Agriculture Development Bank Launches Credit Card for Farmers

Jan 21, 2021 0 2 minutes 1 seconds to read

January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available for…

Government’s VAT Rebate for Home-Grown Packaging Industries Limited to Paper

Jan 21, 2021 0 3 minutes 0 seconds to read

January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries.…

Government Preparing to Establish Chemical Fertilizer Plant in Nepal

Jan 21, 2021 0 1 minutes 27 seconds to read

January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal.…

Covid-19 Vaccine Arriving from India Today

Jan 21, 2021 0 1 minutes 59 seconds to read

January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January…

Bilateral Trade with China through Northern Border Points Increasing

Jan 20, 2021 0 1 minutes 59 seconds to read

January 20: Nepal’s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal’s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of…

Import exceeds Export at Birgunj Customs Resulting in Trade Deficit of Rs 190 Billion

Jan 20, 2021 0 2 minutes 41 seconds to read

January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY)…

Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge Government to Implement Relief Packages

Jan 20, 2021 0 2 minutes 11 seconds to read

January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by…

Himalaya Airlines Conducts Test Flight to Lhasa

Jan 20, 2021 0 3 minutes 19 seconds to read

January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021.…

Operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Deferred Again

Jan 20, 2021 0 1 minutes 22 seconds to read

January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.…

Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project unlikely within Extended Deadline

Jan 19, 2021 0 2 minutes 56 seconds to read

January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about…

NOC to Stop Importing Petrol from Raxaul

Jan 19, 2021 0 1 minutes 10 seconds to read

January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot.…

FMTC lags behind in Meeting its Target of Paddy Procurement

Jan 19, 2021 0 2 minutes 57 seconds to read

January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its…

FNCCI urges NRB Governor to Extend Deadline for Payment of Loan

Jan 19, 2021 0 1 minutes 32 seconds to read

January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19).…

Climbers from 11 Countries get Permits during Winter Season

Jan 18, 2021 0 2 minutes 14 seconds to read

January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in…

Nepali Citizens Opt for Foreign Employment Despite Risk of Coronavirus

Jan 18, 2021 0 3 minutes 12 seconds to read

January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within the…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

