January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange…
January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange…
January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million.…
January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions.…
January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port.…
January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months.…
January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave.…
January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19…
January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus…
January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the…
January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues.…
January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods.…
January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for…
January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the…
January 22: Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its…
January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway.…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]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' => '12981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Quota System on Import of Gold in Force since a Decade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve. Back then, the quota system was imposed with an intention to increase foreign exchange reserve for only six to seven months. However, it has been extended till now although the country’s foreign exchange reserve is quite strong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal’s foreign exchange reserve was Rs 1474.34 billion as of December 15, 2020, according to Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The demand for gold in Nepal used to be 55 kg per day before the 2015 earthquake while it shrunk to 45-50 kg per day after the quake. The demand for gold was 30 to 35 kg in last December. Currently, there is a demand for 25 kg gold per day but only 10 kg is available. Out of the 10 kg gold, dealers get access to six kg of gold while four kg is supplied to artisans involved in making handicraft products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The dealers and artisans are worried that they are getting very less amount of gold. Former chairman of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association Mani Ratna Shakya says that they are forced to buy gold at higher rate from the dealers due to the short supply. According to him, the dealers are forced to purchase gold at excessively high rate during the marriage season when the demand is high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced a work procedure in 2009 for proper management of gold import and to maintain the country’s Balance of Payment. The quota system was launched in accordance to the work procedure. Businessmen and dealers were allowed to purchase only 15 kg gold per day from banks as per the work procedure. It was later increased to 20 kg per day. However, the daily limit for gold purchase has been reduced to 10 kg per day after the government imposed lockdown in March 24 last year. The ceiling was capped to minimize the impact of coronavirus on the country’s foreign exchange reserve.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This has resulted in scarcity of gold in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We have demanded with the government to either increase the supply of gold or to remove the quota system, but to no avail,” said Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12729', 'image' => '20210126111048_1611618430.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 11:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sitaram Gokul Milks to Diversify its Products by Investing Rs 60 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. The company informed that it is making preparations to diversify its products as per the demand of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company is pouring an investment of Rs 60 million for the purchase of equipment, expansion of human resources and physical infrastructure in order to diversify its products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited has been producing and selling milk and ghee since the last 25 years. The company was struggling to expand its production due to lack of technical manpower. But the company decided to expand its products due to demand from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the first phase, the company has already sent samples of curd, lassi, ice cream, cottage cheese, and flavoured milk to the market. The company’s chairman Sumit Kedia informed that they will soon begin mass production as they have already received positive feedback from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, the company’s operation cost will increase by 20 percent after increasing production. The company is also increasing its human resource by 10 percent. The company is providing direct and indirect employment to 450 persons. Likewise, more than 100,000 families of farmers of Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kavre, Morang, Bara and Sarlahi are associated with the company. The company has been spending Rs 2.4 million per day to purchase milk from the producers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company had been selling 40,000 litres of milk on a daily basis before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But it later reduced production by 50 percent and hasn’t been able to return to the previous mode of production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The consumption of milk had reduced due to the closure of big hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges since a long time. The company says it was forced to reduce its production because the purchasing power of the consumers has also diminished at the moment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12728', 'image' => '20210126120448_1611618996.99.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 12:04:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '10 more BFIs operate RTGS system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the company, Jyoti Bikas Bank, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Shangri-la Development Bank, Shine Resunga Development Bank, Lumbini Bikas Bank, ICFC Finance and Manjushree Finance are the recently added BFIs in the system. Prior to this, 25 commercial banks have already been using connectRTGS, NCHL said in a statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">Customers of the ten BFIs can now initiate high-value and urgent transactions above Rs 200,000 through RGTS. The statement further said that the customers will have to request the banks and financial institutions for RTGS transaction by filling a transfer form available at the bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The <em>connect</em>RTGS has been provided by NCHL to the BFIs at almost zero cost as additional facilitation to the industry, which is integrated with RTGS system implemented and operated by Nepal Rastra Bank and the core banking system of the BFIs,” reads the system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">The system has been provided as an extension of the existing infrastructures of NCHL.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12727', 'image' => '20210125044833_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:47:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists Accuse Transport Entrepreneurs of Starting Syndicate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. ', '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"">January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. The transport entrepreneurs involved in transporting goods to the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have started the syndicate by increasing the transportation cost.</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"">Industrialists in the corridor complained that the transport entrepreneurs have been taking turns to transport goods at increased rate.</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"">General Secretary of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce Madhav Rajpal said that the transportation cost has gone up after the transport entrepreneurs started taking turns to deliver goods.</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 transport entrepreneurs have started charging as much as Rs 4,000 extra for transporting goods to Parwanipur, Jitpur and Simara from the dry port.</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"">Earlier, they used to charge Rs 8,000 for transporting 22 metric tons of good in a 20-feet container. But the charge has been increased to Rs 10,000 for transporting goods to Jitpur and Rs 12,000 up to Simara.</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"">More than a dozen transport entrepreneurs have issued notices regarding the new fare. They have already started charging additional fare from last week.</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 transport entrepreneurs have also informed that they would charge an additional Rs 2,000 if the goods are not unloaded till 5 pm the next day after customs clearance.</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"">Indian companies transport Nepal-bound goods from overseas to the dry port via Indian ports through railway line. Those goods are then transported to the respective industries through truck.</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"">Ashok Kumar Temani, former chairman of the Transport and Transshipment Committee of FNCCI, confirmed that the transport entrepreneurs have increased fare in collusion with each other.</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 cost of production is sure to increase due to the unlawful move of the transport entrepreneurs,” said Temani.</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 government must take strict action against such syndicate that is flourishing behind the mask of business,” he added.</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"">On the other hand, transport entrepreneurs say that they are trying to fix a uniform rate which had been fluctuating due to unhealthy competition among themselves. They say that their business was on the verge of collapse due to unhealthy competition and they had been incurring loss. This is an attempt to regulate the charge, according to the transport entrepreneurs.</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"">One of the transport entrepreneurs Shyam Singh Prasad Patel said that the industrialists were mum while the transportation charge was Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 since one year but now they cry foul.</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"">“Transport entrepreneurs have been delivering goods by incurring losses since one year. They were silent during that time. Now, we have decided to take turns to deliver goods because our business is at stake,” said Patel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12726', 'image' => '20210125042930_1611530399.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:28:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12978', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Aggressive Franchising by Sathi Mart in Era of Digital Mart', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. The mart made its inception by launching the first outlet in Boudha, Kathmandu, on September 13, 2020.<br /> Sagar Pokhrel, CEO of Sathi Mart Inc, informed that Sathi Mart has managed to set up outlets in major cities from Kakadbhitta to Dhangadhi, and is teaching supermarket culture to consumers in various places like Arghakhanchi, Jiri, Galchi and Darchula.<br /> The mart’s aim is to facilitate online shopping with thousands of outlets from villages to cities in Nepal. More than 350 people have received direct employment in corporate offices and outlets of Sathi Mart.<br /> Pokhrel informed that various items like groceries, sanitation items, beverages, snacks, dairy products, frozen food, gifts, breakfast items of national and international brands, are available at Sathi Mart.<br /> Likewise, the mart is preparing to launch 'O to O' Commerce, with the delivery facility across Nepal. With the slogan 'Smart Shopping Now', Sathi Mart is working on online and offline (O2O) shopping.<br /> Pokhrel said that Sathi Mart would give special priority to Nepali products.<br /> Similarly, Pokhrel informed that Sathi Mart aims to make at least 30,000 youths self-employed this year by launching a 'SathiMart Affiliate Startup Plan' to target unemployed and young people who want to do something in Nepal.<br /> Pokhrel informed that he has been promoting those who want to become franchise partners of Sathi Mart, in different places. Pokhrel says that one can earn profit in four ways- online, offline retail outlets and distributors with the same investment as an ordinary mart or shop.<br /> Sathi Mart is currently offering a free franchise.<br /> To become a franchise partner, consumers can apply online through Saathimart's official website (<u>saathimart.com</u>) and Sarthamart's official Facebook page.<br /> "Stating that the era of the old single shop is fading away globally, Pokhrel adds, with 70 percent internet users in the country, Sathi Mart believes that the era of digital mart will start in Nepal".</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12725', 'image' => '20210125034707_138854704_415211336598950_6327508793847561916_o 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:45:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12977', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Clock b Business Innovations collaborates with Jyoti Bikash Bank ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. The organizer will officially begin the event with a virtual learning session scheduled to be held on 31st January, 2021. The event will conclude with a conclave on 28th February, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">EntrepreneuHER<strong> </strong>program will guide women ‘want-repreneurs’ to start their own ventures and connect them with sources of financing, such as investors and bankers. The platform will also provide current women entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ventures, explore investments and financing options, the statement of Clock B Business Innovations reads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 30 participants will be enrolled in the week-long intensive activity based learning, which includes training sessions on identification, ideation, value proposition and USP, customer profiling, managing resources, understanding cost and revenue and building a business model. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Likewise, the intensive workshops will be followed by series of mentorship sessions, and will conclude with a flagship EntrepreneuHER Conclave, where multi-stakeholders of the market will attend to connect with the participants and their ideas. EntrepreneuHER conclave will particularly focus on showcasing the entrepreneurial venture prototypes, business pitches and discussions on women entrepreneurship,” the statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The organizers are expecting participants from diverse business nature, age, stage, geography and size. To be more precise, the program is ready to welcome idea pitchers willing to take action to build a venture and the entrepreneurs wanting to explore and identify scalable, fast growth and low risk business building plans in the pandemic affected market. In order to train these achievers on different agendas, business personnel with years of experience and expertise in the field have been requested.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Clock b Business Innovations, the flagship conclave will witness participation from professional bankers, investors, mentors, entrepreneurship ecosystem actors and the idea-pitchers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Out of the selected participants the most doable, scalable and unique pitch will be selected and given a seed investment to further escalate their ideas whereas the other participants will get access to business loans without capital. The conclave will also include women entrepreneurial stories, as well as panel discussion on the issues and aspects of women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“This program promotes and celebrates the spirit of Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal by exploring the innovative side of these (participants) entrepreneurship enthusiasts by understanding how they handle the uncertainties, challenge the customs, and visualize the new ways of doing. This entrepreneurial incubation is ready to welcome aspirants and start-ups, to furnish their business and financial skills they require to design their ventures,” the joint statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Online registration for participation began on 15th January, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12724', 'image' => '20210128035215_140710580_2854707831468226_8820268778500379310_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:37:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Life Insurance Premium grows by 32.12 percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The life insurance businesses were affected between March to August last year due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. However, by mid-December of the current fiscal year, the life insurance business started to improve gradually. The data of the Insurance Board till mid-December highlighted such findings.