April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily…
April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily…
April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation…
April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal.…
April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market.…
April 16: The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones.…
April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC)…
April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19…
…
April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently.…
April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal…
April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere.…
April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the…
April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts.…
April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in…
April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables.…
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The project has been distributing water from Mahankal, Balaju, Lazimpat, Anamnagar, Panipokhari, Minbhawan and Khumaltar water depots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, water supply would be soon extended to other depots in Thimi, Kirtipur. Nine water ponds and 1,100 kms long distribution system is being development in the Kathmandu valley for the distribution of water.</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-18', 'modified' => '2021-04-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13032', 'image' => '20210418110118_20210212111048_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-18 11:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'There is no Alternative to Nijgad International Airport: CAAN Director General ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.<br /> According to Pokhrel, none of the existing airports including Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), and Pokhara International Airport (PIA) can hold the growing air traffic in the future.<br /> Director-General Pokharel shared that the air traffic in Nepal and the Asia Pacific region has grown immensely. It will continue to grow further after the Covid-19 situation improves, he added.<br /> However, he opines that neither TIA nor the under-construction national pride projects GBIA and PIA will have enough capacity to hold the increasing flow of aircraft. <br /> The air traffic will grow immensely in contrary to the space of these airports. The airports won't have enough space to cope with the traffic, Pokharel told New Business Age.<br /> He added that none of the three airports are expandable due to the space limitation of the airports.<br /> Neither of TIA, on construction GBIA and PIA, have space for further expansion.<br /> However, Nijgadh International Airport is capable of dealing with the projected traffic growth, he shared.<br /> According to Pokharel, Nijgadh International Airport is best suited to cope with the air traffic pressure because of its location and availability of space. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"The proposed airport project is close to the capital - only 75 km away through the under-construction fast track. Likewise, the project covers 1,900 hectares of land which is expandable to 8,000 more hectares, to the full capacity," informed Pokharel.<br /> The proposed airport in Nijgad has multiple advantages. The airport will handle jumbo-jets, including the largest passenger aircraft Airbus A-380. Since Nepal is a landlocked country, it can be crucial for receiving and sending out heavy cargo for the benefit of the economy, he adds. <br /> Meanwhile, the airport project has been receiving widespread backlash from environmental activists for the number of trees needed to be felled.<br /> However, Pokhrel says such criticism is pointless and against the development of the country. He shared that people have manipulated the issues and caused riots against the project. It is an exaggeration is that millions of trees have to be cut down. But in reality, there the actual number of trees that need to be chopped off is far less. According to Pokharel, around 100,000 trees need to be felled for the airport construction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“We aren't starting the project in 8,000 hectares of land. The site in the initial phase will only cover an area of 1900 hectares. Likewise, it doesn't have the dense forest as described,” he said.<br /> He added that trees and mostly bushes or shrubs need to be cleaned in the initial phase. <br /> The full-fledged construction of the airport is estimated to cost USD 3.45 billion. Earlier, the government had authorized Zurich Airport to develop the project. The Swiss company withdrew from the project last year.<br /> The government of Nepal had set an aim to develop the airport through FDI. The airport project had received investment commitment from eight investors, including Zurich International Airport, GMR group of India, and a Qatari company. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13031', 'image' => '20210416095607_Nijgad.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 21:55:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mine seeks Qualified Companies for Excavation of Minerals ', 'sub_title' => 'Exploring Mines and Excavating Minerals to Take Place in 13 Areas ', 'summary' => 'April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows a copper mine in Myagdi district. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the department has issued a tender notice for excavation of five kinds of minerals. Director General at the Department, Ram Prasad Ghimire, informed that the tender notice was issued for the exploration and digging of limestone, copper, marble sand and caballine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS further reported that limestone would be explored at Kapurkot of Salyan, and Tandranggadhi and Jurethum of Dhading, marble at Supin of Makwanpur, sand at Ghyalchowk of Gorkha, copper at Ghusa of Dhading, Okharbot of Myagdi and Agrakhola of Makwanpur, and caballine at Daman of Makwanpur.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Director General Ghimire further informed that qualified and selected national and international companies would be given permission for excavation. They need to submit proposals with 60 percent allocation on technical aspects and 40 percent on economic aspect. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13030', 'image' => '20210416032511_20210310111611_20190606013911_tamakhani2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 15:23:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13284', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Eligible to Buy Electricity from Indian Exchange Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. India’s Ministry for Energy has given approval to NEA to become a member of the exchange market on April 14, allowing the latter to buy electricity from the Indian market independently.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NEA had submitted an application to receive the membership of the Indian energy exchange market. Based on the same application, NEA has been authorized to purchase electricity from the exchange market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Meanwhile, India has not given approval to NEA to sell electricity in its market. Madan Timsina, spokesperson of NEA, said the process to receive the permit to sell electricity is underway. For now, NEA has received approval only to buy electricity. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">This approval lets NEA to import electricity from any Indian company. So far, NEA had been purchasing electricity from various companies by signing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with them. “No PPA is required to buy electricity from now on. NEA can import electricity from the companies trading in Indian energy market,” said Timsina, adding, “We can purchase electricity from the companies that sell it at cheaper price. In this case, if electricity is to be purchased tomorrow, purchase process needs to start today.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, NEA still needs to buy electricity from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) - the company authorized to trade electricity in India. India has designated NVVN, a model agency to export and import electricity to Nepal. Accordingly, electricity will be imported and exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Timsina informed that the process has been initiated to get approval for selling energy in the Indian market. “In this regard, India has sought for additional documents which we have already provided. We will get the permit to sell electricity as soon as the required documentation process is complete,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">India had presented guidelines for cross border import and export of electricity in the end of February. Based on these guidelines, electricity can be imported and exported between Nepal and India. NEA said documents requested by India have been submitted in accordance to the rules of this guideline. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal will be generating surplus energy in the coming rainy season. If NEA receives the approval from India, the NEA can sell the surplus power in the Indian market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The first unit of Upper Tamakoshi will also be generating 76 MW of electricity by mid-May. Other projects are also about to start operation and are expected to generate excess electricity. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13029', 'image' => '20210416012601_1618525909.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 13:25:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Public not to Gather in Crowds in 14 Districts with High Risk of Covid-19 Infection', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people in those districts to avoid overcrowding in public places. The ministry has also appealed to the concerned bodies to close schools and other places where people gather in large number. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The 14 districts categorized by the government as high-risk areas include Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Chitwan, Banke, Parsa, Bhaktapur, Kailali, Morang, Dang, Surkhet, Bara and Baglung districts. Issuing a statement on Thursday (April 15) , Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari appealed to the people not to go to the crowded places in those districts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has listed schools, party palaces, shopping malls, health club, swimming pool, gyms, sports centres, cinema halls, market places and religious sites among others as places with high risk of Covid-19 transmission.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry has urged the local units to ensure all these places are shut down amid concerns of spread of Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has also ordered closure of night-time businesses and restaurants in the 14 districts after 7pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“All the services in these 14 districts need to be shut down except for the essential ones,” reads the statement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, government hospitals have been asked to allocate at least 50 per cent bed for the Covid-19 patients and provide free healthcare services to those meeting the criteria for whom the government has pledged to provide free treatment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, private hospitals have been warned not to refer Covid-19 patients to government hospitals or elsewhere. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The health ministry has also appealed the hospitals to prioritize children, expecting mothers, new mothers, senior citizens and people with disabilities when it comes to conducting the PCR test and providing treatment against coronavirus infection. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13028', 'image' => '20210416115657_1618526412.12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:56:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '136 Companies Registered in OTC Market in 5 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Of these, only 14 have been registered with the OTC in the current Fiscal Year (FY 2020/21).<br /> However, only about 20 companies were listed during the initial year of OTC registration.<br /> At present, shares of public companies not listed in the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (Nepse) or removed from the Nepse list are traded through OTC.<br /> According to Chandra Singh Saud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepse, investors are becoming aware of the increasing number of companies registering with OTC. He said that the number of registrations has increased as it is difficult for the Company Registrar's Office to keep records without registering with the OTC. The Company Registrar's Office has directed the concerned bodies to transfer and buy shares of the company through the OTC market. There has been good registration and transaction in OTC in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hydropower companies that have not gone public have also registered with the OTC.<br /> According to Nepse, OTC has been traded 287 times in the current fiscal year alone.<br /> As the number of registration and transactions in the OTC market is increasing, Nepse has formed a committee to formulate procedures to make it more systematic.<br /> The committee formed under the coordination of Niranjan Phuyal of Nepse includes representatives of CDS and Clearing House, merchant bankers, and Company Registrar's Office.<br /> Saud informed that the committee formed about two weeks ago would amend the previous work procedure and issue it on time.<br /> "The committee is conducting a study to further develop the OTC market," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepse had earlier said that it would start preparations to expand the OTC market across the nation.<br /> However, OTC market requires separate technology and the revenue from this business is not enough to cover the expenses, said CEO Saud. "Therefore, we have tried to move forward by discussing with all stakeholders," he added.<br /> Earlier, Nepse unveiled the work procedure by introducing the policy of OTC, but the issues including, price and tax, were not clear. “Therefore, we are working to formulate a procedure that includes all of them,” said Saud.<br /> The registration and trading of OTC in Nepse started on March 29, 2016.<br /> Maruti Cement was the first company to be traded in the OTC market, followed by Nepal Hydro Developer, Kathmandu Forestry College, Gromore Merchant Banker Limited, and others.<br /> Trading in the OTC market cannot be as effective as in the secondary market. Since such market is erratic and depends on needs, there is not much business going on. There are about 288 companies listed in Nepse. However, only 136 companies have been registered with OTC so far.<br /> <br /> Saud informed that an individuals can trade shares of the companies removed from the list of Nepse through OTC.<br /> <br /> "OTC trades only sporadically. Not all investors have been given such shares. Especially for founder shares, there is more buying and selling through certain individuals or groups," he said.<br /> <br /> The OTC market does not have to be very active. This is a kind of exit system. OTC is an easy way for shareholders to buy and sell shares within the company. As OTC depends on needs, its attraction is not like that of a Nepse-listed company.<br /> According to Nepse, share transactions globally are done through OTC, but in Nepal, there is a misconception that such transactions are done only by inferior companies. Due to such misunderstanding, many companies may not want the transaction to take place through OTC.<br /> There is a provision that shares of public companies that are not listed in Nepse or removed from Nepse's list should trade in OTC. However, to trade in the OTC market, the company should be registered with the concerned company.<br /> There is an arrangement to register the company for free in the market. However, in case of buying and selling of shares, a certain fee has to be paid to the Nepal Securities Board and the securities market. Also, capital gains tax should be paid to the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OTC Market Operation Regulations 2065, companies de-listed from Nepse can trade their securities in the OTC market. Likewise, companies not eligible for the listing can also trade their securities. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13027', 'image' => '20210416125209_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 12:50:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress Tourism-Friendly Law, Infrastructures', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus: NTB ', 'summary' => 'April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Development of tourism is imperative to boost national economy, the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted them as saying during a panel discussion in Lower House on April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations Committee of parliament, most of the lawmakers viewed tourism as a sector to earn foreign currency, and therefore stressed on tourism-friendly policy and strategies for the country's development. The infrastructures are equally important, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The line ministry was made aware that it could ensure autonomy to Nepal Tourism Board and mobilize it in full scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, lawmaker Dibya Mani Rajbhandari suggested easing one-door system of tourism service. Lawmakers Renu Gurung and Pushpa Bhushal viewed that the government could prioritize the areas that bring in more income with maximum employment in tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Naradmuni Rana was of the view that foreign tourists need to follow health protocol compulsorily. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pushpa Kumar Kayastha, Chandtara Kumari and others recommended the adoption of promotional strategies to bring in maximum tourists from India and China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the meeting, Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, made a presentation on 'Current Tourism: Opportunity and Challenges' and demanded adequate budget and tourism-friendly law to make tourism dynamic in the wake of Covid-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, Regmi shared the information that Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus. So, tourism sector would take time for revival, Dr Regmi added, highlighting the need of strategic work plan to boost domestic tourism. