetri, the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), informed that the Gautam Buddha Airport is expected to be operational within six months after completing all the procedures. With the physical progress of the airport reaching 97.33 percent, CAAN is preparing for calibration flight to check the airport. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The calibration flight helps to check the runway, lighting system, air communication, radar, and other airport amenities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The airlines performing the calibration flight submit a report based on the test. If there is any problem or weakness in such a flight, a test flight is carried out only after improvement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetri said that the calibration flights are carried out at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as well as other airports every two to three years. Despite an agreement with Thailand's Aero Thai Company for a calibration flight at Gautam Buddha Airport, Kshetri said there was some delay due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, CAAN is preparing to sign an agreement with an Indian Airlines company for a calibration flight after the Aero Thai company did not show interest. However, he did not reveal the name of the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A test flight will be conducted after the calibration flight, and only after the test flight is successful CAAN will ask the airline companies to apply for scheduled flight. In the meantime, CAAN will design an internal procedure and write to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to certify the airport, he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the flight permit will be approved after receiving the ICAO certificate, and all these works will be finished within six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been pushed back by a year. The deadline for construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport has been fixed for July 10, 2022. Kshetri said that the construction of the airport was affected by Covid-19 and was extended by a year. The airport so far has made more than 83 percent physical progress, and now there is only one year to wait for the flight, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that two big airports should be operational within a year if there is no obstruction. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13510', 'image' => '20210802012108_1627860300.3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:18:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13764', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Processed Oil worth Rs 38 Billion exported from Birgunj Customs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: The export of edible oil from Birgunj has increased significantly. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, refined soybean and sunflower oil worth Rs 38 billion were exported from Birgunj customs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a total of 28,204 metric tons of refined oil were exported in the review period. Domestic industries have been processing and exporting the semi-refined oil imported from third countries to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the refined oil is the main contributor of Nepal’s export trade, chief customs officer of Birgunj customs Harihar Poudel said that 197,326 tons of soybean oil and 10, 867 tons of sunflower oil were exported from Birgunj customs in the last fiscal year. This amount is significantly higher than the previous FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only 61,550 tons of refined soybean oil was exported from Birgunj in FY 2076/77. Likewise, the export of sunflower oil was limited to 420 tons. Earlier, there was a dominance of palm oil in the export trade, but the industrialists opted for soybean and sunflower oil as alternatives after India banned the import of palm oil.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of soybean oil exported last year was 337 percent higher than the previous year. Last year, industries of Bara and Parsa exported soybean oil worth Rs 36 billion and refined sunflower oil worth Rs 2 billion to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">OCB Food operator Suresh Rungta says that oil extraction will increase in the current fiscal year as India lifted the ban on palm oil imports a month ago. Imports were completely banned on May 12, 2020.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali entrepreneurs process raw oil imported from Indonesia and Malaysia and export it to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian government has set high tariffs on import of oil. Nepali importers have to pay 10 percent customs duty when importing raw oil from third countries. Nepali industries can export at zero tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) facility. Nineteen industries in Birgunj and Biratnagar have been exporting refined oil to India. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13509', 'image' => '20210802011105_1627860368.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13762', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jumla Connected with National Power Grid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 2: Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, has been connected with the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to chief of Jumla-based National Electricity Authority (NEA) distribution centre, Gaurav Pandey, the district has been connected with 11-KV national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"NEA has connected Jumla with the 11-KV national transmission line through Kalikot for now," shared Pandey. NEA had intensified its works to bring Jumla to the transmission line once Kalikot came to the fold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, NEA had successfully tested the transmission line from Jumla to Manma of Kalikot along the Karnali Highway. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The shortage of electricity supply is expected to be resolved to some extent with the NEA successfully bringing the district to the national transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Parliamentarian Gajendra Bahadur Mahat expressed his happiness over the expansion of electricity transmission in Jumla and also highlighted the need of its sustainable management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA has set its target to expand electricity to main areas of all eight local levels of the district by the upcoming Dahsain festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13508', 'image' => '20210802112641_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 11:25:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13763', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders call for Connectivity for Development of Province 2', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 2: In order to exploit economic potential of Province 2, stakeholders have emphasized on effective connectivity with the bordering Indian states. As the border of all the eight districts of Province 2 is connected with India, the concerned parties have said that the movement and transit should be made easy to tap in the potential.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2, Om Prakash Sharma says that the connectivity of the region should be strengthened as Birgunj is not only the main trade gateway but also a source of production and supply.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The easier the movement from the Birgunj area, the easier it is to exploit the potential,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a program organized on Saturday in Birgunj, Minister Sharma said connectivity to India along with the main urban areas of Nepal is also important.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the Bara-Parsa area is the main industrial center, the private sector is of the view that the supply of raw materials and transportation of products should be facilitated. Sharma also mentioned that the state government has given priority to road and air transport.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma reasoned that the federal government should facilitate inter-state communication as much as possible by understanding the economic potential and importance of Province 2. Sharma, who is also the former president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had been emphasizing on transportation since a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"As transport is the basis of development, there is no alternative to making road and air services effective. Wherever transport reaches, development also reaches simultaneously,” said Sharma, who recently became the Minister of Drinking Water and Energy of Province 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also taken initiative to use the infrastructure of Nepal-India in the border areas. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the chamber, Indian Railways officials have been called to Birgunj to take initiative for operating a direct train service from Raxaul to major Indian cities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma believes that the federal government should take immediate initiative to conduct at least one flight from Simara in Bara to Patna in Bihar, as Province 2 is connected to the Indian state of Bihar. “It is yet to be decided when the second international airport under construction at Nijgadh in Bara will be completed. For now, the Simara-Patna flight could be very convenient,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Participants of the program expressed concern over the traffic that gets disrupted due to hours of traffic jam at the railway crossing on Raxaul main road in India. Most of the traders have complained that the means of transportation carrying industrial raw materials and finished goods are jammed for a long interval of time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction of an overhead bridge for two-wheelers has been started at Raxaul Railway this year. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13507', 'image' => '20210802010102_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 13:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