<br /> <br /> At present, Nepal has 19 life insurance companies in operation. According to the board, by mid-December, they have collected Rs 62.85 billion in insurance premiums. Last year, they had collected Rs 47.57 billion in insurance premiums.<br /> <br /> Executive Director of the Insurance Board Raju Raman Poudel informed that the Covid-19 crisis has also seen good growth in the life insurance business. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life insurance has not been as severe as we had expected," he shared.<br /> <br /> He informed that the insurance business grew especially due to new policies introduced by companies as well as peoples’ understanding on the importance of insurance due to Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"As the business grows, by the end of the current fiscal year, companies will collect Rs 1.3 billion from life insurance premium," he added.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12723', 'image' => '20210125031901_20200802063220_1596318212.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:18:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Nowhere Close to Meet Target set by Annual Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced the budget review amid a low-key meeting involving secretaries and officials of the concerned ministries on Sunday (January 24).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Poudel did not amend the government’s target although it seems almost impossible to meet them due to the impact of coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the review, Finance Minister Poudel accused the weaknesses of concerned ministries in spending the capital budget for the poor situation of budget expenditure. He also accused the ministries of shying away from their duty. He also laid the blame on government employees for the low expenditure.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He added that the ministry had facilitated in increasing capital expenditure even during the pandemic by adopting health safety measures but that was not possible due to lack of policy-level decision. He claimed that the economy battered by coronavirus can be revitalized by implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review has identified several challenges in implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Poudel pointed out to non-budgetary demand, additional budget, budget transfer, lack of attention in budget allocation among others as the major challenges for implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Delay in introducing work procedure, criteria, directives and laws are also some of the setbacks in implementing the budget, according to Minster Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also faced another challenge in implementing the budget due to the unexpected announcement of election and the need to import Covid-19 vaccine.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Experts say that the government is nowhere close to achieving its target mentioned in the annual budget for 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"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They argue that the government is unlikely to meet its target because the ruling party has been engaged in intra-party rift since a long time while it hasn’t taken any solid steps to revitalize the economy that has been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Poudel says that the current government has pushed the country towards further crisis. He said that the financial indicators in the first six months of the current fiscal year are not satisfactory. He informed that the pace of development was extremely weak considering the mid-year review report.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that poor financial indicators in the mid-year review done by a majority government is not a good sign. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review of budget shows that government has been able to spend only 14.4 percent of the total budget or just Rs 50.82 billion for capital expenditure.</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:Arial">The recurrent expenditure of the government stood at Rs 342.36 billion or 36.08 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12722', 'image' => '20210125010740_20200630083550_Clipboard19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 13:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Loses Bid to Supply Electricity to India ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla Sangam MN"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.</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:Arial">NEA had submitted a proposal to sell electricity to India in early January in response to a tender issued by India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) on behalf of BRPL company.</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:"Bangla Sangam MN"">It has been learnt that the state-owned company lost the bid because its quotations rated in the proposal was more than those offered by other companies in the competitive bidding process.</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:Arial">Currently, NEA has been purchasing electricity from India through Tanakpur at the rate of Rs 6.62 (IRs 4.14) per unit. NEA had quoted the same rate in its proposal, informed NEA Spokesperson Madan Timsina.</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:Arial">But other companies proposed lower rate than that of NEA. Acting Executive Director of NEA Hitendra Dev Shakya confirmed that NEA lost the bid as the quotations of other companies were less than that of NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Other companies pledged to provide electricity at a lower rate than us,” said Shakya, adding, “We lost the bid because the rate quoted by us was relatively higher than the rate of other companies.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12721', 'image' => '20210125123053_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 12:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Another Protest in the Capital', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The farmers had staged protest in the capital for two week starting from December 13. The agitating farmers had reached an understanding with the government on December 28 for the clearance of their dues, which the sugar industries had been withholding since many years.</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:Arial">The farmers had signed a four-point agreement with the government on December 28. As per the agreement reached between representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the farmers, the sugar mill owners had been given 21 days to clear all the dues.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">But the farmers have not received full payment even after the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Hari Shyam Raya informed that they will launch protests in the capital again if their dues are not cleared soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The sugarcane farmers have started protests in various districts to give pressure to the government to take the initiative to release their dues from the sugar mills. The protests at the district level will continue till March 5.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If the dues are not cleared within that time, we will launch protests in the capital,” said Raya.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the government authorities say they are working to ensure that the dues are cleared as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Baikuntha Aryal claimed that the ministry will ensure payment to the farmers at any cost. However, the ministry has not paid attention to fulfilling its commitment as per the agreement signed on December 28.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the ministry, the sugar mills have already paid Rs 573 million to the farmers while they still owe Rs 81 million.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12720', 'image' => '20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 10:27:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export Increasing, Import Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Citing the data released by the Department of Customs, the state-run National News Agency (RSS) said imports declined by 5 percent while exports increased by 6 percent in the first six months (mid-July to mid-December) of the current fiscal year. According to the statistics of the department, foreign goods worth more than Rs 661.24 billion have been imported in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Comparatively, it is 4.81 percent less than the import during the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, foreign goods worth Rs 694.69 billion were imported, RSS reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, domestic goods worth Rs 60.79 billion have been exported in the last six months. Exports have increased by 6.14 percent compared to the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, goods worth Rs 57.27 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the data, the trade deficit has narrowed by 5.80 percent this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has collected revenue of Rs 187 billion so far this year. The department has set a target of collecting Rs 440 billion revenue this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12719', 'image' => '20210122033408_1611225273.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:33:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12969', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal signs Protocol to Send Workers to Israel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.</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">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal and Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries amid a recent function.</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">This has opened door for 500 Nepalis to work in the care-giving sector of Israel.</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">The Government of Nepal had signed a bilateral labor agreement with Israel for sending Nepali workers to Israel on September 30. </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">Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Askhenaji signed the agreement initially but the two countries were unable to implement it due to lack of protocol.</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">After a month of negotiations, the two countries prepared the protocol based on the agreement. The two countries have now signed the same protocol to implement the agreement.</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">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</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">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</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">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</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">Until now, Nepal's private manpower companies had been supplying Nepali workers to Israel for employment under a 2015 agreement. However, now according to the new agreement, the government itself will be sending workers to Israel for work on G2G basis while the manpower companies will have no role in it.</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">As per the new protocol, Nepali workers will have to bear the travel cost themselves. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will also have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, which is against the free-visa policy of the government.</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">But the laws of Israel is considered labour-friendly and Nepali workers are expected to have comparatively less problems while working there.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12718', 'image' => '20210122120517_1611268202.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:04:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12970', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Latest Political Development will not have Adverse Impact on Economy: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.', '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"">January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.</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"">Minister Poudel made such remark during a virtual meeting on the proposed Extended Credit Facility with International Monetary Fund’s Director Alisara Mahasandana and Mission Chief Laura Isabel Jaramillo.</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"">Minister Poudel told the foreign delegates that the dissolution of parliament was only one facet of the political system and that Nepal have had mid-terms election in the past as well. Therefore, he assured them that the recent political developments will not have much impact on the country’s economy. He also urged them not to worry about Nepal’s situation.</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"">He added that Nepal’s policies on financial and social issues are guided by the constitution and therefore the differing views of political parties will not have any impact on matters of national interest.</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"">According to Minister Poudel, the Extended Credit Facility is not aimed at any particular individual or party and so the new government formed after the election will give continuity to the programme in the interest of the nation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1611237631.jpg" style="height:499px; width:800px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12717', 'image' => '20210122123356_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12968', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Add 2 more Aircraft to its Fleet', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.', '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"">January 22: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.</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 private airline company bringing one of the two aircraft to the country on Friday (January 22), within 100 days of resuming air service post Covid-19 lockdown and flight ban.</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 company informed that another aircraft will arrive in three months.</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"">Buddha Air has served 375,000 passengers in the last three months after the government lifted a ban on domestic flights on September 21. Marketing and Sales Director of the company Rupesh Joshi informed that Buddha Air is preparing to add new aircraft to its fleet to increase the number of flights to its current destinations. He added that it was possible due to the passengers’ support and trust. </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 number of passengers has increased after the lockdown was lifted. We have taken this as an opportunity to add new aircraft,” said Joshi, adding, “With the addition of new aircraft, we will be able to provide better services to our customers.”</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"">He clarified that Buddha Air has not added any new destinations and the new aircraft will be used to increase the frequency of flights to the current destinations.</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 company has already started mountain flights from December 5. Buddha Air expressed its belief that the mountain flight will provide some relief to the aviation industry of Nepal which was affected for a long time due to the impact of Covid-19.</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"">Joshi informed that the company has been providing its regular flight service and mountain flights at subsidized rate due to the decline in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).</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"">With the addition of two new aircraft, Buddha Air will now have 15 aircraft in its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12716', 'image' => '20210122113025_20200323123412_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 11:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares to Sign MoU for Railway DPR ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal will soon sign the MoU with the Indian Government to begin the DPR of the railway.<br /> Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his first stint as prime minister back in 2015 had discussed the issue of railway connectivity with India during his state visit to India. Since then, a pre-feasibility study report of the railway has been prepared with the help of India. India handed over the report to Nepal last year.<br /> Preparations are now underway to sign an MoU between the two neighbouring countries for preparing the DPR, three years later than the proposed construction date.<br /> According to Ram Hari Pokhrel, Joint Secretary at the MoPIT, the ministry is in the final phase of preparation for signing the MoU.<br /> "As India has also agreed to move ahead for the study, the process will move ahead soon," Pokhrel informed.<br /> An official of the ministry informed that the DPR report would be ready within 18 months after signing the MoU.