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13026', 'image' => '20210416112622_20200421024913_20191017121120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:25:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' National Food Bank Formally Starts Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">April 15: The newly set up office of the National Food Bank has been inaugurated at New Baneshwor on Thursday, April 15, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. The bank was established in February by agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal with the slogan 'Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrient-Rich Food' in order to give priority to organic production. <br /> Chairperson of Bank, Shankar Nath Upreti, said that the bank was established with an objective of giving emphasis on organic production by reducing dependency on agriculture, RSS reported. <br /> The bank was established at the investment of Rs 2 billion and it has 590 promoter shareholders so far. According to the bank, preparation has been made to increase the number of promoter shareholders to 1,000. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging.<br /> Upreti further said that the bank has been making preparation to issue IPO for general people soon by fulfilling all required criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">"We facilitate production of and carry out trade in rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits through bank. We increase production collaborating with farmers," RSS quoted Upreti as saying.<br /> The bank has made preparation to begin activities of agriculture production in 23 districts in the first phase within the current fiscal year. Six hundred bighas of land in different districts of Tarai have been taken on lease for the purpose. <br /> The bank has already started production in 13 districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Chitwan and Rupandehi taking land on lease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank was established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13025', 'image' => '20210415061512_20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 18:13:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transactions via QR Code Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. The report states that payments via QR code have increased by 48.94 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the period between mid-February to mid-March, transactions worth Rs 2.5 billion were done through QR Code while there were transactions worth Rs 1.71 billion between mid-January to mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Number-wise, there were 635,732 transactions in between mid-February and mid-March while the period of mid-January to mid-February recorded 535,000 transactions through QR code. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lately, transactions done via digital platform like connectIPS, mobile wallet, mobile banking and internet banking are on the rise. According to the central bank, transactions worth Rs 250 billion were done via connectIPS, mobile banking, internet banking, QR scan and mobile wallet in between mid-February and mid-March alone. In the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), transactions done through these platforms have increased by 8.17 billion compared to the previous month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Internet banking accounted for transaction worth Rs 8.8 billion in the review period and mobile wallet contributed to transaction worth Rs 10.18 billion. In the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), transactions worth Rs 9.94 billion were done via mobile wallet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the volume of transaction done via ecommerce sites has declined in the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) compared to the previous month. In the month of mid Jan/mid Feb, transaction worth Rs 932 billion were done while in the month of mid Feb/mid March, transaction worth Rs 904 million were done via ecommerce sites. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13024', 'image' => '20210415041410_20201209125551_1607471670.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:13:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Vehicles up by 10% Despite COVID-19 Pandemic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last eight months of the current fiscal year, vehicles, equipment and parts worth Rs 80.44 billion have been imported against the import of Rs 72.81 billion in the review period of the last fiscal year. The annual vehicles import and their parts stood at Rs 83.82 billion in the Fiscal Year 2019/20.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">India is the largest supplier of vehicles and their parts to Nepal, accounting for Rs 66.31 billion of the total import. There has been an increase of 16.6 percent in import of vehicles from India. Nepal imports vehicles and their spare parts from India, China and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile the country has imported vehicles and their parts worth Rs 305 million from China in the review period which is a decline by 23.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Due to the border shutdown imposed by China since the outbreak of COVID-19, the overall import and export to and from China have declined in the review period of this fiscal year. The share of total imports from China has declined by 7.1 percent while export came down by 43.7 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The country imported transport equipment and parts worth Rs 3.6 billion from other countries. It is a decline of 33.8 percent compared to the review period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">COVID-19 pandemic brought economic activities to a halt all over the world. The first three months of the lockdown imposed by the Government of Nepal slowed down all kinds of economic activities. After the government lifted lockdown, the impacts of COVID-19 started to decline and economic activities also gathered pace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“As soon as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the auto business also picked up pace. People were looking for areas of investment and banks were also providing auto loans at low interest rates which boosted the sales leading to rise in vehicles import,” says Sunil Rijal, secretary general of Nepal Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Rijal, the two-wheeler segment has recorded highest sales followed by cars. However, sales of buses have recorded a huge decline.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13023', 'image' => '20210415041210_20190311041537_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:10:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' PM Oli Urges Nepalis Abroad to Invest in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli urged the non-resident Nepalis (NRN) to promote investment in Nepal while addressing them via Zoom platform from his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the New Year 2078. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"There are no problems such as strike in industry at present. Joint venture is encouraged in the mega development projects. You can relay this message to the investors from across the globe," PM Oli said, reminding that the NRN enjoys the rights except the political ones in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He made it clear that the government does not discriminate the Nepalis irrespective of the countries they stay in. "The current government is cordial and cooperative to the Nepali diaspora and wishes it retained the pride of being Nepali," he stressed. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13022', 'image' => '20210415111540_20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 11:14:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Pledges Balanced Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Speaking at a pre-budget discussion organised by the Finance Committee of House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 13), Minister Poudel said that the government has given due consideration to all the basic principles of budget preparation to bring a balanced budget.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Minister Poudel, the upcoming budget will help the country cope with the adverse situation created by Covid-19. He said that the government has given special attention to economic revival packages. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Minister Poudel said that the upcoming budget will also help the country fulfill the required criteria to graduate from a least developed country to a developing country. It will also help in increasing production and make the economy self-reliant, according to the minister. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13021', 'image' => '20210414015337_20210110034934_1610265858.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 13:52:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Map, Peace Pact Major Success in 2077: President Bhandari ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12px"><em><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari with winners of Nubiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2021<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> in this file photo.</span></span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the New Year 2078 BS on Wednesday (April 14), President Bhandari said consensus among all political parties in amending the constitution to change the coat of arms with political map incorporating Nepal's territory – Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura and entrance of some groups into peaceful politics shunning the politics of violence were crucial from political front. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Among other achievements are the UN recommendation for Nepal to graduate to the status of developing country from the Least Developed Country, Nepal becoming the happiest country in the South Asia as per the Global Happiness Report and government's effective response to Covid-19 –pandemic. </span> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Yet coronavirus has posed a big challenge for us. Vaccine against the virus would be gradually made available to all the citizens. I would like to call upon one and all to adopt precautionary measures to remain safe from virus infection and also keep ones' daily life in a practical manner", the President said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to her, completion of the reconstruction of the Rani Pokhari and Durbar High School within 2077 BS were crucial for the government. Bhandari viewed that distribution of water from the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project could be taken as another notable social economic progress achieved in this Nepali year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the message reads, “Time, as a river, is ever flowing. Its current cannot be contained by anyone. Those countries optimizing the precious time have remained atop in terms of socio-economic developments. We should timely acknowledge the importance of the time and expedite the process of development of physical infrastructures.” -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13020', 'image' => '20210414093214_20210131083603__J4A1895 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 09:30:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export Competitiveness Key to Nepal’s Recovery: World Bank Report ', 'sub_title' => 'Economy projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021 due to easing of social distancing and good monsoons ', 'summary' => 'April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021, driven primarily by services as social distancing measures continue to be relaxed and vaccines rolled out for priority populations. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the World Bank, agriculture is also expected to perform well, on the back of recent favorable monsoons. Issuing a statement on Monday, April 12, the World Bank said citing its latest Nepal Development Update that exports could be a powerful platform to boost post-pandemic recovery and enable Nepal to transition towards green, resilient, and inclusive development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The update notes that the tourism sector may not fully recover without reforms to readjust to a post-COVID-19 tourism market. The current account deficit is expected to widen marginally in FY2021 to 1.2 percent of GDP as imports and remittances recover modestly while exports remain tepid, the statement added. Revenue performance is also expected to remain weak. This coupled with additional spending on economic relief measures, vaccinations, and the resumption of project implementation should contribute to increase the fiscal deficit close to 7 percent of GDP in FY2021. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">While the government has outlined a program to address the impacts of COVID-19 to mitigate the attendant risks to the outlook, the Nepal Development Update highlights the importance of improving export competitiveness for a resilient economic recovery. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal’s untapped export potential is estimated to be around US$9.2 billion, 12 times its actual annual merchandise exports,” said Dr Kene Ezemenari, World Bank’s Senior Economist and lead author of the update. “This export potential represents an opportunity to create an estimated 220,000 new jobs, with significant implications for productivity growth.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The report outlines six key priorities for Nepal to achieve its export potential. These include reforming the tourism sector for a quick and resilient recovery; simplifying and streamlining processes to attract more FDI; modernizing export promotion and upgrading exporters’ capabilities; reducing trade costs; investing in phytosantary and quality control-related infrastructure; and boosting digital trade and e-commerce for more opportunities linked to global value chains.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal's economy is on the path to recovery amid the severe impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic which affected people lives and livelihoods, and businesses,” the statement quoted Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel as saying. “The recommendations that can help harness the potential of exports in supporting Nepal’s economic recovery are in line with the government’s policies and priorities. The Government of Nepal is working together with development partners and the private sector on a green, resilient and inclusive development agenda to help Nepal build back better and greener from the pandemic.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“We welcome the government’s planned reforms to support Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development. This will be the foundation for Nepal to emerge stronger from the crisis,” stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13019', 'image' => '20210413033226_172695240_10157534865266467_80747360173969244_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 15:30:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers set Vegetable Prices Arbitrarily ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. The retailers in Kalimat and Balkhu areas have been allegedly selling vegetables at double the prices than that fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20201201041204_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg" style="height:180px; width:320px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Stakeholders say that that the customers are being charged higher prices for vegetables due to the negligence shown by the government authorities in market monitoring. Traders are charging recklessly for almost all green vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, carrot, broccoli, lady’s finger, tomato among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the price list fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on April 12, cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg but it cost Rs 80-Rs 90 in the retail market. Local cucumber costs Rs 90 per kg in the wholesale market while it cost Rs 110 in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, broccoli costs Rs 90 in the wholesale market and Rs 130 in the retail market. Carrot that costs Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market is being sold for Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. Retailers are charging Rs 150 per kg for lady’s finger which is Rs 50 higher than the price set by the wholesale market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Retail markets located in Kirtipur, Kalanki, Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Lagankhel and other places are charging customers unreasonably. According to Gita Prasad Acharya, president of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, there has been no problem in importing vegetables from India and neighboring districts. So it is not justifiable to hike the prices of vegetables in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Mahav Timilsina, president of Consumer Rights Research Forum said they have sought attention of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection in this regard. He said that the government authority has not taken any action in monitoring of the market so the retailers have got the opportunity to increase the prices arbitrarily. Stakeholders have demanded not only the department but also the local government to intervene in market monitoring in the days to come. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg" style="height:450px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13018', 'image' => '20210413013719_20191111010938_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 13:35:56', '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' => '13287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Kathmandu Denizens getting 140 Million Litres of Drinking Water from Melamchi Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis, according to a news report prepared by the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has started formally distributing water to the dwellers of Kathmandu after President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the water distribution tap in Kathmandu some time ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project supplied about 80 million liters of water in the trial phase until last week and has now officially started distributing 10 million litres of water. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the spokesperson of Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee, Rajendra Panta, the project has begun distributing 140 million litres daily from April 15 and will be increased the water supply up to 170 million litres very soon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Giving reference to Panta, RSS said that both of the water-processing plants in Sundarijal have come into operation. The project has been distributing water from Mahankal, Balaju, Lazimpat, Anamnagar, Panipokhari, Minbhawan and Khumaltar water depots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, water supply would be soon extended to other depots in Thimi, Kirtipur. Nine water ponds and 1,100 kms long distribution system is being development in the Kathmandu valley for the distribution of water.</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-18', 'modified' => '2021-04-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13032', 'image' => '20210418110118_20210212111048_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-18 11:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'There is no Alternative to Nijgad International Airport: CAAN Director General ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.<br /> According to Pokhrel, none of the existing airports including Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), and Pokhara International Airport (PIA) can hold the growing air traffic in the future.<br /> Director-General Pokharel shared that the air traffic in Nepal and the Asia Pacific region has grown immensely. It will continue to grow further after the Covid-19 situation improves, he added.<br /> However, he opines that neither TIA nor the under-construction national pride projects GBIA and PIA will have enough capacity to hold the increasing flow of aircraft. <br /> The air traffic will grow immensely in contrary to the space of these airports. The airports won't have enough space to cope with the traffic, Pokharel told New Business Age.<br /> He added that none of the three airports are expandable due to the space limitation of the airports.<br /> Neither of TIA, on construction GBIA and PIA, have space for further expansion.<br /> However, Nijgadh International Airport is capable of dealing with the projected traffic growth, he shared.<br /> According to Pokharel, Nijgadh International Airport is best suited to cope with the air traffic pressure because of its location and availability of space. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"The proposed airport project is close to the capital - only 75 km away through the under-construction fast track. Likewise, the project covers 1,900 hectares of land which is expandable to 8,000 more hectares, to the full capacity," informed Pokharel.<br /> The proposed airport in Nijgad has multiple advantages. The airport will handle jumbo-jets, including the largest passenger aircraft Airbus A-380. Since Nepal is a landlocked country, it can be crucial for receiving and sending out heavy cargo for the benefit of the economy, he adds. <br /> Meanwhile, the airport project has been receiving widespread backlash from environmental activists for the number of trees needed to be felled.<br /> However, Pokhrel says such criticism is pointless and against the development of the country. He shared that people have manipulated the issues and caused riots against the project. It is an exaggeration is that millions of trees have to be cut down. But in reality, there the actual number of trees that need to be chopped off is far less. According to Pokharel, around 100,000 trees need to be felled for the airport construction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“We aren't starting the project in 8,000 hectares of land. The site in the initial phase will only cover an area of 1900 hectares. Likewise, it doesn't have the dense forest as described,” he said.<br /> He added that trees and mostly bushes or shrubs need to be cleaned in the initial phase. <br /> The full-fledged construction of the airport is estimated to cost USD 3.45 billion. Earlier, the government had authorized Zurich Airport to develop the project. The Swiss company withdrew from the project last year.<br /> The government of Nepal had set an aim to develop the airport through FDI. The airport project had received investment commitment from eight investors, including Zurich International Airport, GMR group of India, and a Qatari company. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13031', 'image' => '20210416095607_Nijgad.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 21:55:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mine seeks Qualified Companies for Excavation of Minerals ', 'sub_title' => 'Exploring Mines and Excavating Minerals to Take Place in 13 Areas ', 'summary' => 'April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows a copper mine in Myagdi district. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the department has issued a tender notice for excavation of five kinds of minerals. Director General at the Department, Ram Prasad Ghimire, informed that the tender notice was issued for the exploration and digging of limestone, copper, marble sand and caballine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS further reported that limestone would be explored at Kapurkot of Salyan, and Tandranggadhi and Jurethum of Dhading, marble at Supin of Makwanpur, sand at Ghyalchowk of Gorkha, copper at Ghusa of Dhading, Okharbot of Myagdi and Agrakhola of Makwanpur, and caballine at Daman of Makwanpur.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Director General Ghimire further informed that qualified and selected national and international companies would be given permission for excavation. They need to submit proposals with 60 percent allocation on technical aspects and 40 percent on economic aspect. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13030', 'image' => '20210416032511_20210310111611_20190606013911_tamakhani2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 15:23:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13284', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Eligible to Buy Electricity from Indian Exchange Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. India’s Ministry for Energy has given approval to NEA to become a member of the exchange market on April 14, allowing the latter to buy electricity from the Indian market independently.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NEA had submitted an application to receive the membership of the Indian energy exchange market. Based on the same application, NEA has been authorized to purchase electricity from the exchange market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Meanwhile, India has not given approval to NEA to sell electricity in its market. Madan Timsina, spokesperson of NEA, said the process to receive the permit to sell electricity is underway. For now, NEA has received approval only to buy electricity. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">This approval lets NEA to import electricity from any Indian company. So far, NEA had been purchasing electricity from various companies by signing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with them. “No PPA is required to buy electricity from now on. NEA can import electricity from the companies trading in Indian energy market,” said Timsina, adding, “We can purchase electricity from the companies that sell it at cheaper price. In this case, if electricity is to be purchased tomorrow, purchase process needs to start today.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, NEA still needs to buy electricity from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) - the company authorized to trade electricity in India. India has designated NVVN, a model agency to export and import electricity to Nepal. Accordingly, electricity will be imported and exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Timsina informed that the process has been initiated to get approval for selling energy in the Indian market. “In this regard, India has sought for additional documents which we have already provided. We will get the permit to sell electricity as soon as the required documentation process is complete,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">India had presented guidelines for cross border import and export of electricity in the end of February. Based on these guidelines, electricity can be imported and exported between Nepal and India. NEA said documents requested by India have been submitted in accordance to the rules of this guideline. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal will be generating surplus energy in the coming rainy season. If NEA receives the approval from India, the NEA can sell the surplus power in the Indian market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The first unit of Upper Tamakoshi will also be generating 76 MW of electricity by mid-May. Other projects are also about to start operation and are expected to generate excess electricity. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13029', 'image' => '20210416012601_1618525909.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 13:25:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Public not to Gather in Crowds in 14 Districts with High Risk of Covid-19 Infection', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people in those districts to avoid overcrowding in public places. The ministry has also appealed to the concerned bodies to close schools and other places where people gather in large number. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The 14 districts categorized by the government as high-risk areas include Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Chitwan, Banke, Parsa, Bhaktapur, Kailali, Morang, Dang, Surkhet, Bara and Baglung districts. Issuing a statement on Thursday (April 15) , Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari appealed to the people not to go to the crowded places in those districts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has listed schools, party palaces, shopping malls, health club, swimming pool, gyms, sports centres, cinema halls, market places and religious sites among others as places with high risk of Covid-19 transmission.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry has urged the local units to ensure all these places are shut down amid concerns of spread of Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has also ordered closure of night-time businesses and restaurants in the 14 districts after 7pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“All the services in these 14 districts need to be shut down except for the essential ones,” reads the statement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, government hospitals have been asked to allocate at least 50 per cent bed for the Covid-19 patients and provide free healthcare services to those meeting the criteria for whom the government has pledged to provide free treatment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, private hospitals have been warned not to refer Covid-19 patients to government hospitals or elsewhere. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The health ministry has also appealed the hospitals to prioritize children, expecting mothers, new mothers, senior citizens and people with disabilities when it comes to conducting the PCR test and providing treatment against coronavirus infection. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13028', 'image' => '20210416115657_1618526412.12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:56:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '136 Companies Registered in OTC Market in 5 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Of these, only 14 have been registered with the OTC in the current Fiscal Year (FY 2020/21).<br /> However, only about 20 companies were listed during the initial year of OTC registration.<br /> At present, shares of public companies not listed in the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (Nepse) or removed from the Nepse list are traded through OTC.<br /> According to Chandra Singh Saud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepse, investors are becoming aware of the increasing number of companies registering with OTC. He said that the number of registrations has increased as it is difficult for the Company Registrar's Office to keep records without registering with the OTC. The Company Registrar's Office has directed the concerned bodies to transfer and buy shares of the company through the OTC market. There has been good registration and transaction in OTC in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hydropower companies that have not gone public have also registered with the OTC.<br /> According to Nepse, OTC has been traded 287 times in the current fiscal year alone.<br /> As the number of registration and transactions in the OTC market is increasing, Nepse has formed a committee to formulate procedures to make it more systematic.<br /> The committee formed under the coordination of Niranjan Phuyal of Nepse includes representatives of CDS and Clearing House, merchant bankers, and Company Registrar's Office.<br /> Saud informed that the committee formed about two weeks ago would amend the previous work procedure and issue it on time.<br /> "The committee is conducting a study to further develop the OTC market," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepse had earlier said that it would start preparations to expand the OTC market across the nation.<br /> However, OTC market requires separate technology and the revenue from this business is not enough to cover the expenses, said CEO Saud. "Therefore, we have tried to move forward by discussing with all stakeholders," he added.<br /> Earlier, Nepse unveiled the work procedure by introducing the policy of OTC, but the issues including, price and tax, were not clear. “Therefore, we are working to formulate a procedure that includes all of them,” said Saud.<br /> The registration and trading of OTC in Nepse started on March 29, 2016.<br /> Maruti Cement was the first company to be traded in the OTC market, followed by Nepal Hydro Developer, Kathmandu Forestry College, Gromore Merchant Banker Limited, and others.<br /> Trading in the OTC market cannot be as effective as in the secondary market. Since such market is erratic and depends on needs, there is not much business going on. There are about 288 companies listed in Nepse. However, only 136 companies have been registered with OTC so far.<br /> <br /> Saud informed that an individuals can trade shares of the companies removed from the list of Nepse through OTC.<br /> <br /> "OTC trades only sporadically. Not all investors have been given such shares. Especially for founder shares, there is more buying and selling through certain individuals or groups," he said.<br /> <br /> The OTC market does not have to be very active. This is a kind of exit system. OTC is an easy way for shareholders to buy and sell shares within the company. As OTC depends on needs, its attraction is not like that of a Nepse-listed company.<br /> According to Nepse, share transactions globally are done through OTC, but in Nepal, there is a misconception that such transactions are done only by inferior companies. Due to such misunderstanding, many companies may not want the transaction to take place through OTC.<br /> There is a provision that shares of public companies that are not listed in Nepse or removed from Nepse's list should trade in OTC. However, to trade in the OTC market, the company should be registered with the concerned company.<br /> There is an arrangement to register the company for free in the market. However, in case of buying and selling of shares, a certain fee has to be paid to the Nepal Securities Board and the securities market. Also, capital gains tax should be paid to the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OTC Market Operation Regulations 2065, companies de-listed from Nepse can trade their securities in the OTC market. Likewise, companies not eligible for the listing can also trade their securities. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13027', 'image' => '20210416125209_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 12:50:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress Tourism-Friendly Law, Infrastructures', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus: NTB ', 'summary' => 'April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Development of tourism is imperative to boost national economy, the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted them as saying during a panel discussion in Lower House on April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations Committee of parliament, most of the lawmakers viewed tourism as a sector to earn foreign currency, and therefore stressed on tourism-friendly policy and strategies for the country's development. The infrastructures are equally important, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The line ministry was made aware that it could ensure autonomy to Nepal Tourism Board and mobilize it in full scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, lawmaker Dibya Mani Rajbhandari suggested easing one-door system of tourism service. Lawmakers Renu Gurung and Pushpa Bhushal viewed that the government could prioritize the areas that bring in more income with maximum employment in tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Naradmuni Rana was of the view that foreign tourists need to follow health protocol compulsorily. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pushpa Kumar Kayastha, Chandtara Kumari and others recommended the adoption of promotional strategies to bring in maximum tourists from India and China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the meeting, Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, made a presentation on 'Current Tourism: Opportunity and Challenges' and demanded adequate budget and tourism-friendly law to make tourism dynamic in the wake of Covid-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, Regmi shared the information that Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus. So, tourism sector would take time for revival, Dr Regmi added, highlighting the need of strategic work plan to boost domestic tourism. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13026', 'image' => '20210416112622_20200421024913_20191017121120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:25:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' National Food Bank Formally Starts Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">April 15: The newly set up office of the National Food Bank has been inaugurated at New Baneshwor on Thursday, April 15, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. The bank was established in February by agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal with the slogan 'Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrient-Rich Food' in order to give priority to organic production. <br /> Chairperson of Bank, Shankar Nath Upreti, said that the bank was established with an objective of giving emphasis on organic production by reducing dependency on agriculture, RSS reported. <br /> The bank was established at the investment of Rs 2 billion and it has 590 promoter shareholders so far. According to the bank, preparation has been made to increase the number of promoter shareholders to 1,000. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging.<br /> Upreti further said that the bank has been making preparation to issue IPO for general people soon by fulfilling all required criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">"We facilitate production of and carry out trade in rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits through bank. We increase production collaborating with farmers," RSS quoted Upreti as saying.<br /> The bank has made preparation to begin activities of agriculture production in 23 districts in the first phase within the current fiscal year. Six hundred bighas of land in different districts of Tarai have been taken on lease for the purpose. <br /> The bank has already started production in 13 districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Chitwan and Rupandehi taking land on lease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank was established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13025', 'image' => '20210415061512_20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 18:13:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transactions via QR Code Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. The report states that payments via QR code have increased by 48.94 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the period between mid-February to mid-March, transactions worth Rs 2.5 billion were done through QR Code while there were transactions worth Rs 1.71 billion between mid-January to mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Number-wise, there were 635,732 transactions in between mid-February and mid-March while the period of mid-January to mid-February recorded 535,000 transactions through QR code. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lately, transactions done via digital platform like connectIPS, mobile wallet, mobile banking and internet banking are on the rise. According to the central bank, transactions worth Rs 250 billion were done via connectIPS, mobile banking, internet banking, QR scan and mobile wallet in between mid-February and mid-March alone. In the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), transactions done through these platforms have increased by 8.17 billion compared to the previous month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Internet banking accounted for transaction worth Rs 8.8 billion in the review period and mobile wallet contributed to transaction worth Rs 10.18 billion. In the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), transactions worth Rs 9.94 billion were done via mobile wallet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the volume of transaction done via ecommerce sites has declined in the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) compared to the previous month. In the month of mid Jan/mid Feb, transaction worth Rs 932 billion were done while in the month of mid Feb/mid March, transaction worth Rs 904 million were done via ecommerce sites. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13024', 'image' => '20210415041410_20201209125551_1607471670.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:13:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Vehicles up by 10% Despite COVID-19 Pandemic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last eight months of the current fiscal year, vehicles, equipment and parts worth Rs 80.44 billion have been imported against the import of Rs 72.81 billion in the review period of the last fiscal year. The annual vehicles import and their parts stood at Rs 83.82 billion in the Fiscal Year 2019/20.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">India is the largest supplier of vehicles and their parts to Nepal, accounting for Rs 66.31 billion of the total import. There has been an increase of 16.6 percent in import of vehicles from India. Nepal imports vehicles and their spare parts from India, China and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile the country has imported vehicles and their parts worth Rs 305 million from China in the review period which is a decline by 23.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Due to the border shutdown imposed by China since the outbreak of COVID-19, the overall import and export to and from China have declined in the review period of this fiscal year. The share of total imports from China has declined by 7.1 percent while export came down by 43.7 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The country imported transport equipment and parts worth Rs 3.6 billion from other countries. It is a decline of 33.8 percent compared to the review period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">COVID-19 pandemic brought economic activities to a halt all over the world. The first three months of the lockdown imposed by the Government of Nepal slowed down all kinds of economic activities. After the government lifted lockdown, the impacts of COVID-19 started to decline and economic activities also gathered pace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“As soon as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the auto business also picked up pace. People were looking for areas of investment and banks were also providing auto loans at low interest rates which boosted the sales leading to rise in vehicles import,” says Sunil Rijal, secretary general of Nepal Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Rijal, the two-wheeler segment has recorded highest sales followed by cars. However, sales of buses have recorded a huge decline.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13023', 'image' => '20210415041210_20190311041537_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:10:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' PM Oli Urges Nepalis Abroad to Invest in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli urged the non-resident Nepalis (NRN) to promote investment in Nepal while addressing them via Zoom platform from his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the New Year 2078. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"There are no problems such as strike in industry at present. Joint venture is encouraged in the mega development projects. You can relay this message to the investors from across the globe," PM Oli said, reminding that the NRN enjoys the rights except the political ones in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He made it clear that the government does not discriminate the Nepalis irrespective of the countries they stay in. "The current government is cordial and cooperative to the Nepali diaspora and wishes it retained the pride of being Nepali," he stressed. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13022', 'image' => '20210415111540_20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 11:14:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Pledges Balanced Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Speaking at a pre-budget discussion organised by the Finance Committee of House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 13), Minister Poudel said that the government has given due consideration to all the basic principles of budget preparation to bring a balanced budget.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Minister Poudel, the upcoming budget will help the country cope with the adverse situation created by Covid-19. He said that the government has given special attention to economic revival packages. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Minister Poudel said that the upcoming budget will also help the country fulfill the required criteria to graduate from a least developed country to a developing country. It will also help in increasing production and make the economy self-reliant, according to the minister. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13021', 'image' => '20210414015337_20210110034934_1610265858.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 13:52:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Map, Peace Pact Major Success in 2077: President Bhandari ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12px"><em><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari with winners of Nubiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2021<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> in this file photo.</span></span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the New Year 2078 BS on Wednesday (April 14), President Bhandari said consensus among all political parties in amending the constitution to change the coat of arms with political map incorporating Nepal's territory – Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura and entrance of some groups into peaceful politics shunning the politics of violence were crucial from political front. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Among other achievements are the UN recommendation for Nepal to graduate to the status of developing country from the Least Developed Country, Nepal becoming the happiest country in the South Asia as per the Global Happiness Report and government's effective response to Covid-19 –pandemic. </span> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Yet coronavirus has posed a big challenge for us. Vaccine against the virus would be gradually made available to all the citizens. I would like to call upon one and all to adopt precautionary measures to remain safe from virus infection and also keep ones' daily life in a practical manner", the President said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to her, completion of the reconstruction of the Rani Pokhari and Durbar High School within 2077 BS were crucial for the government. Bhandari viewed that distribution of water from the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project could be taken as another notable social economic progress achieved in this Nepali year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the message reads, “Time, as a river, is ever flowing. Its current cannot be contained by anyone. Those countries optimizing the precious time have remained atop in terms of socio-economic developments. We should timely acknowledge the importance of the time and expedite the process of development of physical infrastructures.” -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13020', 'image' => '20210414093214_20210131083603__J4A1895 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 09:30:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export Competitiveness Key to Nepal’s Recovery: World Bank Report ', 'sub_title' => 'Economy projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021 due to easing of social distancing and good monsoons ', 'summary' => 'April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021, driven primarily by services as social distancing measures continue to be relaxed and vaccines rolled out for priority populations. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the World Bank, agriculture is also expected to perform well, on the back of recent favorable monsoons. Issuing a statement on Monday, April 12, the World Bank said citing its latest Nepal Development Update that exports could be a powerful platform to boost post-pandemic recovery and enable Nepal to transition towards green, resilient, and inclusive development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The update notes that the tourism sector may not fully recover without reforms to readjust to a post-COVID-19 tourism market. The current account deficit is expected to widen marginally in FY2021 to 1.2 percent of GDP as imports and remittances recover modestly while exports remain tepid, the statement added. Revenue performance is also expected to remain weak. This coupled with additional spending on economic relief measures, vaccinations, and the resumption of project implementation should contribute to increase the fiscal deficit close to 7 percent of GDP in FY2021. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">While the government has outlined a program to address the impacts of COVID-19 to mitigate the attendant risks to the outlook, the Nepal Development Update highlights the importance of improving export competitiveness for a resilient economic recovery. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal’s untapped export potential is estimated to be around US$9.2 billion, 12 times its actual annual merchandise exports,” said Dr Kene Ezemenari, World Bank’s Senior Economist and lead author of the update. “This export potential represents an opportunity to create an estimated 220,000 new jobs, with significant implications for productivity growth.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The report outlines six key priorities for Nepal to achieve its export potential. These include reforming the tourism sector for a quick and resilient recovery; simplifying and streamlining processes to attract more FDI; modernizing export promotion and upgrading exporters’ capabilities; reducing trade costs; investing in phytosantary and quality control-related infrastructure; and boosting digital trade and e-commerce for more opportunities linked to global value chains.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal's economy is on the path to recovery amid the severe impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic which affected people lives and livelihoods, and businesses,” the statement quoted Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel as saying. “The recommendations that can help harness the potential of exports in supporting Nepal’s economic recovery are in line with the government’s policies and priorities. The Government of Nepal is working together with development partners and the private sector on a green, resilient and inclusive development agenda to help Nepal build back better and greener from the pandemic.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“We welcome the government’s planned reforms to support Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development. This will be the foundation for Nepal to emerge stronger from the crisis,” stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13019', 'image' => '20210413033226_172695240_10157534865266467_80747360173969244_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 15:30:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers set Vegetable Prices Arbitrarily ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. The retailers in Kalimat and Balkhu areas have been allegedly selling vegetables at double the prices than that fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20201201041204_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg" style="height:180px; width:320px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Stakeholders say that that the customers are being charged higher prices for vegetables due to the negligence shown by the government authorities in market monitoring. Traders are charging recklessly for almost all green vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, carrot, broccoli, lady’s finger, tomato among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the price list fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on April 12, cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg but it cost Rs 80-Rs 90 in the retail market. Local cucumber costs Rs 90 per kg in the wholesale market while it cost Rs 110 in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, broccoli costs Rs 90 in the wholesale market and Rs 130 in the retail market. Carrot that costs Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market is being sold for Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. Retailers are charging Rs 150 per kg for lady’s finger which is Rs 50 higher than the price set by the wholesale market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Retail markets located in Kirtipur, Kalanki, Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Lagankhel and other places are charging customers unreasonably. According to Gita Prasad Acharya, president of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, there has been no problem in importing vegetables from India and neighboring districts. So it is not justifiable to hike the prices of vegetables in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Mahav Timilsina, president of Consumer Rights Research Forum said they have sought attention of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection in this regard. He said that the government authority has not taken any action in monitoring of the market so the retailers have got the opportunity to increase the prices arbitrarily. Stakeholders have demanded not only the department but also the local government to intervene in market monitoring in the days to come. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg" style="height:450px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13018', 'image' => '20210413013719_20191111010938_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 13:35:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Kathmandu Denizens getting 140 Million Litres of Drinking Water from Melamchi Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis, according to a news report prepared by the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has started formally distributing water to the dwellers of Kathmandu after President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the water distribution tap in Kathmandu some time ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project supplied about 80 million liters of water in the trial phase until last week and has now officially started distributing 10 million litres of water. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the spokesperson of Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee, Rajendra Panta, the project has begun distributing 140 million litres daily from April 15 and will be increased the water supply up to 170 million litres very soon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Giving reference to Panta, RSS said that both of the water-processing plants in Sundarijal have come into operation. The project has been distributing water from Mahankal, Balaju, Lazimpat, Anamnagar, Panipokhari, Minbhawan and Khumaltar water depots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, water supply would be soon extended to other depots in Thimi, Kirtipur. Nine water ponds and 1,100 kms long distribution system is being development in the Kathmandu valley for the distribution of water.