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NEPSE

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			'id' => '12967',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Agriculture Development Bank Launches Credit Card for Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available for them.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned bank on Wednesday (January 20) launched the service coinciding with its 54<sup>th</sup> anniversary by providing credit cards to 15 farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel launched the card in addition to a smartphone application &lsquo;Kisan App&rsquo; developed especially for farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the launch, Minister Poudel said that these facilities have been launched to facilitate the farmers technologically.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson of Agriculture Development BankHem Lal Poudel confirmed that the bank provided credit cards to 15 customers who have been running agriculture firms in the capital.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to him, the service will be gradually expanded to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other areas after evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project launched in Kathmandu.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CEO of the bank Anil Kumar Upadhyay informed that the bank launched the credit card and app to engage farmers in technology-friendly transaction.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Any one involved in farming can get such credit cards but those who have taken loan for agriculture will be given special emphasis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12966',
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			'title' => 'Government’s VAT Rebate for Home-Grown Packaging Industries Limited to Paper',
			'sub_title' => '‘Government Fails to Protect and Promote Local Industries’',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. The local packaging industries were happy that the government fulfilled their demand after 17 years. But their excitement was short lived.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The packaging industries have become disappointed after the pharmaceutical industries did not buy the local products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries were not happy with the government&rsquo;s decision to provide VAT rebate to packaging industries, according to Rabindra Barnawal, managing director of Print Pack Industry.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the government announced to provide VAT rebate on purchase of raw materials as well as locally-manufactured packing materials. However, pharmaceutical industries are least interested to take benefit from this facility.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries did not purchase such materials from the local companies as they are also getting customs duty waiver and VAT rebate on materials imported from other countries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for the import of raw materials and packaging materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">One of the owners of a pharmaceutical industry said that they would have considered purchasing local product if the price had been relatively less. But he insisted that there is not much difference in price and therefore they opted for imported materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Currently, 15 packaging industries have invested around Rs 4 billion. Barnawal says that they have to import raw materials for manufacturing packaging materials at higher cost and that has increased the cost factor of the finished product. While the pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for importing raw materials and packaging materials, the local packaging industries of Nepal have to pay 13 percent VAT and 15 percent customs duty for importing raw materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, operator of Matrix Printers Arbind Amatya says that the government has failed to adopt a policy to protect and promote local industries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government must charge at least one level less for raw materials,&rdquo; said Amatya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12964',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Establish Chemical Fertilizer Plant in Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </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">A recent meeting attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatt, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal and government secretaries discussed about setting up a chemical fertilizer factory in the country. </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 meeting discussed about the technology behind the production and the cost of setting up such factory. The technologies and methods prevalent in the world, natural gas, water electrolysis and hybrids were some of the technologies discussed in the meeting to determine the method suitable for Nepal. </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">Finance Minister Poudel said that he will prepare a proposal on the technology, investment method and cost related to the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal after further discussions. </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">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on October 8 had formed a committee under the coordination of Finance Minister Poudel to conduct a preliminary study on the establishment of a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'article_date' => '2021-01-21 10:49:10',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12965',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Vaccine Arriving from India Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).</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">Organising a joint press meet in the capital on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Indian Embassy informed that the vaccines will be arriving on Thursday as part of India&rsquo;s grant assistance.</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">India&rsquo;s External Affairs Ministry had issued a notice on Monday stating that it would provide vaccines to neighbouring countries within this week.</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">Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra confirmed that India will be providing 1 million viles of vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. </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">Speaking at a press conference, Minister Tripathi informed that legal, administrative and financial issues have been resolved to begin vaccination drive in the country soon. The minister also said that all preparations including the storage of vaccine has been made for effective use of the vaccines.</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">&ldquo;This is a friendly gesture from India,&rdquo; said Minister Tripathi during the press conference.</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 government has estimated that 72 percent of the total population of Nepal will require vaccines, added Minister Tripathi. </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">Minister Tripathi further said that health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers will be the first to receive the vaccine. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12963',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bilateral Trade with China through Northern Border Points Increasing',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal’s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal’s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Nepal&rsquo;s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal&rsquo;s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although efforts had been made to reopen the border checkpoints since last May, it was not possible due to landslides. After the roads damaged by landslides were repaired, the border points were partly reopened with only five containers entering Nepal on a daily basis. Four months ago, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had reached an agreement with China to resume import and export between the two countries but the decision could not be implemented immediately.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The volume of trade between the two countries has increased significantly since the past one week, informed Lopsang Sherpa, a member of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Altogether 16 containers of goods are entering Nepal through the Tatopani border on a daily basis,&rdquo; said Sherpa, adding, &ldquo;Only two containers of goods used to arrive from Rasuwagadhi every day but now there has been an increase in import from that border point too.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">China has not allowed Nepali containers to go across the border. Chinese containers bring the goods up to the border and Nepali loaders have to cross the border to bring them back by following strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali importers say that the import of goods through the China border has increased to as much as 50 percent compared to pre-Covid-19 period. However, Nepal has not been able to export goods to China through the border.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-20',
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			'image' => '20210120050812_20201203020907_20200303035545_Trade Points in Northern Border to Remain Closed.jpg',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12962',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import exceeds Export at Birgunj Customs Resulting in Trade Deficit of Rs 190 Billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78, while the import from the same customs point was Rs 210 billion during the review period. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The main entry point of the country recorded a trade deficit of Rs 190 billion 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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, the total worth of goods traded through this checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December this year has reached Rs 229 billion, which is 10 percent less than the corresponding period of the last Fiscal Year 2076/77.&nbsp; </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products such as fuel, vehicles, medicines and industrial raw materials are imported through this checkpoint. Customs officer Ramesh Sukmani informed that raw material such as unrefined soybean oil, coal, tobacco, billet and other items were imported in large quantity. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The overall import from Birgunj custom has decreased. &ldquo;The import has declined by about 12 percent during the review period compared to the previous fiscal year. Last year, the import from July to December was Rs 238 billion,&rdquo; said Sukmani. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the export has increased by six percent. According to the data of Birgunj Customs, goods worth Rs 18 billion were exported till December last year. Last year, refined palm oil was exported the most via this customs point. The export was halted after India imposed a ban on import of palm oil. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">This year palm oil has been replaced by refined soybean oil. According to the data provided by the customs office, of the total exports, soybean oil worth Rs 11 billion has been exported through this checkpoint. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Fourteen oil industries in the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have exported 78,341 metric tonnes of such oil to India in the first six months of this year. This is three and a half times more than the export of the same produce during the corresponding period of the previous year. Juice, cloth, toothpaste, synthetic yarn, shoes and carpets have also been exported from this point. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12709',