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12715', 'image' => '20210122032255_1611186257.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:21:21', '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' => '12981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Quota System on Import of Gold in Force since a Decade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve. Back then, the quota system was imposed with an intention to increase foreign exchange reserve for only six to seven months. However, it has been extended till now although the country’s foreign exchange reserve is quite strong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal’s foreign exchange reserve was Rs 1474.34 billion as of December 15, 2020, according to Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The demand for gold in Nepal used to be 55 kg per day before the 2015 earthquake while it shrunk to 45-50 kg per day after the quake. The demand for gold was 30 to 35 kg in last December. Currently, there is a demand for 25 kg gold per day but only 10 kg is available. Out of the 10 kg gold, dealers get access to six kg of gold while four kg is supplied to artisans involved in making handicraft products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The dealers and artisans are worried that they are getting very less amount of gold. Former chairman of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association Mani Ratna Shakya says that they are forced to buy gold at higher rate from the dealers due to the short supply. According to him, the dealers are forced to purchase gold at excessively high rate during the marriage season when the demand is high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced a work procedure in 2009 for proper management of gold import and to maintain the country’s Balance of Payment. The quota system was launched in accordance to the work procedure. Businessmen and dealers were allowed to purchase only 15 kg gold per day from banks as per the work procedure. It was later increased to 20 kg per day. However, the daily limit for gold purchase has been reduced to 10 kg per day after the government imposed lockdown in March 24 last year. The ceiling was capped to minimize the impact of coronavirus on the country’s foreign exchange reserve.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This has resulted in scarcity of gold in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We have demanded with the government to either increase the supply of gold or to remove the quota system, but to no avail,” said Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12729', 'image' => '20210126111048_1611618430.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 11:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sitaram Gokul Milks to Diversify its Products by Investing Rs 60 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. The company informed that it is making preparations to diversify its products as per the demand of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company is pouring an investment of Rs 60 million for the purchase of equipment, expansion of human resources and physical infrastructure in order to diversify its products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited has been producing and selling milk and ghee since the last 25 years. The company was struggling to expand its production due to lack of technical manpower. But the company decided to expand its products due to demand from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the first phase, the company has already sent samples of curd, lassi, ice cream, cottage cheese, and flavoured milk to the market. The company’s chairman Sumit Kedia informed that they will soon begin mass production as they have already received positive feedback from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, the company’s operation cost will increase by 20 percent after increasing production. The company is also increasing its human resource by 10 percent. The company is providing direct and indirect employment to 450 persons. Likewise, more than 100,000 families of farmers of Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kavre, Morang, Bara and Sarlahi are associated with the company. The company has been spending Rs 2.4 million per day to purchase milk from the producers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company had been selling 40,000 litres of milk on a daily basis before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But it later reduced production by 50 percent and hasn’t been able to return to the previous mode of production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The consumption of milk had reduced due to the closure of big hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges since a long time. The company says it was forced to reduce its production because the purchasing power of the consumers has also diminished at the moment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12728', 'image' => '20210126120448_1611618996.99.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 12:04:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '10 more BFIs operate RTGS system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the company, Jyoti Bikas Bank, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Shangri-la Development Bank, Shine Resunga Development Bank, Lumbini Bikas Bank, ICFC Finance and Manjushree Finance are the recently added BFIs in the system. Prior to this, 25 commercial banks have already been using connectRTGS, NCHL said in a statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">Customers of the ten BFIs can now initiate high-value and urgent transactions above Rs 200,000 through RGTS. The statement further said that the customers will have to request the banks and financial institutions for RTGS transaction by filling a transfer form available at the bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The <em>connect</em>RTGS has been provided by NCHL to the BFIs at almost zero cost as additional facilitation to the industry, which is integrated with RTGS system implemented and operated by Nepal Rastra Bank and the core banking system of the BFIs,” reads the system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">The system has been provided as an extension of the existing infrastructures of NCHL.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12727', 'image' => '20210125044833_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:47:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists Accuse Transport Entrepreneurs of Starting Syndicate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. ', '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"">January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. The transport entrepreneurs involved in transporting goods to the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have started the syndicate by increasing the transportation cost.</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"">Industrialists in the corridor complained that the transport entrepreneurs have been taking turns to transport goods at increased rate.</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"">General Secretary of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce Madhav Rajpal said that the transportation cost has gone up after the transport entrepreneurs started taking turns to deliver goods.</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 transport entrepreneurs have started charging as much as Rs 4,000 extra for transporting goods to Parwanipur, Jitpur and Simara from the dry port.</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"">Earlier, they used to charge Rs 8,000 for transporting 22 metric tons of good in a 20-feet container. But the charge has been increased to Rs 10,000 for transporting goods to Jitpur and Rs 12,000 up to Simara.</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"">More than a dozen transport entrepreneurs have issued notices regarding the new fare. They have already started charging additional fare from last week.</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 transport entrepreneurs have also informed that they would charge an additional Rs 2,000 if the goods are not unloaded till 5 pm the next day after customs clearance.</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"">Indian companies transport Nepal-bound goods from overseas to the dry port via Indian ports through railway line. Those goods are then transported to the respective industries through truck.</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"">Ashok Kumar Temani, former chairman of the Transport and Transshipment Committee of FNCCI, confirmed that the transport entrepreneurs have increased fare in collusion with each other.</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 cost of production is sure to increase due to the unlawful move of the transport entrepreneurs,” said Temani.</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 government must take strict action against such syndicate that is flourishing behind the mask of business,” he added.</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"">On the other hand, transport entrepreneurs say that they are trying to fix a uniform rate which had been fluctuating due to unhealthy competition among themselves. They say that their business was on the verge of collapse due to unhealthy competition and they had been incurring loss. This is an attempt to regulate the charge, according to the transport entrepreneurs.</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"">One of the transport entrepreneurs Shyam Singh Prasad Patel said that the industrialists were mum while the transportation charge was Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 since one year but now they cry foul.</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"">“Transport entrepreneurs have been delivering goods by incurring losses since one year. They were silent during that time. Now, we have decided to take turns to deliver goods because our business is at stake,” said Patel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12726', 'image' => '20210125042930_1611530399.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:28:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12978', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Aggressive Franchising by Sathi Mart in Era of Digital Mart', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. The mart made its inception by launching the first outlet in Boudha, Kathmandu, on September 13, 2020.<br /> Sagar Pokhrel, CEO of Sathi Mart Inc, informed that Sathi Mart has managed to set up outlets in major cities from Kakadbhitta to Dhangadhi, and is teaching supermarket culture to consumers in various places like Arghakhanchi, Jiri, Galchi and Darchula.<br /> The mart’s aim is to facilitate online shopping with thousands of outlets from villages to cities in Nepal. More than 350 people have received direct employment in corporate offices and outlets of Sathi Mart.<br /> Pokhrel informed that various items like groceries, sanitation items, beverages, snacks, dairy products, frozen food, gifts, breakfast items of national and international brands, are available at Sathi Mart.<br /> Likewise, the mart is preparing to launch 'O to O' Commerce, with the delivery facility across Nepal. With the slogan 'Smart Shopping Now', Sathi Mart is working on online and offline (O2O) shopping.<br /> Pokhrel said that Sathi Mart would give special priority to Nepali products.<br /> Similarly, Pokhrel informed that Sathi Mart aims to make at least 30,000 youths self-employed this year by launching a 'SathiMart Affiliate Startup Plan' to target unemployed and young people who want to do something in Nepal.<br /> Pokhrel informed that he has been promoting those who want to become franchise partners of Sathi Mart, in different places. Pokhrel says that one can earn profit in four ways- online, offline retail outlets and distributors with the same investment as an ordinary mart or shop.<br /> Sathi Mart is currently offering a free franchise.<br /> To become a franchise partner, consumers can apply online through Saathimart's official website (<u>saathimart.com</u>) and Sarthamart's official Facebook page.<br /> "Stating that the era of the old single shop is fading away globally, Pokhrel adds, with 70 percent internet users in the country, Sathi Mart believes that the era of digital mart will start in Nepal".</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12725', 'image' => '20210125034707_138854704_415211336598950_6327508793847561916_o 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:45:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12977', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Clock b Business Innovations collaborates with Jyoti Bikash Bank ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. The organizer will officially begin the event with a virtual learning session scheduled to be held on 31st January, 2021. The event will conclude with a conclave on 28th February, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">EntrepreneuHER<strong> </strong>program will guide women ‘want-repreneurs’ to start their own ventures and connect them with sources of financing, such as investors and bankers. The platform will also provide current women entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ventures, explore investments and financing options, the statement of Clock B Business Innovations reads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 30 participants will be enrolled in the week-long intensive activity based learning, which includes training sessions on identification, ideation, value proposition and USP, customer profiling, managing resources, understanding cost and revenue and building a business model. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Likewise, the intensive workshops will be followed by series of mentorship sessions, and will conclude with a flagship EntrepreneuHER Conclave, where multi-stakeholders of the market will attend to connect with the participants and their ideas. EntrepreneuHER conclave will particularly focus on showcasing the entrepreneurial venture prototypes, business pitches and discussions on women entrepreneurship,” the statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The organizers are expecting participants from diverse business nature, age, stage, geography and size. To be more precise, the program is ready to welcome idea pitchers willing to take action to build a venture and the entrepreneurs wanting to explore and identify scalable, fast growth and low risk business building plans in the pandemic affected market. In order to train these achievers on different agendas, business personnel with years of experience and expertise in the field have been requested.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Clock b Business Innovations, the flagship conclave will witness participation from professional bankers, investors, mentors, entrepreneurship ecosystem actors and the idea-pitchers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Out of the selected participants the most doable, scalable and unique pitch will be selected and given a seed investment to further escalate their ideas whereas the other participants will get access to business loans without capital. The conclave will also include women entrepreneurial stories, as well as panel discussion on the issues and aspects of women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“This program promotes and celebrates the spirit of Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal by exploring the innovative side of these (participants) entrepreneurship enthusiasts by understanding how they handle the uncertainties, challenge the customs, and visualize the new ways of doing. This entrepreneurial incubation is ready to welcome aspirants and start-ups, to furnish their business and financial skills they require to design their ventures,” the joint statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Online registration for participation began on 15th January, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12724', 'image' => '20210128035215_140710580_2854707831468226_8820268778500379310_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:37:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Life Insurance Premium grows by 32.12 percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The life insurance businesses were affected between March to August last year due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. However, by mid-December of the current fiscal year, the life insurance business started to improve gradually. The data of the Insurance Board till mid-December highlighted such findings.<br /> <br /> At present, Nepal has 19 life insurance companies in operation. According to the board, by mid-December, they have collected Rs 62.85 billion in insurance premiums. Last year, they had collected Rs 47.57 billion in insurance premiums.<br /> <br /> Executive Director of the Insurance Board Raju Raman Poudel informed that the Covid-19 crisis has also seen good growth in the life insurance business. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life insurance has not been as severe as we had expected," he shared.<br /> <br /> He informed that the insurance business grew especially due to new policies introduced by companies as well as peoples’ understanding on the importance of insurance due to Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"As the business grows, by the end of the current fiscal year, companies will collect Rs 1.3 billion from life insurance premium," he added.