</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-18', 'modified' => '2021-04-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13032', 'image' => '20210418110118_20210212111048_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-18 11:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'There is no Alternative to Nijgad International Airport: CAAN Director General ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.<br /> According to Pokhrel, none of the existing airports including Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), and Pokhara International Airport (PIA) can hold the growing air traffic in the future.<br /> Director-General Pokharel shared that the air traffic in Nepal and the Asia Pacific region has grown immensely. It will continue to grow further after the Covid-19 situation improves, he added.<br /> However, he opines that neither TIA nor the under-construction national pride projects GBIA and PIA will have enough capacity to hold the increasing flow of aircraft. <br /> The air traffic will grow immensely in contrary to the space of these airports. The airports won't have enough space to cope with the traffic, Pokharel told New Business Age.<br /> He added that none of the three airports are expandable due to the space limitation of the airports.<br /> Neither of TIA, on construction GBIA and PIA, have space for further expansion.<br /> However, Nijgadh International Airport is capable of dealing with the projected traffic growth, he shared.<br /> According to Pokharel, Nijgadh International Airport is best suited to cope with the air traffic pressure because of its location and availability of space. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"The proposed airport project is close to the capital - only 75 km away through the under-construction fast track. Likewise, the project covers 1,900 hectares of land which is expandable to 8,000 more hectares, to the full capacity," informed Pokharel.<br /> The proposed airport in Nijgad has multiple advantages. The airport will handle jumbo-jets, including the largest passenger aircraft Airbus A-380. Since Nepal is a landlocked country, it can be crucial for receiving and sending out heavy cargo for the benefit of the economy, he adds. <br /> Meanwhile, the airport project has been receiving widespread backlash from environmental activists for the number of trees needed to be felled.<br /> However, Pokhrel says such criticism is pointless and against the development of the country. He shared that people have manipulated the issues and caused riots against the project. It is an exaggeration is that millions of trees have to be cut down. But in reality, there the actual number of trees that need to be chopped off is far less. According to Pokharel, around 100,000 trees need to be felled for the airport construction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“We aren't starting the project in 8,000 hectares of land. The site in the initial phase will only cover an area of 1900 hectares. Likewise, it doesn't have the dense forest as described,” he said.<br /> He added that trees and mostly bushes or shrubs need to be cleaned in the initial phase. <br /> The full-fledged construction of the airport is estimated to cost USD 3.45 billion. Earlier, the government had authorized Zurich Airport to develop the project. The Swiss company withdrew from the project last year.<br /> The government of Nepal had set an aim to develop the airport through FDI. The airport project had received investment commitment from eight investors, including Zurich International Airport, GMR group of India, and a Qatari company. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13031', 'image' => '20210416095607_Nijgad.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 21:55:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mine seeks Qualified Companies for Excavation of Minerals ', 'sub_title' => 'Exploring Mines and Excavating Minerals to Take Place in 13 Areas ', 'summary' => 'April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows a copper mine in Myagdi district. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the department has issued a tender notice for excavation of five kinds of minerals. Director General at the Department, Ram Prasad Ghimire, informed that the tender notice was issued for the exploration and digging of limestone, copper, marble sand and caballine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS further reported that limestone would be explored at Kapurkot of Salyan, and Tandranggadhi and Jurethum of Dhading, marble at Supin of Makwanpur, sand at Ghyalchowk of Gorkha, copper at Ghusa of Dhading, Okharbot of Myagdi and Agrakhola of Makwanpur, and caballine at Daman of Makwanpur.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Director General Ghimire further informed that qualified and selected national and international companies would be given permission for excavation. They need to submit proposals with 60 percent allocation on technical aspects and 40 percent on economic aspect. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13030', 'image' => '20210416032511_20210310111611_20190606013911_tamakhani2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 15:23:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13284', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Eligible to Buy Electricity from Indian Exchange Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. India’s Ministry for Energy has given approval to NEA to become a member of the exchange market on April 14, allowing the latter to buy electricity from the Indian market independently.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NEA had submitted an application to receive the membership of the Indian energy exchange market. Based on the same application, NEA has been authorized to purchase electricity from the exchange market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Meanwhile, India has not given approval to NEA to sell electricity in its market. Madan Timsina, spokesperson of NEA, said the process to receive the permit to sell electricity is underway. For now, NEA has received approval only to buy electricity. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">This approval lets NEA to import electricity from any Indian company. So far, NEA had been purchasing electricity from various companies by signing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with them. “No PPA is required to buy electricity from now on. NEA can import electricity from the companies trading in Indian energy market,” said Timsina, adding, “We can purchase electricity from the companies that sell it at cheaper price. In this case, if electricity is to be purchased tomorrow, purchase process needs to start today.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, NEA still needs to buy electricity from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) - the company authorized to trade electricity in India. India has designated NVVN, a model agency to export and import electricity to Nepal. Accordingly, electricity will be imported and exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Timsina informed that the process has been initiated to get approval for selling energy in the Indian market. “In this regard, India has sought for additional documents which we have already provided. We will get the permit to sell electricity as soon as the required documentation process is complete,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">India had presented guidelines for cross border import and export of electricity in the end of February. Based on these guidelines, electricity can be imported and exported between Nepal and India. NEA said documents requested by India have been submitted in accordance to the rules of this guideline. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal will be generating surplus energy in the coming rainy season. If NEA receives the approval from India, the NEA can sell the surplus power in the Indian market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The first unit of Upper Tamakoshi will also be generating 76 MW of electricity by mid-May. Other projects are also about to start operation and are expected to generate excess electricity. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13029', 'image' => '20210416012601_1618525909.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 13:25:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Public not to Gather in Crowds in 14 Districts with High Risk of Covid-19 Infection', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people in those districts to avoid overcrowding in public places. The ministry has also appealed to the concerned bodies to close schools and other places where people gather in large number. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The 14 districts categorized by the government as high-risk areas include Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Chitwan, Banke, Parsa, Bhaktapur, Kailali, Morang, Dang, Surkhet, Bara and Baglung districts. Issuing a statement on Thursday (April 15) , Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari appealed to the people not to go to the crowded places in those districts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has listed schools, party palaces, shopping malls, health club, swimming pool, gyms, sports centres, cinema halls, market places and religious sites among others as places with high risk of Covid-19 transmission.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry has urged the local units to ensure all these places are shut down amid concerns of spread of Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has also ordered closure of night-time businesses and restaurants in the 14 districts after 7pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“All the services in these 14 districts need to be shut down except for the essential ones,” reads the statement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, government hospitals have been asked to allocate at least 50 per cent bed for the Covid-19 patients and provide free healthcare services to those meeting the criteria for whom the government has pledged to provide free treatment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, private hospitals have been warned not to refer Covid-19 patients to government hospitals or elsewhere. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The health ministry has also appealed the hospitals to prioritize children, expecting mothers, new mothers, senior citizens and people with disabilities when it comes to conducting the PCR test and providing treatment against coronavirus infection. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13028', 'image' => '20210416115657_1618526412.12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:56:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '136 Companies Registered in OTC Market in 5 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Of these, only 14 have been registered with the OTC in the current Fiscal Year (FY 2020/21).<br /> However, only about 20 companies were listed during the initial year of OTC registration.<br /> At present, shares of public companies not listed in the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (Nepse) or removed from the Nepse list are traded through OTC.<br /> According to Chandra Singh Saud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepse, investors are becoming aware of the increasing number of companies registering with OTC. He said that the number of registrations has increased as it is difficult for the Company Registrar's Office to keep records without registering with the OTC. The Company Registrar's Office has directed the concerned bodies to transfer and buy shares of the company through the OTC market. There has been good registration and transaction in OTC in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hydropower companies that have not gone public have also registered with the OTC.<br /> According to Nepse, OTC has been traded 287 times in the current fiscal year alone.<br /> As the number of registration and transactions in the OTC market is increasing, Nepse has formed a committee to formulate procedures to make it more systematic.<br /> The committee formed under the coordination of Niranjan Phuyal of Nepse includes representatives of CDS and Clearing House, merchant bankers, and Company Registrar's Office.<br /> Saud informed that the committee formed about two weeks ago would amend the previous work procedure and issue it on time.<br /> "The committee is conducting a study to further develop the OTC market," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepse had earlier said that it would start preparations to expand the OTC market across the nation.<br /> However, OTC market requires separate technology and the revenue from this business is not enough to cover the expenses, said CEO Saud. "Therefore, we have tried to move forward by discussing with all stakeholders," he added.<br /> Earlier, Nepse unveiled the work procedure by introducing the policy of OTC, but the issues including, price and tax, were not clear. “Therefore, we are working to formulate a procedure that includes all of them,” said Saud.<br /> The registration and trading of OTC in Nepse started on March 29, 2016.<br /> Maruti Cement was the first company to be traded in the OTC market, followed by Nepal Hydro Developer, Kathmandu Forestry College, Gromore Merchant Banker Limited, and others.<br /> Trading in the OTC market cannot be as effective as in the secondary market. Since such market is erratic and depends on needs, there is not much business going on. There are about 288 companies listed in Nepse. However, only 136 companies have been registered with OTC so far.<br /> <br /> Saud informed that an individuals can trade shares of the companies removed from the list of Nepse through OTC.<br /> <br /> "OTC trades only sporadically. Not all investors have been given such shares. Especially for founder shares, there is more buying and selling through certain individuals or groups," he said.<br /> <br /> The OTC market does not have to be very active. This is a kind of exit system. OTC is an easy way for shareholders to buy and sell shares within the company. As OTC depends on needs, its attraction is not like that of a Nepse-listed company.<br /> According to Nepse, share transactions globally are done through OTC, but in Nepal, there is a misconception that such transactions are done only by inferior companies. Due to such misunderstanding, many companies may not want the transaction to take place through OTC.<br /> There is a provision that shares of public companies that are not listed in Nepse or removed from Nepse's list should trade in OTC. However, to trade in the OTC market, the company should be registered with the concerned company.<br /> There is an arrangement to register the company for free in the market. However, in case of buying and selling of shares, a certain fee has to be paid to the Nepal Securities Board and the securities market. Also, capital gains tax should be paid to the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OTC Market Operation Regulations 2065, companies de-listed from Nepse can trade their securities in the OTC market. Likewise, companies not eligible for the listing can also trade their securities. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13027', 'image' => '20210416125209_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 12:50:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress Tourism-Friendly Law, Infrastructures', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus: NTB ', 'summary' => 'April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Development of tourism is imperative to boost national economy, the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted them as saying during a panel discussion in Lower House on April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations Committee of parliament, most of the lawmakers viewed tourism as a sector to earn foreign currency, and therefore stressed on tourism-friendly policy and strategies for the country's development. The infrastructures are equally important, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The line ministry was made aware that it could ensure autonomy to Nepal Tourism Board and mobilize it in full scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, lawmaker Dibya Mani Rajbhandari suggested easing one-door system of tourism service. Lawmakers Renu Gurung and Pushpa Bhushal viewed that the government could prioritize the areas that bring in more income with maximum employment in tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Naradmuni Rana was of the view that foreign tourists need to follow health protocol compulsorily. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pushpa Kumar Kayastha, Chandtara Kumari and others recommended the adoption of promotional strategies to bring in maximum tourists from India and China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the meeting, Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, made a presentation on 'Current Tourism: Opportunity and Challenges' and demanded adequate budget and tourism-friendly law to make tourism dynamic in the wake of Covid-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, Regmi shared the information that Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus. So, tourism sector would take time for revival, Dr Regmi added, highlighting the need of strategic work plan to boost domestic tourism. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13026', 'image' => '20210416112622_20200421024913_20191017121120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:25:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' National Food Bank Formally Starts Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">April 15: The newly set up office of the National Food Bank has been inaugurated at New Baneshwor on Thursday, April 15, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. The bank was established in February by agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal with the slogan 'Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrient-Rich Food' in order to give priority to organic production. <br /> Chairperson of Bank, Shankar Nath Upreti, said that the bank was established with an objective of giving emphasis on organic production by reducing dependency on agriculture, RSS reported. <br /> The bank was established at the investment of Rs 2 billion and it has 590 promoter shareholders so far. According to the bank, preparation has been made to increase the number of promoter shareholders to 1,000. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging.<br /> Upreti further said that the bank has been making preparation to issue IPO for general people soon by fulfilling all required criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">"We facilitate production of and carry out trade in rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits through bank. We increase production collaborating with farmers," RSS quoted Upreti as saying.<br /> The bank has made preparation to begin activities of agriculture production in 23 districts in the first phase within the current fiscal year. Six hundred bighas of land in different districts of Tarai have been taken on lease for the purpose. <br /> The bank has already started production in 13 districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Chitwan and Rupandehi taking land on lease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank was established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13025', 'image' => '20210415061512_20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 18:13:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transactions via QR Code Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. The report states that payments via QR code have increased by 48.94 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the period between mid-February to mid-March, transactions worth Rs 2.5 billion were done through QR Code while there were transactions worth Rs 1.71 billion between mid-January to mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Number-wise, there were 635,732 transactions in between mid-February and mid-March while the period of mid-January to mid-February recorded 535,000 transactions through QR code. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lately, transactions done via digital platform like connectIPS, mobile wallet, mobile banking and internet banking are on the rise. According to the central bank, transactions worth Rs 250 billion were done via connectIPS, mobile banking, internet banking, QR scan and mobile wallet in between mid-February and mid-March alone. In the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), transactions done through these platforms have increased by 8.17 billion compared to the previous month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Internet banking accounted for transaction worth Rs 8.8 billion in the review period and mobile wallet contributed to transaction worth Rs 10.18 billion. In the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), transactions worth Rs 9.94 billion were done via mobile wallet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the volume of transaction done via ecommerce sites has declined in the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) compared to the previous month. In the month of mid Jan/mid Feb, transaction worth Rs 932 billion were done while in the month of mid Feb/mid March, transaction worth Rs 904 million were done via ecommerce sites. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13024', 'image' => '20210415041410_20201209125551_1607471670.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:13:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Vehicles up by 10% Despite COVID-19 Pandemic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last eight months of the current fiscal year, vehicles, equipment and parts worth Rs 80.44 billion have been imported against the import of Rs 72.81 billion in the review period of the last fiscal year. The annual vehicles import and their parts stood at Rs 83.82 billion in the Fiscal Year 2019/20.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">India is the largest supplier of vehicles and their parts to Nepal, accounting for Rs 66.31 billion of the total import. There has been an increase of 16.6 percent in import of vehicles from India. Nepal imports vehicles and their spare parts from India, China and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile the country has imported vehicles and their parts worth Rs 305 million from China in the review period which is a decline by 23.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Due to the border shutdown imposed by China since the outbreak of COVID-19, the overall import and export to and from China have declined in the review period of this fiscal year. The share of total imports from China has declined by 7.1 percent while export came down by 43.7 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The country imported transport equipment and parts worth Rs 3.6 billion from other countries. It is a decline of 33.8 percent compared to the review period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">COVID-19 pandemic brought economic activities to a halt all over the world. The first three months of the lockdown imposed by the Government of Nepal slowed down all kinds of economic activities. After the government lifted lockdown, the impacts of COVID-19 started to decline and economic activities also gathered pace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“As soon as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the auto business also picked up pace. People were looking for areas of investment and banks were also providing auto loans at low interest rates which boosted the sales leading to rise in vehicles import,” says Sunil Rijal, secretary general of Nepal Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Rijal, the two-wheeler segment has recorded highest sales followed by cars. However, sales of buses have recorded a huge decline.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13023', 'image' => '20210415041210_20190311041537_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:10:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' PM Oli Urges Nepalis Abroad to Invest in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli urged the non-resident Nepalis (NRN) to promote investment in Nepal while addressing them via Zoom platform from his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the New Year 2078. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"There are no problems such as strike in industry at present. Joint venture is encouraged in the mega development projects. You can relay this message to the investors from across the globe," PM Oli said, reminding that the NRN enjoys the rights except the political ones in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He made it clear that the government does not discriminate the Nepalis irrespective of the countries they stay in. "The current government is cordial and cooperative to the Nepali diaspora and wishes it retained the pride of being Nepali," he stressed. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13022', 'image' => '20210415111540_20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 11:14:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Pledges Balanced Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Speaking at a pre-budget discussion organised by the Finance Committee of House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 13), Minister Poudel said that the government has given due consideration to all the basic principles of budget preparation to bring a balanced budget.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Minister Poudel, the upcoming budget will help the country cope with the adverse situation created by Covid-19. He said that the government has given special attention to economic revival packages. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Minister Poudel said that the upcoming budget will also help the country fulfill the required criteria to graduate from a least developed country to a developing country. It will also help in increasing production and make the economy self-reliant, according to the minister. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13021', 'image' => '20210414015337_20210110034934_1610265858.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 13:52:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Map, Peace Pact Major Success in 2077: President Bhandari ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12px"><em><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari with winners of Nubiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2021<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> in this file photo.</span></span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the New Year 2078 BS on Wednesday (April 14), President Bhandari said consensus among all political parties in amending the constitution to change the coat of arms with political map incorporating Nepal's territory – Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura and entrance of some groups into peaceful politics shunning the politics of violence were crucial from political front. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Among other achievements are the UN recommendation for Nepal to graduate to the status of developing country from the Least Developed Country, Nepal becoming the happiest country in the South Asia as per the Global Happiness Report and government's effective response to Covid-19 –pandemic. </span> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Yet coronavirus has posed a big challenge for us. Vaccine against the virus would be gradually made available to all the citizens. I would like to call upon one and all to adopt precautionary measures to remain safe from virus infection and also keep ones' daily life in a practical manner", the President said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to her, completion of the reconstruction of the Rani Pokhari and Durbar High School within 2077 BS were crucial for the government. Bhandari viewed that distribution of water from the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project could be taken as another notable social economic progress achieved in this Nepali year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the message reads, “Time, as a river, is ever flowing. Its current cannot be contained by anyone. Those countries optimizing the precious time have remained atop in terms of socio-economic developments. We should timely acknowledge the importance of the time and expedite the process of development of physical infrastructures.” -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13020', 'image' => '20210414093214_20210131083603__J4A1895 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 09:30:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export Competitiveness Key to Nepal’s Recovery: World Bank Report ', 'sub_title' => 'Economy projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021 due to easing of social distancing and good monsoons ', 'summary' => 'April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021, driven primarily by services as social distancing measures continue to be relaxed and vaccines rolled out for priority populations. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the World Bank, agriculture is also expected to perform well, on the back of recent favorable monsoons. Issuing a statement on Monday, April 12, the World Bank said citing its latest Nepal Development Update that exports could be a powerful platform to boost post-pandemic recovery and enable Nepal to transition towards green, resilient, and inclusive development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The update notes that the tourism sector may not fully recover without reforms to readjust to a post-COVID-19 tourism market. The current account deficit is expected to widen marginally in FY2021 to 1.2 percent of GDP as imports and remittances recover modestly while exports remain tepid, the statement added. Revenue performance is also expected to remain weak. This coupled with additional spending on economic relief measures, vaccinations, and the resumption of project implementation should contribute to increase the fiscal deficit close to 7 percent of GDP in FY2021. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">While the government has outlined a program to address the impacts of COVID-19 to mitigate the attendant risks to the outlook, the Nepal Development Update highlights the importance of improving export competitiveness for a resilient economic recovery. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal’s untapped export potential is estimated to be around US$9.2 billion, 12 times its actual annual merchandise exports,” said Dr Kene Ezemenari, World Bank’s Senior Economist and lead author of the update. “This export potential represents an opportunity to create an estimated 220,000 new jobs, with significant implications for productivity growth.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The report outlines six key priorities for Nepal to achieve its export potential. These include reforming the tourism sector for a quick and resilient recovery; simplifying and streamlining processes to attract more FDI; modernizing export promotion and upgrading exporters’ capabilities; reducing trade costs; investing in phytosantary and quality control-related infrastructure; and boosting digital trade and e-commerce for more opportunities linked to global value chains.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal's economy is on the path to recovery amid the severe impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic which affected people lives and livelihoods, and businesses,” the statement quoted Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel as saying. “The recommendations that can help harness the potential of exports in supporting Nepal’s economic recovery are in line with the government’s policies and priorities. The Government of Nepal is working together with development partners and the private sector on a green, resilient and inclusive development agenda to help Nepal build back better and greener from the pandemic.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“We welcome the government’s planned reforms to support Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development. This will be the foundation for Nepal to emerge stronger from the crisis,” stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13019', 'image' => '20210413033226_172695240_10157534865266467_80747360173969244_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 15:30:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers set Vegetable Prices Arbitrarily ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. The retailers in Kalimat and Balkhu areas have been allegedly selling vegetables at double the prices than that fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20201201041204_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg" style="height:180px; width:320px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Stakeholders say that that the customers are being charged higher prices for vegetables due to the negligence shown by the government authorities in market monitoring. Traders are charging recklessly for almost all green vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, carrot, broccoli, lady’s finger, tomato among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the price list fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on April 12, cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg but it cost Rs 80-Rs 90 in the retail market. Local cucumber costs Rs 90 per kg in the wholesale market while it cost Rs 110 in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, broccoli costs Rs 90 in the wholesale market and Rs 130 in the retail market. Carrot that costs Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market is being sold for Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. Retailers are charging Rs 150 per kg for lady’s finger which is Rs 50 higher than the price set by the wholesale market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Retail markets located in Kirtipur, Kalanki, Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Lagankhel and other places are charging customers unreasonably. According to Gita Prasad Acharya, president of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, there has been no problem in importing vegetables from India and neighboring districts. So it is not justifiable to hike the prices of vegetables in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Mahav Timilsina, president of Consumer Rights Research Forum said they have sought attention of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection in this regard. He said that the government authority has not taken any action in monitoring of the market so the retailers have got the opportunity to increase the prices arbitrarily. Stakeholders have demanded not only the department but also the local government to intervene in market monitoring in the days to come. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg" style="height:450px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13018', 'image' => '20210413013719_20191111010938_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 13:35:56', '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' => '13287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Kathmandu Denizens getting 140 Million Litres of Drinking Water from Melamchi Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 18: The residents of Kathmandu are receiving 140 million litres of drinking water from the Melamchi Water Supply Project on a daily basis, according to a news report prepared by the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has started formally distributing water to the dwellers of Kathmandu after President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the water distribution tap in Kathmandu some time ago. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project supplied about 80 million liters of water in the trial phase until last week and has now officially started distributing 10 million litres of water. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the spokesperson of Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee, Rajendra Panta, the project has begun distributing 140 million litres daily from April 15 and will be increased the water supply up to 170 million litres very soon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Giving reference to Panta, RSS said that both of the water-processing plants in Sundarijal have come into operation. The project has been distributing water from Mahankal, Balaju, Lazimpat, Anamnagar, Panipokhari, Minbhawan and Khumaltar water depots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, water supply would be soon extended to other depots in Thimi, Kirtipur. Nine water ponds and 1,100 kms long distribution system is being development in the Kathmandu valley for the distribution of water.</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-18', 'modified' => '2021-04-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13032', 'image' => '20210418110118_20210212111048_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-18 11:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'There is no Alternative to Nijgad International Airport: CAAN Director General ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 16: Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Rajan Pokhrel, informed that the country does not have any alternative other than developing Nijgad International Airport for the future of the Nepali aviation industry.