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12723', 'image' => '20210125031901_20200802063220_1596318212.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:18:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Nowhere Close to Meet Target set by Annual Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced the budget review amid a low-key meeting involving secretaries and officials of the concerned ministries on Sunday (January 24).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Poudel did not amend the government’s target although it seems almost impossible to meet them due to the impact of coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the review, Finance Minister Poudel accused the weaknesses of concerned ministries in spending the capital budget for the poor situation of budget expenditure. He also accused the ministries of shying away from their duty. He also laid the blame on government employees for the low expenditure.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He added that the ministry had facilitated in increasing capital expenditure even during the pandemic by adopting health safety measures but that was not possible due to lack of policy-level decision. He claimed that the economy battered by coronavirus can be revitalized by implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review has identified several challenges in implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Poudel pointed out to non-budgetary demand, additional budget, budget transfer, lack of attention in budget allocation among others as the major challenges for implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Delay in introducing work procedure, criteria, directives and laws are also some of the setbacks in implementing the budget, according to Minster Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also faced another challenge in implementing the budget due to the unexpected announcement of election and the need to import Covid-19 vaccine.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Experts say that the government is nowhere close to achieving its target mentioned in the annual budget for 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"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They argue that the government is unlikely to meet its target because the ruling party has been engaged in intra-party rift since a long time while it hasn’t taken any solid steps to revitalize the economy that has been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Poudel says that the current government has pushed the country towards further crisis. He said that the financial indicators in the first six months of the current fiscal year are not satisfactory. He informed that the pace of development was extremely weak considering the mid-year review report.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that poor financial indicators in the mid-year review done by a majority government is not a good sign. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review of budget shows that government has been able to spend only 14.4 percent of the total budget or just Rs 50.82 billion for capital expenditure.</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:Arial">The recurrent expenditure of the government stood at Rs 342.36 billion or 36.08 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12722', 'image' => '20210125010740_20200630083550_Clipboard19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 13:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Loses Bid to Supply Electricity to India ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla Sangam MN"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.</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:Arial">NEA had submitted a proposal to sell electricity to India in early January in response to a tender issued by India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) on behalf of BRPL company.</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:"Bangla Sangam MN"">It has been learnt that the state-owned company lost the bid because its quotations rated in the proposal was more than those offered by other companies in the competitive bidding process.</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:Arial">Currently, NEA has been purchasing electricity from India through Tanakpur at the rate of Rs 6.62 (IRs 4.14) per unit. NEA had quoted the same rate in its proposal, informed NEA Spokesperson Madan Timsina.</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:Arial">But other companies proposed lower rate than that of NEA. Acting Executive Director of NEA Hitendra Dev Shakya confirmed that NEA lost the bid as the quotations of other companies were less than that of NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Other companies pledged to provide electricity at a lower rate than us,” said Shakya, adding, “We lost the bid because the rate quoted by us was relatively higher than the rate of other companies.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12721', 'image' => '20210125123053_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 12:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Another Protest in the Capital', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The farmers had staged protest in the capital for two week starting from December 13. The agitating farmers had reached an understanding with the government on December 28 for the clearance of their dues, which the sugar industries had been withholding since many years.</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:Arial">The farmers had signed a four-point agreement with the government on December 28. As per the agreement reached between representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the farmers, the sugar mill owners had been given 21 days to clear all the dues.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">But the farmers have not received full payment even after the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Hari Shyam Raya informed that they will launch protests in the capital again if their dues are not cleared soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The sugarcane farmers have started protests in various districts to give pressure to the government to take the initiative to release their dues from the sugar mills. The protests at the district level will continue till March 5.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If the dues are not cleared within that time, we will launch protests in the capital,” said Raya.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the government authorities say they are working to ensure that the dues are cleared as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Baikuntha Aryal claimed that the ministry will ensure payment to the farmers at any cost. However, the ministry has not paid attention to fulfilling its commitment as per the agreement signed on December 28.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the ministry, the sugar mills have already paid Rs 573 million to the farmers while they still owe Rs 81 million.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12720', 'image' => '20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 10:27:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export Increasing, Import Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Citing the data released by the Department of Customs, the state-run National News Agency (RSS) said imports declined by 5 percent while exports increased by 6 percent in the first six months (mid-July to mid-December) of the current fiscal year. According to the statistics of the department, foreign goods worth more than Rs 661.24 billion have been imported in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Comparatively, it is 4.81 percent less than the import during the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, foreign goods worth Rs 694.69 billion were imported, RSS reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, domestic goods worth Rs 60.79 billion have been exported in the last six months. Exports have increased by 6.14 percent compared to the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, goods worth Rs 57.27 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the data, the trade deficit has narrowed by 5.80 percent this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has collected revenue of Rs 187 billion so far this year. The department has set a target of collecting Rs 440 billion revenue this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12719', 'image' => '20210122033408_1611225273.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:33:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12969', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal signs Protocol to Send Workers to Israel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.</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">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal and Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries amid a recent function.</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">This has opened door for 500 Nepalis to work in the care-giving sector of Israel.</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">The Government of Nepal had signed a bilateral labor agreement with Israel for sending Nepali workers to Israel on September 30. </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">Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Askhenaji signed the agreement initially but the two countries were unable to implement it due to lack of protocol.</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">After a month of negotiations, the two countries prepared the protocol based on the agreement. The two countries have now signed the same protocol to implement the agreement.</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">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</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">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</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">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</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">Until now, Nepal's private manpower companies had been supplying Nepali workers to Israel for employment under a 2015 agreement. However, now according to the new agreement, the government itself will be sending workers to Israel for work on G2G basis while the manpower companies will have no role in it.</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">As per the new protocol, Nepali workers will have to bear the travel cost themselves. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will also have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, which is against the free-visa policy of the government.</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">But the laws of Israel is considered labour-friendly and Nepali workers are expected to have comparatively less problems while working there.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12718', 'image' => '20210122120517_1611268202.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:04:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12970', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Latest Political Development will not have Adverse Impact on Economy: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.', '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"">January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.</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"">Minister Poudel made such remark during a virtual meeting on the proposed Extended Credit Facility with International Monetary Fund’s Director Alisara Mahasandana and Mission Chief Laura Isabel Jaramillo.</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"">Minister Poudel told the foreign delegates that the dissolution of parliament was only one facet of the political system and that Nepal have had mid-terms election in the past as well. Therefore, he assured them that the recent political developments will not have much impact on the country’s economy. He also urged them not to worry about Nepal’s situation.</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"">He added that Nepal’s policies on financial and social issues are guided by the constitution and therefore the differing views of political parties will not have any impact on matters of national interest.</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"">According to Minister Poudel, the Extended Credit Facility is not aimed at any particular individual or party and so the new government formed after the election will give continuity to the programme in the interest of the nation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1611237631.jpg" style="height:499px; width:800px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12717', 'image' => '20210122123356_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12968', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Add 2 more Aircraft to its Fleet', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.', '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"">January 22: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.</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 private airline company bringing one of the two aircraft to the country on Friday (January 22), within 100 days of resuming air service post Covid-19 lockdown and flight ban.</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 company informed that another aircraft will arrive in three months.</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"">Buddha Air has served 375,000 passengers in the last three months after the government lifted a ban on domestic flights on September 21. Marketing and Sales Director of the company Rupesh Joshi informed that Buddha Air is preparing to add new aircraft to its fleet to increase the number of flights to its current destinations. He added that it was possible due to the passengers’ support and trust. </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 number of passengers has increased after the lockdown was lifted. We have taken this as an opportunity to add new aircraft,” said Joshi, adding, “With the addition of new aircraft, we will be able to provide better services to our customers.”</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"">He clarified that Buddha Air has not added any new destinations and the new aircraft will be used to increase the frequency of flights to the current destinations.</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 company has already started mountain flights from December 5. Buddha Air expressed its belief that the mountain flight will provide some relief to the aviation industry of Nepal which was affected for a long time due to the impact of Covid-19.</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"">Joshi informed that the company has been providing its regular flight service and mountain flights at subsidized rate due to the decline in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).</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"">With the addition of two new aircraft, Buddha Air will now have 15 aircraft in its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12716', 'image' => '20210122113025_20200323123412_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 11:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares to Sign MoU for Railway DPR ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal will soon sign the MoU with the Indian Government to begin the DPR of the railway.<br /> Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his first stint as prime minister back in 2015 had discussed the issue of railway connectivity with India during his state visit to India. Since then, a pre-feasibility study report of the railway has been prepared with the help of India. India handed over the report to Nepal last year.<br /> Preparations are now underway to sign an MoU between the two neighbouring countries for preparing the DPR, three years later than the proposed construction date.<br /> According to Ram Hari Pokhrel, Joint Secretary at the MoPIT, the ministry is in the final phase of preparation for signing the MoU.<br /> "As India has also agreed to move ahead for the study, the process will move ahead soon," Pokhrel informed.<br /> An official of the ministry informed that the DPR report would be ready within 18 months after signing the MoU.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12715', 'image' => '20210122032255_1611186257.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:21:21', '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' => '12981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Quota System on Import of Gold in Force since a Decade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve. Back then, the quota system was imposed with an intention to increase foreign exchange reserve for only six to seven months. However, it has been extended till now although the country’s foreign exchange reserve is quite strong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal’s foreign exchange reserve was Rs 1474.34 billion as of December 15, 2020, according to Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The demand for gold in Nepal used to be 55 kg per day before the 2015 earthquake while it shrunk to 45-50 kg per day after the quake. The demand for gold was 30 to 35 kg in last December. Currently, there is a demand for 25 kg gold per day but only 10 kg is available. Out of the 10 kg gold, dealers get access to six kg of gold while four kg is supplied to artisans involved in making handicraft products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The dealers and artisans are worried that they are getting very less amount of gold. Former chairman of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association Mani Ratna Shakya says that they are forced to buy gold at higher rate from the dealers due to the short supply. According to him, the dealers are forced to purchase gold at excessively high rate during the marriage season when the demand is high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced a work procedure in 2009 for proper management of gold import and to maintain the country’s Balance of Payment. The quota system was launched in accordance to the work procedure. Businessmen and dealers were allowed to purchase only 15 kg gold per day from banks as per the work procedure. It was later increased to 20 kg per day. However, the daily limit for gold purchase has been reduced to 10 kg per day after the government imposed lockdown in March 24 last year. The ceiling was capped to minimize the impact of coronavirus on the country’s foreign exchange reserve.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This has resulted in scarcity of gold in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We have demanded with the government to either increase the supply of gold or to remove the quota system, but to no avail,” said Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12729', 'image' => '20210126111048_1611618430.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 11:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sitaram Gokul Milks to Diversify its Products by Investing Rs 60 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. The company informed that it is making preparations to diversify its products as per the demand of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company is pouring an investment of Rs 60 million for the purchase of equipment, expansion of human resources and physical infrastructure in order to diversify its products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited has been producing and selling milk and ghee since the last 25 years. The company was struggling to expand its production due to lack of technical manpower. But the company decided to expand its products due to demand from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the first phase, the company has already sent samples of curd, lassi, ice cream, cottage cheese, and flavoured milk to the market. The company’s chairman Sumit Kedia informed that they will soon begin mass production as they have already received positive feedback from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, the company’s operation cost will increase by 20 percent after increasing production. The company is also increasing its human resource by 10 percent. The company is providing direct and indirect employment to 450 persons. Likewise, more than 100,000 families of farmers of Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kavre, Morang, Bara and Sarlahi are associated with the company. The company has been spending Rs 2.4 million per day to purchase milk from the producers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company had been selling 40,000 litres of milk on a daily basis before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But it later reduced production by 50 percent and hasn’t been able to return to the previous mode of production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The consumption of milk had reduced due to the closure of big hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges since a long time. The company says it was forced to reduce its production because the purchasing power of the consumers has also diminished at the moment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12728', 'image' => '20210126120448_1611618996.99.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 12:04:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '10 more BFIs operate RTGS system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the company, Jyoti Bikas Bank, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Shangri-la Development Bank, Shine Resunga Development Bank, Lumbini Bikas Bank, ICFC Finance and Manjushree Finance are the recently added BFIs in the system. Prior to this, 25 commercial banks have already been using connectRTGS, NCHL said in a statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">Customers of the ten BFIs can now initiate high-value and urgent transactions above Rs 200,000 through RGTS. The statement further said that the customers will have to request the banks and financial institutions for RTGS transaction by filling a transfer form available at the bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The <em>connect</em>RTGS has been provided by NCHL to the BFIs at almost zero cost as additional facilitation to the industry, which is integrated with RTGS system implemented and operated by Nepal Rastra Bank and the core banking system of the BFIs,” reads the system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">The system has been provided as an extension of the existing infrastructures of NCHL.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12727', 'image' => '20210125044833_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:47:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists Accuse Transport Entrepreneurs of Starting Syndicate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. ', '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"">January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. The transport entrepreneurs involved in transporting goods to the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have started the syndicate by increasing the transportation cost.</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"">Industrialists in the corridor complained that the transport entrepreneurs have been taking turns to transport goods at increased rate.</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"">General Secretary of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce Madhav Rajpal said that the transportation cost has gone up after the transport entrepreneurs started taking turns to deliver goods.</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 transport entrepreneurs have started charging as much as Rs 4,000 extra for transporting goods to Parwanipur, Jitpur and Simara from the dry port.</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"">Earlier, they used to charge Rs 8,000 for transporting 22 metric tons of good in a 20-feet container. But the charge has been increased to Rs 10,000 for transporting goods to Jitpur and Rs 12,000 up to Simara.</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"">More than a dozen transport entrepreneurs have issued notices regarding the new fare. They have already started charging additional fare from last week.</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 transport entrepreneurs have also informed that they would charge an additional Rs 2,000 if the goods are not unloaded till 5 pm the next day after customs clearance.</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"">Indian companies transport Nepal-bound goods from overseas to the dry port via Indian ports through railway line. Those goods are then transported to the respective industries through truck.</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"">Ashok Kumar Temani, former chairman of the Transport and Transshipment Committee of FNCCI, confirmed that the transport entrepreneurs have increased fare in collusion with each other.</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 cost of production is sure to increase due to the unlawful move of the transport entrepreneurs,” said Temani.</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 government must take strict action against such syndicate that is flourishing behind the mask of business,” he added.</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"">On the other hand, transport entrepreneurs say that they are trying to fix a uniform rate which had been fluctuating due to unhealthy competition among themselves. They say that their business was on the verge of collapse due to unhealthy competition and they had been incurring loss. This is an attempt to regulate the charge, according to the transport entrepreneurs.</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"">One of the transport entrepreneurs Shyam Singh Prasad Patel said that the industrialists were mum while the transportation charge was Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 since one year but now they cry foul.</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"">“Transport entrepreneurs have been delivering goods by incurring losses since one year. They were silent during that time. Now, we have decided to take turns to deliver goods because our business is at stake,” said Patel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12726', 'image' => '20210125042930_1611530399.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:28:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12978', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Aggressive Franchising by Sathi Mart in Era of Digital Mart', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. The mart made its inception by launching the first outlet in Boudha, Kathmandu, on September 13, 2020.<br /> Sagar Pokhrel, CEO of Sathi Mart Inc, informed that Sathi Mart has managed to set up outlets in major cities from Kakadbhitta to Dhangadhi, and is teaching supermarket culture to consumers in various places like Arghakhanchi, Jiri, Galchi and Darchula.<br /> The mart’s aim is to facilitate online shopping with thousands of outlets from villages to cities in Nepal. More than 350 people have received direct employment in corporate offices and outlets of Sathi Mart.<br /> Pokhrel informed that various items like groceries, sanitation items, beverages, snacks, dairy products, frozen food, gifts, breakfast items of national and international brands, are available at Sathi Mart.<br /> Likewise, the mart is preparing to launch 'O to O' Commerce, with the delivery facility across Nepal. With the slogan 'Smart Shopping Now', Sathi Mart is working on online and offline (O2O) shopping.<br /> Pokhrel said that Sathi Mart would give special priority to Nepali products.<br /> Similarly, Pokhrel informed that Sathi Mart aims to make at least 30,000 youths self-employed this year by launching a 'SathiMart Affiliate Startup Plan' to target unemployed and young people who want to do something in Nepal.<br /> Pokhrel informed that he has been promoting those who want to become franchise partners of Sathi Mart, in different places. Pokhrel says that one can earn profit in four ways- online, offline retail outlets and distributors with the same investment as an ordinary mart or shop.<br /> Sathi Mart is currently offering a free franchise.<br /> To become a franchise partner, consumers can apply online through Saathimart's official website (<u>saathimart.com</u>) and Sarthamart's official Facebook page.<br /> "Stating that the era of the old single shop is fading away globally, Pokhrel adds, with 70 percent internet users in the country, Sathi Mart believes that the era of digital mart will start in Nepal".</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12725', 'image' => '20210125034707_138854704_415211336598950_6327508793847561916_o 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:45:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12977', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Clock b Business Innovations collaborates with Jyoti Bikash Bank ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. The organizer will officially begin the event with a virtual learning session scheduled to be held on 31st January, 2021. The event will conclude with a conclave on 28th February, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">EntrepreneuHER<strong> </strong>program will guide women ‘want-repreneurs’ to start their own ventures and connect them with sources of financing, such as investors and bankers. The platform will also provide current women entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ventures, explore investments and financing options, the statement of Clock B Business Innovations reads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 30 participants will be enrolled in the week-long intensive activity based learning, which includes training sessions on identification, ideation, value proposition and USP, customer profiling, managing resources, understanding cost and revenue and building a business model. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Likewise, the intensive workshops will be followed by series of mentorship sessions, and will conclude with a flagship EntrepreneuHER Conclave, where multi-stakeholders of the market will attend to connect with the participants and their ideas. EntrepreneuHER conclave will particularly focus on showcasing the entrepreneurial venture prototypes, business pitches and discussions on women entrepreneurship,” the statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The organizers are expecting participants from diverse business nature, age, stage, geography and size. To be more precise, the program is ready to welcome idea pitchers willing to take action to build a venture and the entrepreneurs wanting to explore and identify scalable, fast growth and low risk business building plans in the pandemic affected market. In order to train these achievers on different agendas, business personnel with years of experience and expertise in the field have been requested.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Clock b Business Innovations, the flagship conclave will witness participation from professional bankers, investors, mentors, entrepreneurship ecosystem actors and the idea-pitchers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Out of the selected participants the most doable, scalable and unique pitch will be selected and given a seed investment to further escalate their ideas whereas the other participants will get access to business loans without capital. The conclave will also include women entrepreneurial stories, as well as panel discussion on the issues and aspects of women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“This program promotes and celebrates the spirit of Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal by exploring the innovative side of these (participants) entrepreneurship enthusiasts by understanding how they handle the uncertainties, challenge the customs, and visualize the new ways of doing. This entrepreneurial incubation is ready to welcome aspirants and start-ups, to furnish their business and financial skills they require to design their ventures,” the joint statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Online registration for participation began on 15th January, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12724', 'image' => '20210128035215_140710580_2854707831468226_8820268778500379310_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:37:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Life Insurance Premium grows by 32.12 percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The life insurance businesses were affected between March to August last year due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. However, by mid-December of the current fiscal year, the life insurance business started to improve gradually. The data of the Insurance Board till mid-December highlighted such findings.<br /> <br /> At present, Nepal has 19 life insurance companies in operation. According to the board, by mid-December, they have collected Rs 62.85 billion in insurance premiums. Last year, they had collected Rs 47.57 billion in insurance premiums.<br /> <br /> Executive Director of the Insurance Board Raju Raman Poudel informed that the Covid-19 crisis has also seen good growth in the life insurance business. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life insurance has not been as severe as we had expected," he shared.<br /> <br /> He informed that the insurance business grew especially due to new policies introduced by companies as well as peoples’ understanding on the importance of insurance due to Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"As the business grows, by the end of the current fiscal year, companies will collect Rs 1.3 billion from life insurance premium," he added.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12723', 'image' => '20210125031901_20200802063220_1596318212.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:18:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Nowhere Close to Meet Target set by Annual Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced the budget review amid a low-key meeting involving secretaries and officials of the concerned ministries on Sunday (January 24).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Poudel did not amend the government’s target although it seems almost impossible to meet them due to the impact of coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the review, Finance Minister Poudel accused the weaknesses of concerned ministries in spending the capital budget for the poor situation of budget expenditure. He also accused the ministries of shying away from their duty. He also laid the blame on government employees for the low expenditure.