<br /> According to Pokhrel, none of the existing airports including Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), and Pokhara International Airport (PIA) can hold the growing air traffic in the future.<br /> Director-General Pokharel shared that the air traffic in Nepal and the Asia Pacific region has grown immensely. It will continue to grow further after the Covid-19 situation improves, he added.<br /> However, he opines that neither TIA nor the under-construction national pride projects GBIA and PIA will have enough capacity to hold the increasing flow of aircraft. <br /> The air traffic will grow immensely in contrary to the space of these airports. The airports won't have enough space to cope with the traffic, Pokharel told New Business Age.<br /> He added that none of the three airports are expandable due to the space limitation of the airports.<br /> Neither of TIA, on construction GBIA and PIA, have space for further expansion.<br /> However, Nijgadh International Airport is capable of dealing with the projected traffic growth, he shared.<br /> According to Pokharel, Nijgadh International Airport is best suited to cope with the air traffic pressure because of its location and availability of space. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"The proposed airport project is close to the capital - only 75 km away through the under-construction fast track. Likewise, the project covers 1,900 hectares of land which is expandable to 8,000 more hectares, to the full capacity," informed Pokharel.<br /> The proposed airport in Nijgad has multiple advantages. The airport will handle jumbo-jets, including the largest passenger aircraft Airbus A-380. Since Nepal is a landlocked country, it can be crucial for receiving and sending out heavy cargo for the benefit of the economy, he adds. <br /> Meanwhile, the airport project has been receiving widespread backlash from environmental activists for the number of trees needed to be felled.<br /> However, Pokhrel says such criticism is pointless and against the development of the country. He shared that people have manipulated the issues and caused riots against the project. It is an exaggeration is that millions of trees have to be cut down. But in reality, there the actual number of trees that need to be chopped off is far less. According to Pokharel, around 100,000 trees need to be felled for the airport construction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“We aren't starting the project in 8,000 hectares of land. The site in the initial phase will only cover an area of 1900 hectares. Likewise, it doesn't have the dense forest as described,” he said.<br /> He added that trees and mostly bushes or shrubs need to be cleaned in the initial phase. <br /> The full-fledged construction of the airport is estimated to cost USD 3.45 billion. Earlier, the government had authorized Zurich Airport to develop the project. The Swiss company withdrew from the project last year.<br /> The government of Nepal had set an aim to develop the airport through FDI. The airport project had received investment commitment from eight investors, including Zurich International Airport, GMR group of India, and a Qatari company. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13031', 'image' => '20210416095607_Nijgad.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 21:55:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mine seeks Qualified Companies for Excavation of Minerals ', 'sub_title' => 'Exploring Mines and Excavating Minerals to Take Place in 13 Areas ', 'summary' => 'April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows a copper mine in Myagdi district. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: The Department of Mines and Geology has decided to explore mines and excavate minerals in 13 different places of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the department has issued a tender notice for excavation of five kinds of minerals. Director General at the Department, Ram Prasad Ghimire, informed that the tender notice was issued for the exploration and digging of limestone, copper, marble sand and caballine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS further reported that limestone would be explored at Kapurkot of Salyan, and Tandranggadhi and Jurethum of Dhading, marble at Supin of Makwanpur, sand at Ghyalchowk of Gorkha, copper at Ghusa of Dhading, Okharbot of Myagdi and Agrakhola of Makwanpur, and caballine at Daman of Makwanpur.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Director General Ghimire further informed that qualified and selected national and international companies would be given permission for excavation. They need to submit proposals with 60 percent allocation on technical aspects and 40 percent on economic aspect. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13030', 'image' => '20210416032511_20210310111611_20190606013911_tamakhani2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 15:23:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13284', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Eligible to Buy Electricity from Indian Exchange Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 16: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now eligible to buy electricity from India’s energy exchange market. India’s Ministry for Energy has given approval to NEA to become a member of the exchange market on April 14, allowing the latter to buy electricity from the Indian market independently.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NEA had submitted an application to receive the membership of the Indian energy exchange market. Based on the same application, NEA has been authorized to purchase electricity from the exchange market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Meanwhile, India has not given approval to NEA to sell electricity in its market. Madan Timsina, spokesperson of NEA, said the process to receive the permit to sell electricity is underway. For now, NEA has received approval only to buy electricity. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">This approval lets NEA to import electricity from any Indian company. So far, NEA had been purchasing electricity from various companies by signing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with them. “No PPA is required to buy electricity from now on. NEA can import electricity from the companies trading in Indian energy market,” said Timsina, adding, “We can purchase electricity from the companies that sell it at cheaper price. In this case, if electricity is to be purchased tomorrow, purchase process needs to start today.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, NEA still needs to buy electricity from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) - the company authorized to trade electricity in India. India has designated NVVN, a model agency to export and import electricity to Nepal. Accordingly, electricity will be imported and exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Timsina informed that the process has been initiated to get approval for selling energy in the Indian market. “In this regard, India has sought for additional documents which we have already provided. We will get the permit to sell electricity as soon as the required documentation process is complete,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">India had presented guidelines for cross border import and export of electricity in the end of February. Based on these guidelines, electricity can be imported and exported between Nepal and India. NEA said documents requested by India have been submitted in accordance to the rules of this guideline. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal will be generating surplus energy in the coming rainy season. If NEA receives the approval from India, the NEA can sell the surplus power in the Indian market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The first unit of Upper Tamakoshi will also be generating 76 MW of electricity by mid-May. Other projects are also about to start operation and are expected to generate excess electricity. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13029', 'image' => '20210416012601_1618525909.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 13:25:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Public not to Gather in Crowds in 14 Districts with High Risk of Covid-19 Infection', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has confirmed the emergence of second wave of coronavirus in the country and categorized 14 districts as high-risk zones. The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people in those districts to avoid overcrowding in public places. The ministry has also appealed to the concerned bodies to close schools and other places where people gather in large number. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The 14 districts categorized by the government as high-risk areas include Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Chitwan, Banke, Parsa, Bhaktapur, Kailali, Morang, Dang, Surkhet, Bara and Baglung districts. Issuing a statement on Thursday (April 15) , Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari appealed to the people not to go to the crowded places in those districts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has listed schools, party palaces, shopping malls, health club, swimming pool, gyms, sports centres, cinema halls, market places and religious sites among others as places with high risk of Covid-19 transmission.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry has urged the local units to ensure all these places are shut down amid concerns of spread of Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has also ordered closure of night-time businesses and restaurants in the 14 districts after 7pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“All the services in these 14 districts need to be shut down except for the essential ones,” reads the statement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, government hospitals have been asked to allocate at least 50 per cent bed for the Covid-19 patients and provide free healthcare services to those meeting the criteria for whom the government has pledged to provide free treatment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, private hospitals have been warned not to refer Covid-19 patients to government hospitals or elsewhere. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The health ministry has also appealed the hospitals to prioritize children, expecting mothers, new mothers, senior citizens and people with disabilities when it comes to conducting the PCR test and providing treatment against coronavirus infection. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13028', 'image' => '20210416115657_1618526412.12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:56:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '136 Companies Registered in OTC Market in 5 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 16: In the last five years, 136 companies have been listed in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Of these, only 14 have been registered with the OTC in the current Fiscal Year (FY 2020/21).<br /> However, only about 20 companies were listed during the initial year of OTC registration.<br /> At present, shares of public companies not listed in the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (Nepse) or removed from the Nepse list are traded through OTC.<br /> According to Chandra Singh Saud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepse, investors are becoming aware of the increasing number of companies registering with OTC. He said that the number of registrations has increased as it is difficult for the Company Registrar's Office to keep records without registering with the OTC. The Company Registrar's Office has directed the concerned bodies to transfer and buy shares of the company through the OTC market. There has been good registration and transaction in OTC in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hydropower companies that have not gone public have also registered with the OTC.<br /> According to Nepse, OTC has been traded 287 times in the current fiscal year alone.<br /> As the number of registration and transactions in the OTC market is increasing, Nepse has formed a committee to formulate procedures to make it more systematic.<br /> The committee formed under the coordination of Niranjan Phuyal of Nepse includes representatives of CDS and Clearing House, merchant bankers, and Company Registrar's Office.<br /> Saud informed that the committee formed about two weeks ago would amend the previous work procedure and issue it on time.<br /> "The committee is conducting a study to further develop the OTC market," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepse had earlier said that it would start preparations to expand the OTC market across the nation.<br /> However, OTC market requires separate technology and the revenue from this business is not enough to cover the expenses, said CEO Saud. "Therefore, we have tried to move forward by discussing with all stakeholders," he added.<br /> Earlier, Nepse unveiled the work procedure by introducing the policy of OTC, but the issues including, price and tax, were not clear. “Therefore, we are working to formulate a procedure that includes all of them,” said Saud.<br /> The registration and trading of OTC in Nepse started on March 29, 2016.<br /> Maruti Cement was the first company to be traded in the OTC market, followed by Nepal Hydro Developer, Kathmandu Forestry College, Gromore Merchant Banker Limited, and others.<br /> Trading in the OTC market cannot be as effective as in the secondary market. Since such market is erratic and depends on needs, there is not much business going on. There are about 288 companies listed in Nepse. However, only 136 companies have been registered with OTC so far.<br /> <br /> Saud informed that an individuals can trade shares of the companies removed from the list of Nepse through OTC.<br /> <br /> "OTC trades only sporadically. Not all investors have been given such shares. Especially for founder shares, there is more buying and selling through certain individuals or groups," he said.<br /> <br /> The OTC market does not have to be very active. This is a kind of exit system. OTC is an easy way for shareholders to buy and sell shares within the company. As OTC depends on needs, its attraction is not like that of a Nepse-listed company.<br /> According to Nepse, share transactions globally are done through OTC, but in Nepal, there is a misconception that such transactions are done only by inferior companies. Due to such misunderstanding, many companies may not want the transaction to take place through OTC.<br /> There is a provision that shares of public companies that are not listed in Nepse or removed from Nepse's list should trade in OTC. However, to trade in the OTC market, the company should be registered with the concerned company.<br /> There is an arrangement to register the company for free in the market. However, in case of buying and selling of shares, a certain fee has to be paid to the Nepal Securities Board and the securities market. Also, capital gains tax should be paid to the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OTC Market Operation Regulations 2065, companies de-listed from Nepse can trade their securities in the OTC market. Likewise, companies not eligible for the listing can also trade their securities. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13027', 'image' => '20210416125209_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 12:50:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress Tourism-Friendly Law, Infrastructures', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus: NTB ', 'summary' => 'April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 16: Parliamentarians have underscored the need to conduct policy reform and promotion of tourism in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Development of tourism is imperative to boost national economy, the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted them as saying during a panel discussion in Lower House on April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations Committee of parliament, most of the lawmakers viewed tourism as a sector to earn foreign currency, and therefore stressed on tourism-friendly policy and strategies for the country's development. The infrastructures are equally important, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The line ministry was made aware that it could ensure autonomy to Nepal Tourism Board and mobilize it in full scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, lawmaker Dibya Mani Rajbhandari suggested easing one-door system of tourism service. Lawmakers Renu Gurung and Pushpa Bhushal viewed that the government could prioritize the areas that bring in more income with maximum employment in tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Naradmuni Rana was of the view that foreign tourists need to follow health protocol compulsorily. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pushpa Kumar Kayastha, Chandtara Kumari and others recommended the adoption of promotional strategies to bring in maximum tourists from India and China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the meeting, Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, made a presentation on 'Current Tourism: Opportunity and Challenges' and demanded adequate budget and tourism-friendly law to make tourism dynamic in the wake of Covid-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, Regmi shared the information that Nepal witnessed 80 percent slump in arrival of tourists due to coronavirus. So, tourism sector would take time for revival, Dr Regmi added, highlighting the need of strategic work plan to boost domestic tourism. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-16', 'modified' => '2021-04-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13026', 'image' => '20210416112622_20200421024913_20191017121120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-16 11:25:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' National Food Bank Formally Starts Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">April 15: The newly set up office of the National Food Bank has been inaugurated at New Baneshwor on Thursday, April 15, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. The bank was established in February by agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal with the slogan 'Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrient-Rich Food' in order to give priority to organic production. <br /> Chairperson of Bank, Shankar Nath Upreti, said that the bank was established with an objective of giving emphasis on organic production by reducing dependency on agriculture, RSS reported. <br /> The bank was established at the investment of Rs 2 billion and it has 590 promoter shareholders so far. According to the bank, preparation has been made to increase the number of promoter shareholders to 1,000. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging.<br /> Upreti further said that the bank has been making preparation to issue IPO for general people soon by fulfilling all required criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">"We facilitate production of and carry out trade in rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits through bank. We increase production collaborating with farmers," RSS quoted Upreti as saying.<br /> The bank has made preparation to begin activities of agriculture production in 23 districts in the first phase within the current fiscal year. Six hundred bighas of land in different districts of Tarai have been taken on lease for the purpose. <br /> The bank has already started production in 13 districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Chitwan and Rupandehi taking land on lease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The food bank was established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13025', 'image' => '20210415061512_20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 18:13:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transactions via QR Code Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Payments through QR Code have been increasing in the country, according to the Current Economic and Financial report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank recently. The report states that payments via QR code have increased by 48.94 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the period between mid-February to mid-March, transactions worth Rs 2.5 billion were done through QR Code while there were transactions worth Rs 1.71 billion between mid-January to mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Number-wise, there were 635,732 transactions in between mid-February and mid-March while the period of mid-January to mid-February recorded 535,000 transactions through QR code. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lately, transactions done via digital platform like connectIPS, mobile wallet, mobile banking and internet banking are on the rise. According to the central bank, transactions worth Rs 250 billion were done via connectIPS, mobile banking, internet banking, QR scan and mobile wallet in between mid-February and mid-March alone. In the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), transactions done through these platforms have increased by 8.17 billion compared to the previous month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Internet banking accounted for transaction worth Rs 8.8 billion in the review period and mobile wallet contributed to transaction worth Rs 10.18 billion. In the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), transactions worth Rs 9.94 billion were done via mobile wallet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the volume of transaction done via ecommerce sites has declined in the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) compared to the previous month. In the month of mid Jan/mid Feb, transaction worth Rs 932 billion were done while in the month of mid Feb/mid March, transaction worth Rs 904 million were done via ecommerce sites. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13024', 'image' => '20210415041410_20201209125551_1607471670.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:13:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Vehicles up by 10% Despite COVID-19 Pandemic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">April 15: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of vehicles and machinery parts has increased by 10.5 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year states the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last eight months of the current fiscal year, vehicles, equipment and parts worth Rs 80.44 billion have been imported against the import of Rs 72.81 billion in the review period of the last fiscal year. The annual vehicles import and their parts stood at Rs 83.82 billion in the Fiscal Year 2019/20.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">India is the largest supplier of vehicles and their parts to Nepal, accounting for Rs 66.31 billion of the total import. There has been an increase of 16.6 percent in import of vehicles from India. Nepal imports vehicles and their spare parts from India, China and third countries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile the country has imported vehicles and their parts worth Rs 305 million from China in the review period which is a decline by 23.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Due to the border shutdown imposed by China since the outbreak of COVID-19, the overall import and export to and from China have declined in the review period of this fiscal year. The share of total imports from China has declined by 7.1 percent while export came down by 43.7 percent in the last eight months of the fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The country imported transport equipment and parts worth Rs 3.6 billion from other countries. It is a decline of 33.8 percent compared to the review period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">COVID-19 pandemic brought economic activities to a halt all over the world. The first three months of the lockdown imposed by the Government of Nepal slowed down all kinds of economic activities. After the government lifted lockdown, the impacts of COVID-19 started to decline and economic activities also gathered pace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“As soon as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the auto business also picked up pace. People were looking for areas of investment and banks were also providing auto loans at low interest rates which boosted the sales leading to rise in vehicles import,” says Sunil Rijal, secretary general of Nepal Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Rijal, the two-wheeler segment has recorded highest sales followed by cars. However, sales of buses have recorded a huge decline.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13023', 'image' => '20210415041210_20190311041537_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 16:10:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' PM Oli Urges Nepalis Abroad to Invest in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called people of Nepalese origin living in various countries across the globe to invest in Nepal by utilizing the present peaceful and favourable atmosphere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli urged the non-resident Nepalis (NRN) to promote investment in Nepal while addressing them via Zoom platform from his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the New Year 2078. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"There are no problems such as strike in industry at present. Joint venture is encouraged in the mega development projects. You can relay this message to the investors from across the globe," PM Oli said, reminding that the NRN enjoys the rights except the political ones in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He made it clear that the government does not discriminate the Nepalis irrespective of the countries they stay in. "The current government is cordial and cooperative to the Nepali diaspora and wishes it retained the pride of being Nepali," he stressed. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-15', 'modified' => '2021-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13022', 'image' => '20210415111540_20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-15 11:14:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Pledges Balanced Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 14: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is preparing to announce budget by including economic revival programmes and the agendas championed by the ruling party during the election.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Speaking at a pre-budget discussion organised by the Finance Committee of House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 13), Minister Poudel said that the government has given due consideration to all the basic principles of budget preparation to bring a balanced budget.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Minister Poudel, the upcoming budget will help the country cope with the adverse situation created by Covid-19. He said that the government has given special attention to economic revival packages. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Minister Poudel said that the upcoming budget will also help the country fulfill the required criteria to graduate from a least developed country to a developing country. It will also help in increasing production and make the economy self-reliant, according to the minister. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13021', 'image' => '20210414015337_20210110034934_1610265858.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 13:52:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Map, Peace Pact Major Success in 2077: President Bhandari ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12px"><em><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari with winners of Nubiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2021<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> in this file photo.</span></span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the year 2077 BS saw notable achievements in political, social and economic fronts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the New Year 2078 BS on Wednesday (April 14), President Bhandari said consensus among all political parties in amending the constitution to change the coat of arms with political map incorporating Nepal's territory – Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura and entrance of some groups into peaceful politics shunning the politics of violence were crucial from political front. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Among other achievements are the UN recommendation for Nepal to graduate to the status of developing country from the Least Developed Country, Nepal becoming the happiest country in the South Asia as per the Global Happiness Report and government's effective response to Covid-19 –pandemic. </span> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Yet coronavirus has posed a big challenge for us. Vaccine against the virus would be gradually made available to all the citizens. I would like to call upon one and all to adopt precautionary measures to remain safe from virus infection and also keep ones' daily life in a practical manner", the President said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to her, completion of the reconstruction of the Rani Pokhari and Durbar High School within 2077 BS were crucial for the government. Bhandari viewed that distribution of water from the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project could be taken as another notable social economic progress achieved in this Nepali year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the message reads, “Time, as a river, is ever flowing. Its current cannot be contained by anyone. Those countries optimizing the precious time have remained atop in terms of socio-economic developments. We should timely acknowledge the importance of the time and expedite the process of development of physical infrastructures.” -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-14', 'modified' => '2021-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13020', 'image' => '20210414093214_20210131083603__J4A1895 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2021-04-14 09:30:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export Competitiveness Key to Nepal’s Recovery: World Bank Report ', 'sub_title' => 'Economy projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021 due to easing of social distancing and good monsoons ', 'summary' => 'April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">April 13: After contracting for the first time in 40 years in FY2020, Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in FY2021, driven primarily by services as social distancing measures continue to be relaxed and vaccines rolled out for priority populations. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the World Bank, agriculture is also expected to perform well, on the back of recent favorable monsoons. Issuing a statement on Monday, April 12, the World Bank said citing its latest Nepal Development Update that exports could be a powerful platform to boost post-pandemic recovery and enable Nepal to transition towards green, resilient, and inclusive development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The update notes that the tourism sector may not fully recover without reforms to readjust to a post-COVID-19 tourism market. The current account deficit is expected to widen marginally in FY2021 to 1.2 percent of GDP as imports and remittances recover modestly while exports remain tepid, the statement added. Revenue performance is also expected to remain weak. This coupled with additional spending on economic relief measures, vaccinations, and the resumption of project implementation should contribute to increase the fiscal deficit close to 7 percent of GDP in FY2021. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">While the government has outlined a program to address the impacts of COVID-19 to mitigate the attendant risks to the outlook, the Nepal Development Update highlights the importance of improving export competitiveness for a resilient economic recovery. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal’s untapped export potential is estimated to be around US$9.2 billion, 12 times its actual annual merchandise exports,” said Dr Kene Ezemenari, World Bank’s Senior Economist and lead author of the update. “This export potential represents an opportunity to create an estimated 220,000 new jobs, with significant implications for productivity growth.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">The report outlines six key priorities for Nepal to achieve its export potential. These include reforming the tourism sector for a quick and resilient recovery; simplifying and streamlining processes to attract more FDI; modernizing export promotion and upgrading exporters’ capabilities; reducing trade costs; investing in phytosantary and quality control-related infrastructure; and boosting digital trade and e-commerce for more opportunities linked to global value chains.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“Nepal's economy is on the path to recovery amid the severe impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic which affected people lives and livelihoods, and businesses,” the statement quoted Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel as saying. “The recommendations that can help harness the potential of exports in supporting Nepal’s economic recovery are in line with the government’s policies and priorities. The Government of Nepal is working together with development partners and the private sector on a green, resilient and inclusive development agenda to help Nepal build back better and greener from the pandemic.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">“We welcome the government’s planned reforms to support Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development. This will be the foundation for Nepal to emerge stronger from the crisis,” stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13019', 'image' => '20210413033226_172695240_10157534865266467_80747360173969244_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 15:30:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers set Vegetable Prices Arbitrarily ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. The retailers in Kalimat and Balkhu areas have been allegedly selling vegetables at double the prices than that fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20201201041204_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg" style="height:180px; width:320px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Stakeholders say that that the customers are being charged higher prices for vegetables due to the negligence shown by the government authorities in market monitoring. Traders are charging recklessly for almost all green vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, carrot, broccoli, lady’s finger, tomato among others. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the price list fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on April 12, cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg but it cost Rs 80-Rs 90 in the retail market. Local cucumber costs Rs 90 per kg in the wholesale market while it cost Rs 110 in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, broccoli costs Rs 90 in the wholesale market and Rs 130 in the retail market. Carrot that costs Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market is being sold for Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. Retailers are charging Rs 150 per kg for lady’s finger which is Rs 50 higher than the price set by the wholesale market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Retail markets located in Kirtipur, Kalanki, Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Lagankhel and other places are charging customers unreasonably. According to Gita Prasad Acharya, president of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, there has been no problem in importing vegetables from India and neighboring districts. So it is not justifiable to hike the prices of vegetables in the retail market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Mahav Timilsina, president of Consumer Rights Research Forum said they have sought attention of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection in this regard. He said that the government authority has not taken any action in monitoring of the market so the retailers have got the opportunity to increase the prices arbitrarily. Stakeholders have demanded not only the department but also the local government to intervene in market monitoring in the days to come. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg" style="height:450px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-04-13', 'modified' => '2021-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13018', 'image' => '20210413013719_20191111010938_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-04-13 13:35:56', '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