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He added that the ministry had facilitated in increasing capital expenditure even during the pandemic by adopting health safety measures but that was not possible due to lack of policy-level decision. He claimed that the economy battered by coronavirus can be revitalized by implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review has identified several challenges in implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Poudel pointed out to non-budgetary demand, additional budget, budget transfer, lack of attention in budget allocation among others as the major challenges for implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Delay in introducing work procedure, criteria, directives and laws are also some of the setbacks in implementing the budget, according to Minster Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also faced another challenge in implementing the budget due to the unexpected announcement of election and the need to import Covid-19 vaccine.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Experts say that the government is nowhere close to achieving its target mentioned in the annual budget for 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"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They argue that the government is unlikely to meet its target because the ruling party has been engaged in intra-party rift since a long time while it hasn’t taken any solid steps to revitalize the economy that has been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Poudel says that the current government has pushed the country towards further crisis. He said that the financial indicators in the first six months of the current fiscal year are not satisfactory. He informed that the pace of development was extremely weak considering the mid-year review report.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that poor financial indicators in the mid-year review done by a majority government is not a good sign. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review of budget shows that government has been able to spend only 14.4 percent of the total budget or just Rs 50.82 billion for capital expenditure.</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:Arial">The recurrent expenditure of the government stood at Rs 342.36 billion or 36.08 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12722', 'image' => '20210125010740_20200630083550_Clipboard19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 13:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Loses Bid to Supply Electricity to India ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla Sangam MN"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.</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:Arial">NEA had submitted a proposal to sell electricity to India in early January in response to a tender issued by India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) on behalf of BRPL company.</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:"Bangla Sangam MN"">It has been learnt that the state-owned company lost the bid because its quotations rated in the proposal was more than those offered by other companies in the competitive bidding process.</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:Arial">Currently, NEA has been purchasing electricity from India through Tanakpur at the rate of Rs 6.62 (IRs 4.14) per unit. NEA had quoted the same rate in its proposal, informed NEA Spokesperson Madan Timsina.</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:Arial">But other companies proposed lower rate than that of NEA. Acting Executive Director of NEA Hitendra Dev Shakya confirmed that NEA lost the bid as the quotations of other companies were less than that of NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Other companies pledged to provide electricity at a lower rate than us,” said Shakya, adding, “We lost the bid because the rate quoted by us was relatively higher than the rate of other companies.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12721', 'image' => '20210125123053_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 12:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Another Protest in the Capital', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The farmers had staged protest in the capital for two week starting from December 13. The agitating farmers had reached an understanding with the government on December 28 for the clearance of their dues, which the sugar industries had been withholding since many years.</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:Arial">The farmers had signed a four-point agreement with the government on December 28. As per the agreement reached between representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the farmers, the sugar mill owners had been given 21 days to clear all the dues.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">But the farmers have not received full payment even after the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Hari Shyam Raya informed that they will launch protests in the capital again if their dues are not cleared soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The sugarcane farmers have started protests in various districts to give pressure to the government to take the initiative to release their dues from the sugar mills. The protests at the district level will continue till March 5.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If the dues are not cleared within that time, we will launch protests in the capital,” said Raya.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the government authorities say they are working to ensure that the dues are cleared as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Baikuntha Aryal claimed that the ministry will ensure payment to the farmers at any cost. However, the ministry has not paid attention to fulfilling its commitment as per the agreement signed on December 28.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the ministry, the sugar mills have already paid Rs 573 million to the farmers while they still owe Rs 81 million.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12720', 'image' => '20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 10:27:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export Increasing, Import Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Citing the data released by the Department of Customs, the state-run National News Agency (RSS) said imports declined by 5 percent while exports increased by 6 percent in the first six months (mid-July to mid-December) of the current fiscal year. According to the statistics of the department, foreign goods worth more than Rs 661.24 billion have been imported in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Comparatively, it is 4.81 percent less than the import during the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, foreign goods worth Rs 694.69 billion were imported, RSS reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, domestic goods worth Rs 60.79 billion have been exported in the last six months. Exports have increased by 6.14 percent compared to the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, goods worth Rs 57.27 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the data, the trade deficit has narrowed by 5.80 percent this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has collected revenue of Rs 187 billion so far this year. The department has set a target of collecting Rs 440 billion revenue this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12719', 'image' => '20210122033408_1611225273.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:33:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12969', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal signs Protocol to Send Workers to Israel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.</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">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal and Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries amid a recent function.</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">This has opened door for 500 Nepalis to work in the care-giving sector of Israel.</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">The Government of Nepal had signed a bilateral labor agreement with Israel for sending Nepali workers to Israel on September 30. </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">Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Askhenaji signed the agreement initially but the two countries were unable to implement it due to lack of protocol.</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">After a month of negotiations, the two countries prepared the protocol based on the agreement. The two countries have now signed the same protocol to implement the agreement.</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">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</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">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</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">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</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">Until now, Nepal's private manpower companies had been supplying Nepali workers to Israel for employment under a 2015 agreement. However, now according to the new agreement, the government itself will be sending workers to Israel for work on G2G basis while the manpower companies will have no role in it.</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">As per the new protocol, Nepali workers will have to bear the travel cost themselves. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will also have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, which is against the free-visa policy of the government.</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">But the laws of Israel is considered labour-friendly and Nepali workers are expected to have comparatively less problems while working there.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12718', 'image' => '20210122120517_1611268202.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:04:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12970', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Latest Political Development will not have Adverse Impact on Economy: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.', '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"">January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.</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"">Minister Poudel made such remark during a virtual meeting on the proposed Extended Credit Facility with International Monetary Fund’s Director Alisara Mahasandana and Mission Chief Laura Isabel Jaramillo.</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"">Minister Poudel told the foreign delegates that the dissolution of parliament was only one facet of the political system and that Nepal have had mid-terms election in the past as well. Therefore, he assured them that the recent political developments will not have much impact on the country’s economy. He also urged them not to worry about Nepal’s situation.</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"">He added that Nepal’s policies on financial and social issues are guided by the constitution and therefore the differing views of political parties will not have any impact on matters of national interest.</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"">According to Minister Poudel, the Extended Credit Facility is not aimed at any particular individual or party and so the new government formed after the election will give continuity to the programme in the interest of the nation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1611237631.jpg" style="height:499px; width:800px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12717', 'image' => '20210122123356_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12968', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Add 2 more Aircraft to its Fleet', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.', '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"">January 22: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.</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 private airline company bringing one of the two aircraft to the country on Friday (January 22), within 100 days of resuming air service post Covid-19 lockdown and flight ban.</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 company informed that another aircraft will arrive in three months.</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"">Buddha Air has served 375,000 passengers in the last three months after the government lifted a ban on domestic flights on September 21. Marketing and Sales Director of the company Rupesh Joshi informed that Buddha Air is preparing to add new aircraft to its fleet to increase the number of flights to its current destinations. He added that it was possible due to the passengers’ support and trust. </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 number of passengers has increased after the lockdown was lifted. We have taken this as an opportunity to add new aircraft,” said Joshi, adding, “With the addition of new aircraft, we will be able to provide better services to our customers.”</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"">He clarified that Buddha Air has not added any new destinations and the new aircraft will be used to increase the frequency of flights to the current destinations.</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 company has already started mountain flights from December 5. Buddha Air expressed its belief that the mountain flight will provide some relief to the aviation industry of Nepal which was affected for a long time due to the impact of Covid-19.</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"">Joshi informed that the company has been providing its regular flight service and mountain flights at subsidized rate due to the decline in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).</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"">With the addition of two new aircraft, Buddha Air will now have 15 aircraft in its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12716', 'image' => '20210122113025_20200323123412_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 11:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares to Sign MoU for Railway DPR ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal will soon sign the MoU with the Indian Government to begin the DPR of the railway.<br /> Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his first stint as prime minister back in 2015 had discussed the issue of railway connectivity with India during his state visit to India. Since then, a pre-feasibility study report of the railway has been prepared with the help of India. India handed over the report to Nepal last year.<br /> Preparations are now underway to sign an MoU between the two neighbouring countries for preparing the DPR, three years later than the proposed construction date.<br /> According to Ram Hari Pokhrel, Joint Secretary at the MoPIT, the ministry is in the final phase of preparation for signing the MoU.<br /> "As India has also agreed to move ahead for the study, the process will move ahead soon," Pokhrel informed.<br /> An official of the ministry informed that the DPR report would be ready within 18 months after signing the MoU.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12715', 'image' => '20210122032255_1611186257.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:21:21', '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' => '12981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Quota System on Import of Gold in Force since a Decade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: The government had introduced quota system for the import of gold more than ten years ago in order to increase the foreign exchange reserve. Back then, the quota system was imposed with an intention to increase foreign exchange reserve for only six to seven months. However, it has been extended till now although the country’s foreign exchange reserve is quite strong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal’s foreign exchange reserve was Rs 1474.34 billion as of December 15, 2020, according to Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The demand for gold in Nepal used to be 55 kg per day before the 2015 earthquake while it shrunk to 45-50 kg per day after the quake. The demand for gold was 30 to 35 kg in last December. Currently, there is a demand for 25 kg gold per day but only 10 kg is available. Out of the 10 kg gold, dealers get access to six kg of gold while four kg is supplied to artisans involved in making handicraft products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The dealers and artisans are worried that they are getting very less amount of gold. Former chairman of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association Mani Ratna Shakya says that they are forced to buy gold at higher rate from the dealers due to the short supply. According to him, the dealers are forced to purchase gold at excessively high rate during the marriage season when the demand is high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced a work procedure in 2009 for proper management of gold import and to maintain the country’s Balance of Payment. The quota system was launched in accordance to the work procedure. Businessmen and dealers were allowed to purchase only 15 kg gold per day from banks as per the work procedure. It was later increased to 20 kg per day. However, the daily limit for gold purchase has been reduced to 10 kg per day after the government imposed lockdown in March 24 last year. The ceiling was capped to minimize the impact of coronavirus on the country’s foreign exchange reserve.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This has resulted in scarcity of gold in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We have demanded with the government to either increase the supply of gold or to remove the quota system, but to no avail,” said Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12729', 'image' => '20210126111048_1611618430.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 11:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sitaram Gokul Milks to Diversify its Products by Investing Rs 60 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 26: Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited is preparing to diversify its products with an investment of Rs 60 million. The company informed that it is making preparations to diversify its products as per the demand of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company is pouring an investment of Rs 60 million for the purchase of equipment, expansion of human resources and physical infrastructure in order to diversify its products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Sitaram Gokul Milks Private Limited has been producing and selling milk and ghee since the last 25 years. The company was struggling to expand its production due to lack of technical manpower. But the company decided to expand its products due to demand from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the first phase, the company has already sent samples of curd, lassi, ice cream, cottage cheese, and flavoured milk to the market. The company’s chairman Sumit Kedia informed that they will soon begin mass production as they have already received positive feedback from the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, the company’s operation cost will increase by 20 percent after increasing production. The company is also increasing its human resource by 10 percent. The company is providing direct and indirect employment to 450 persons. Likewise, more than 100,000 families of farmers of Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kavre, Morang, Bara and Sarlahi are associated with the company. The company has been spending Rs 2.4 million per day to purchase milk from the producers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The company had been selling 40,000 litres of milk on a daily basis before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But it later reduced production by 50 percent and hasn’t been able to return to the previous mode of production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The consumption of milk had reduced due to the closure of big hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges since a long time. The company says it was forced to reduce its production because the purchasing power of the consumers has also diminished at the moment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-26', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12728', 'image' => '20210126120448_1611618996.99.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-26 12:04:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '10 more BFIs operate RTGS system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) has enabled eight development banks and two finance companies into connectRTGS system, through which they will now be able to initiate and process Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the company, Jyoti Bikas Bank, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Shangri-la Development Bank, Shine Resunga Development Bank, Lumbini Bikas Bank, ICFC Finance and Manjushree Finance are the recently added BFIs in the system. Prior to this, 25 commercial banks have already been using connectRTGS, NCHL said in a statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">Customers of the ten BFIs can now initiate high-value and urgent transactions above Rs 200,000 through RGTS. The statement further said that the customers will have to request the banks and financial institutions for RTGS transaction by filling a transfer form available at the bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The <em>connect</em>RTGS has been provided by NCHL to the BFIs at almost zero cost as additional facilitation to the industry, which is integrated with RTGS system implemented and operated by Nepal Rastra Bank and the core banking system of the BFIs,” reads the system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">The system has been provided as an extension of the existing infrastructures of NCHL.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12727', 'image' => '20210125044833_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:47:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists Accuse Transport Entrepreneurs of Starting Syndicate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. ', '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"">January 25: Transport entrepreneurs have started an “unannounced syndicate” at Birgunj Dry Port. The transport entrepreneurs involved in transporting goods to the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have started the syndicate by increasing the transportation cost.</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"">Industrialists in the corridor complained that the transport entrepreneurs have been taking turns to transport goods at increased rate.</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"">General Secretary of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce Madhav Rajpal said that the transportation cost has gone up after the transport entrepreneurs started taking turns to deliver goods.</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 transport entrepreneurs have started charging as much as Rs 4,000 extra for transporting goods to Parwanipur, Jitpur and Simara from the dry port.</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"">Earlier, they used to charge Rs 8,000 for transporting 22 metric tons of good in a 20-feet container. But the charge has been increased to Rs 10,000 for transporting goods to Jitpur and Rs 12,000 up to Simara.</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"">More than a dozen transport entrepreneurs have issued notices regarding the new fare. They have already started charging additional fare from last week.</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 transport entrepreneurs have also informed that they would charge an additional Rs 2,000 if the goods are not unloaded till 5 pm the next day after customs clearance.</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"">Indian companies transport Nepal-bound goods from overseas to the dry port via Indian ports through railway line. Those goods are then transported to the respective industries through truck.</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"">Ashok Kumar Temani, former chairman of the Transport and Transshipment Committee of FNCCI, confirmed that the transport entrepreneurs have increased fare in collusion with each other.</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 cost of production is sure to increase due to the unlawful move of the transport entrepreneurs,” said Temani.</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 government must take strict action against such syndicate that is flourishing behind the mask of business,” he added.</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"">On the other hand, transport entrepreneurs say that they are trying to fix a uniform rate which had been fluctuating due to unhealthy competition among themselves. They say that their business was on the verge of collapse due to unhealthy competition and they had been incurring loss. This is an attempt to regulate the charge, according to the transport entrepreneurs.</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"">One of the transport entrepreneurs Shyam Singh Prasad Patel said that the industrialists were mum while the transportation charge was Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 since one year but now they cry foul.</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"">“Transport entrepreneurs have been delivering goods by incurring losses since one year. They were silent during that time. Now, we have decided to take turns to deliver goods because our business is at stake,” said Patel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12726', 'image' => '20210125042930_1611530399.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 16:28:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12978', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Aggressive Franchising by Sathi Mart in Era of Digital Mart', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 25: Sathi Mart, established to launch online to offline (O2O) e-commerce in Nepal, has opened 61 outlets across the country, within five months. The mart made its inception by launching the first outlet in Boudha, Kathmandu, on September 13, 2020.<br /> Sagar Pokhrel, CEO of Sathi Mart Inc, informed that Sathi Mart has managed to set up outlets in major cities from Kakadbhitta to Dhangadhi, and is teaching supermarket culture to consumers in various places like Arghakhanchi, Jiri, Galchi and Darchula.<br /> The mart’s aim is to facilitate online shopping with thousands of outlets from villages to cities in Nepal. More than 350 people have received direct employment in corporate offices and outlets of Sathi Mart.<br /> Pokhrel informed that various items like groceries, sanitation items, beverages, snacks, dairy products, frozen food, gifts, breakfast items of national and international brands, are available at Sathi Mart.<br /> Likewise, the mart is preparing to launch 'O to O' Commerce, with the delivery facility across Nepal. With the slogan 'Smart Shopping Now', Sathi Mart is working on online and offline (O2O) shopping.<br /> Pokhrel said that Sathi Mart would give special priority to Nepali products.<br /> Similarly, Pokhrel informed that Sathi Mart aims to make at least 30,000 youths self-employed this year by launching a 'SathiMart Affiliate Startup Plan' to target unemployed and young people who want to do something in Nepal.<br /> Pokhrel informed that he has been promoting those who want to become franchise partners of Sathi Mart, in different places. Pokhrel says that one can earn profit in four ways- online, offline retail outlets and distributors with the same investment as an ordinary mart or shop.<br /> Sathi Mart is currently offering a free franchise.<br /> To become a franchise partner, consumers can apply online through Saathimart's official website (<u>saathimart.com</u>) and Sarthamart's official Facebook page.<br /> "Stating that the era of the old single shop is fading away globally, Pokhrel adds, with 70 percent internet users in the country, Sathi Mart believes that the era of digital mart will start in Nepal".</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12725', 'image' => '20210125034707_138854704_415211336598950_6327508793847561916_o 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:45:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12977', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Clock b Business Innovations collaborates with Jyoti Bikash Bank ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 25: Clock b Business Innovations has collaborated with Jyoti Bikash Bank for co-organizing ‘EntrepreneuHER’- an experimental entrepreneurial incubation journey with a flagship conclave. The organizer will officially begin the event with a virtual learning session scheduled to be held on 31st January, 2021. The event will conclude with a conclave on 28th February, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">EntrepreneuHER<strong> </strong>program will guide women ‘want-repreneurs’ to start their own ventures and connect them with sources of financing, such as investors and bankers. The platform will also provide current women entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ventures, explore investments and financing options, the statement of Clock B Business Innovations reads. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 30 participants will be enrolled in the week-long intensive activity based learning, which includes training sessions on identification, ideation, value proposition and USP, customer profiling, managing resources, understanding cost and revenue and building a business model. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Likewise, the intensive workshops will be followed by series of mentorship sessions, and will conclude with a flagship EntrepreneuHER Conclave, where multi-stakeholders of the market will attend to connect with the participants and their ideas. EntrepreneuHER conclave will particularly focus on showcasing the entrepreneurial venture prototypes, business pitches and discussions on women entrepreneurship,” the statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The organizers are expecting participants from diverse business nature, age, stage, geography and size. To be more precise, the program is ready to welcome idea pitchers willing to take action to build a venture and the entrepreneurs wanting to explore and identify scalable, fast growth and low risk business building plans in the pandemic affected market. In order to train these achievers on different agendas, business personnel with years of experience and expertise in the field have been requested.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Clock b Business Innovations, the flagship conclave will witness participation from professional bankers, investors, mentors, entrepreneurship ecosystem actors and the idea-pitchers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Out of the selected participants the most doable, scalable and unique pitch will be selected and given a seed investment to further escalate their ideas whereas the other participants will get access to business loans without capital. The conclave will also include women entrepreneurial stories, as well as panel discussion on the issues and aspects of women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“This program promotes and celebrates the spirit of Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal by exploring the innovative side of these (participants) entrepreneurship enthusiasts by understanding how they handle the uncertainties, challenge the customs, and visualize the new ways of doing. This entrepreneurial incubation is ready to welcome aspirants and start-ups, to furnish their business and financial skills they require to design their ventures,” the joint statement reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Online registration for participation began on 15th January, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12724', 'image' => '20210128035215_140710580_2854707831468226_8820268778500379310_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:37:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Life Insurance Premium grows by 32.12 percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 25: The collection of insurance premiums has increased by 32.12 percent in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The life insurance businesses were affected between March to August last year due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. However, by mid-December of the current fiscal year, the life insurance business started to improve gradually. The data of the Insurance Board till mid-December highlighted such findings.<br /> <br /> At present, Nepal has 19 life insurance companies in operation. According to the board, by mid-December, they have collected Rs 62.85 billion in insurance premiums. Last year, they had collected Rs 47.57 billion in insurance premiums.<br /> <br /> Executive Director of the Insurance Board Raju Raman Poudel informed that the Covid-19 crisis has also seen good growth in the life insurance business. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life insurance has not been as severe as we had expected," he shared.<br /> <br /> He informed that the insurance business grew especially due to new policies introduced by companies as well as peoples’ understanding on the importance of insurance due to Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"As the business grows, by the end of the current fiscal year, companies will collect Rs 1.3 billion from life insurance premium," he added.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12723', 'image' => '20210125031901_20200802063220_1596318212.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 15:18:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Nowhere Close to Meet Target set by Annual Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 25: The government has completed the half-yearly budget review without amending its target despite the financial crisis created by coronavirus 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced the budget review amid a low-key meeting involving secretaries and officials of the concerned ministries on Sunday (January 24).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Finance Minister Poudel did not amend the government’s target although it seems almost impossible to meet them due to the impact of coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the review, Finance Minister Poudel accused the weaknesses of concerned ministries in spending the capital budget for the poor situation of budget expenditure. He also accused the ministries of shying away from their duty. He also laid the blame on government employees for the low expenditure.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He added that the ministry had facilitated in increasing capital expenditure even during the pandemic by adopting health safety measures but that was not possible due to lack of policy-level decision. He claimed that the economy battered by coronavirus can be revitalized by implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review has identified several challenges in implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Poudel pointed out to non-budgetary demand, additional budget, budget transfer, lack of attention in budget allocation among others as the major challenges for implementing the budget.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Delay in introducing work procedure, criteria, directives and laws are also some of the setbacks in implementing the budget, according to Minster Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also faced another challenge in implementing the budget due to the unexpected announcement of election and the need to import Covid-19 vaccine.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Experts say that the government is nowhere close to achieving its target mentioned in the annual budget for 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"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They argue that the government is unlikely to meet its target because the ruling party has been engaged in intra-party rift since a long time while it hasn’t taken any solid steps to revitalize the economy that has been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Poudel says that the current government has pushed the country towards further crisis. He said that the financial indicators in the first six months of the current fiscal year are not satisfactory. He informed that the pace of development was extremely weak considering the mid-year review report.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that poor financial indicators in the mid-year review done by a majority government is not a good sign. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The mid-year review of budget shows that government has been able to spend only 14.4 percent of the total budget or just Rs 50.82 billion for capital expenditure.</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:Arial">The recurrent expenditure of the government stood at Rs 342.36 billion or 36.08 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12722', 'image' => '20210125010740_20200630083550_Clipboard19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 13:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Loses Bid to Supply Electricity to India ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla Sangam MN"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has lost its bid for supplying 25 megawatts of electricity to India during the monsoon.</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:Arial">NEA had submitted a proposal to sell electricity to India in early January in response to a tender issued by India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) on behalf of BRPL company.</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:"Bangla Sangam MN"">It has been learnt that the state-owned company lost the bid because its quotations rated in the proposal was more than those offered by other companies in the competitive bidding process.</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:Arial">Currently, NEA has been purchasing electricity from India through Tanakpur at the rate of Rs 6.62 (IRs 4.14) per unit. NEA had quoted the same rate in its proposal, informed NEA Spokesperson Madan Timsina.</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:Arial">But other companies proposed lower rate than that of NEA. Acting Executive Director of NEA Hitendra Dev Shakya confirmed that NEA lost the bid as the quotations of other companies were less than that of NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Other companies pledged to provide electricity at a lower rate than us,” said Shakya, adding, “We lost the bid because the rate quoted by us was relatively higher than the rate of other companies.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12721', 'image' => '20210125123053_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 12:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Another Protest in the Capital', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 25: Sugarcane farmers have warned of launching their protest again in the capital after the sugar mill owners did not keep their promise to clear their long-standing dues. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The farmers had staged protest in the capital for two week starting from December 13. The agitating farmers had reached an understanding with the government on December 28 for the clearance of their dues, which the sugar industries had been withholding since many years.</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:Arial">The farmers had signed a four-point agreement with the government on December 28. As per the agreement reached between representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the farmers, the sugar mill owners had been given 21 days to clear all the dues.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">But the farmers have not received full payment even after the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Hari Shyam Raya informed that they will launch protests in the capital again if their dues are not cleared soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The sugarcane farmers have started protests in various districts to give pressure to the government to take the initiative to release their dues from the sugar mills. The protests at the district level will continue till March 5.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If the dues are not cleared within that time, we will launch protests in the capital,” said Raya.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the government authorities say they are working to ensure that the dues are cleared as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Baikuntha Aryal claimed that the ministry will ensure payment to the farmers at any cost. However, the ministry has not paid attention to fulfilling its commitment as per the agreement signed on December 28.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the ministry, the sugar mills have already paid Rs 573 million to the farmers while they still owe Rs 81 million.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-25', 'modified' => '2021-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12720', 'image' => '20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-25 10:27:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export Increasing, Import Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 22: Exports in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78 have increased while there has been a decline in imports of foreign goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Citing the data released by the Department of Customs, the state-run National News Agency (RSS) said imports declined by 5 percent while exports increased by 6 percent in the first six months (mid-July to mid-December) of the current fiscal year. According to the statistics of the department, foreign goods worth more than Rs 661.24 billion have been imported in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Comparatively, it is 4.81 percent less than the import during the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, foreign goods worth Rs 694.69 billion were imported, RSS reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, domestic goods worth Rs 60.79 billion have been exported in the last six months. Exports have increased by 6.14 percent compared to the same period of last year. In the corresponding period of the previous year, goods worth Rs 57.27 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the data, the trade deficit has narrowed by 5.80 percent this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has collected revenue of Rs 187 billion so far this year. The department has set a target of collecting Rs 440 billion revenue this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12719', 'image' => '20210122033408_1611225273.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:33:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12969', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal signs Protocol to Send Workers to Israel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 22: Nepal and Israel have signed a protocol to send Nepali workers to Israel for work.</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">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal and Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries amid a recent function.</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">This has opened door for 500 Nepalis to work in the care-giving sector of Israel.</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">The Government of Nepal had signed a bilateral labor agreement with Israel for sending Nepali workers to Israel on September 30. </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">Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Askhenaji signed the agreement initially but the two countries were unable to implement it due to lack of protocol.</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">After a month of negotiations, the two countries prepared the protocol based on the agreement. The two countries have now signed the same protocol to implement the agreement.</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">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</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">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</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">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</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">Until now, Nepal's private manpower companies had been supplying Nepali workers to Israel for employment under a 2015 agreement. However, now according to the new agreement, the government itself will be sending workers to Israel for work on G2G basis while the manpower companies will have no role in it.</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">As per the new protocol, Nepali workers will have to bear the travel cost themselves. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will also have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, which is against the free-visa policy of the government.</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">But the laws of Israel is considered labour-friendly and Nepali workers are expected to have comparatively less problems while working there.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12718', 'image' => '20210122120517_1611268202.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:04:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12970', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Latest Political Development will not have Adverse Impact on Economy: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.', '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"">January 22: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the latest political development will not have any adverse effect on the economic development of the country.</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"">Minister Poudel made such remark during a virtual meeting on the proposed Extended Credit Facility with International Monetary Fund’s Director Alisara Mahasandana and Mission Chief Laura Isabel Jaramillo.</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"">Minister Poudel told the foreign delegates that the dissolution of parliament was only one facet of the political system and that Nepal have had mid-terms election in the past as well. Therefore, he assured them that the recent political developments will not have much impact on the country’s economy. He also urged them not to worry about Nepal’s situation.</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"">He added that Nepal’s policies on financial and social issues are guided by the constitution and therefore the differing views of political parties will not have any impact on matters of national interest.</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"">According to Minister Poudel, the Extended Credit Facility is not aimed at any particular individual or party and so the new government formed after the election will give continuity to the programme in the interest of the nation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1611237631.jpg" style="height:499px; width:800px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12717', 'image' => '20210122123356_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12968', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Add 2 more Aircraft to its Fleet', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.', '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"">January 22: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Buddha Air is all set to add two new ATR-72-500 aircraft to its fleet.</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 private airline company bringing one of the two aircraft to the country on Friday (January 22), within 100 days of resuming air service post Covid-19 lockdown and flight ban.</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 company informed that another aircraft will arrive in three months.</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"">Buddha Air has served 375,000 passengers in the last three months after the government lifted a ban on domestic flights on September 21. Marketing and Sales Director of the company Rupesh Joshi informed that Buddha Air is preparing to add new aircraft to its fleet to increase the number of flights to its current destinations. He added that it was possible due to the passengers’ support and trust. </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 number of passengers has increased after the lockdown was lifted. We have taken this as an opportunity to add new aircraft,” said Joshi, adding, “With the addition of new aircraft, we will be able to provide better services to our customers.”</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"">He clarified that Buddha Air has not added any new destinations and the new aircraft will be used to increase the frequency of flights to the current destinations.</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 company has already started mountain flights from December 5. Buddha Air expressed its belief that the mountain flight will provide some relief to the aviation industry of Nepal which was affected for a long time due to the impact of Covid-19.</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"">Joshi informed that the company has been providing its regular flight service and mountain flights at subsidized rate due to the decline in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).</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"">With the addition of two new aircraft, Buddha Air will now have 15 aircraft in its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12716', 'image' => '20210122113025_20200323123412_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 11:29:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares to Sign MoU for Railway DPR ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">January 22: The government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed 135 km Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul railway. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal will soon sign the MoU with the Indian Government to begin the DPR of the railway.<br /> Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his first stint as prime minister back in 2015 had discussed the issue of railway connectivity with India during his state visit to India. Since then, a pre-feasibility study report of the railway has been prepared with the help of India. India handed over the report to Nepal last year.<br /> Preparations are now underway to sign an MoU between the two neighbouring countries for preparing the DPR, three years later than the proposed construction date.<br /> According to Ram Hari Pokhrel, Joint Secretary at the MoPIT, the ministry is in the final phase of preparation for signing the MoU.<br /> "As India has also agreed to move ahead for the study, the process will move ahead soon," Pokhrel informed.<br /> An official of the ministry informed that the DPR report would be ready within 18 months after signing the MoU.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-22', 'modified' => '2021-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12715', 'image' => '20210122032255_1611186257.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-22 15:21:21', '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