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			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 14:49:30',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12961',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge Government to Implement Relief Packages',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders made such request on Tuesday (January 19) during a discussion attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Finance Secretary Sishir Dhungana.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They told the ministers and government representatives that the special relief packages introduced by the government has not been effectively implemented and urged them to implement the packages immediately.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President of Hotel Association of Nepal Shreejana Rana requested the government to immediately provide relief to the most-affected businesses.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also requested the government for extension of business continuity loan and discount on electricity demand charge.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also reminded the government about is plan to extend government holiday during weekend to promote internal tourism, which is still pending.</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">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the government is committed to provide necessary assistance to revitalize the tourism sector.</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">&nbsp;Stating that the government has already announced relief programmes, Finance Minister Poudel said that emphasis would now be laid on effective implementation of the plans and programmes.</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">Similarly, Tourism Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal informed that the ministry has held discussions with stakeholders to resolve the problems faced by the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12960',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Conducts Test Flight to Lhasa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight operation was held is in line with the company&rsquo;s commercial plan to introduce scheduled flights to Lhasa during summer of 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight H9 961 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 07:17 hours (local time) and landed at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport (LXA) at 10:46 hours (local time). The return flight H9 962, from Lhasa, was scheduled to depart at 15:00 hours (local time) on the same day and is expected to land in Kathmandu at 14:00 hours (local time).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Captain Hao Di, vice president-operations of the company, led the test flight crew including senior-level captains who would carry out three different approaches at Lhasa airport for the validation flight.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The airlines inducted a brand new narrow-body A319-115 aircraft registered as H9-AJK on March 2, 2020, especially for high altitude operations. Configured with 120 economy-class and 8 business-class seats, the aircraft has modifications for high altitude operations and capabilities to operate through the trans-Himalayan routes with aerodromes elevation to maximum 14,500 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, informed that the airline&#39;s</span>&nbsp;team worked meticulously on this high altitude operation to Lhasa since 2020.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s test flight take-off has reinforced commitment to our key guiding principles of safety, team spirit and winning spirit. I congratulate our team for the successful operation of validation flight, and we are grateful to receive the support of civil aviation authorities of both the countries which has enabled us to carry out this mission effortlessly,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Vijay Shrestha, vice president-administration, remarked that</span>&nbsp;it is indeed a pride for Himalaya to be the first and the only foreign airline to land at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Complying with CAAN requirements for high altitude operations, with this test flight&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Himalaya shall ensure the operational viability on this sector.</span>&nbsp;We feel privileged to get the opportunity to strengthen the cross-border relationship, and we are confident, post-pandemic, this sector will significantly boost the tourist movement between Nepal and Tibet,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight is planned for the verification of RNP-AR approaches besides the conventional approaches at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport which has an elevation of 3570 m equivalent to 11711 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12959',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Deferred Again',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.&nbsp; However, both the railway line and the trains are in a state of readiness. Two trains, brought from India, are in parking lot since their test operation on September 20.<br />
Nepal Railway Company Limited, the government entity entrusted for operating the railway, has deferred the operation three times.<br />
While buying the train, the company had announced to start operating the trains by mid-November 2020. But the company later pushed the operation date to December 2020. &nbsp;After two setbacks, the company has now vowed to start it by end of this month.<br />
Guru Bhattarai, general manager of the company, informed that the inauguration of the railway would be held in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries (Nepal and India). Due to this, the exact timing for operation of the railway has been uncertain, he informed.<br />
Stating that preparations for operating the train are in the final stage, he said, &quot;The date has not been fixed yet as the train will be inaugurated in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India.&quot; However, the company is preparing to run the train by the end of January.<br />
Although the company has made final preparations to run the trains, the recruitment process for Nepali employees has not started yet. A few days before the train arrived, the company had published vacancy for 129 employees for 29 different posts on September 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-20',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12706',
			'image' => '20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 11:32:32',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12958',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project unlikely within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire. However, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Himal Power Company, promoter of the project funded by foreign investors, is yet to reach an understanding for the handover. This is the first hydropower company that is about to be handed over to the government by the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The two sides have reached a short-term understanding to continue operating the project although the share transfer process has not yet completed. The short-term agreement expires in mid-February but the two sides have not yet reached any substantial understanding for the handover.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company, 50 percent shares of the company should have been transferred to the government by July 11. However, the deadline was extended till mid-February as the share transfer process could not be completed within the stipulated date. The handover process has not made any progress although the extended deadline is coming closer.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Looking at the current situation, it is unlikely that the handover process will be completed within mid-Fedruary.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director of NEA Prabal Adhikari informed New Business Age that they are currently discussing the issue. He added that it is impossible to transfer the shares within mid-February.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project which is being run by Himal Power Company since July 2000 is the first hydropower project built with investment from the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The then government had signed an agreement with the developers to transfer 50 percent of shares to the government after 20 years of operation. The project reached the milestone of generating electricity for 20 years on July 11 last year.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement, the NEA will own 100 percent shares of the project in the next 30 years.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For the completion of share transfer process, stakeholders including the NEA and the promoters of the project should establish a joint venture. Then the new entity will have to finalize the power purchasing agreement (PPA) with the NEA. However, the joint venture company is yet to be established and the issue of PPA is also pending.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-19',
			'modified' => '2021-01-19',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12705',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12955',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC to Stop Importing Petrol from Raxaul',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the state-run news agency of Nepal, RSS, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has been citing security concerns for more than two years regarding the operation of the depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">NOC decided to stop importing petroleum products from Raxaul citing the security concerns of IOC&#39;s. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Arrangements have been made for petroleum dealers from Bara and Parsa, who have been importing petroleum products from Raxaul Depot, to purchase fuel at the Nepal Oil Corporation&#39;s Provincial Office in Province 2, said Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the corporation. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All billings will now be made from the Provincial Office of the NOC. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12956',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FMTC lags behind in Meeting its Target of Paddy Procurement ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The FMTC&nbsp; had set a target of purchasing 60,000 metric tons of paddy from purchase centres spread across the country. However, it has managed to purchase only 22,555 metric tons of paddy so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been learnt that the company has not been able to meet its target due to lack of adequate storage facility and also because it started the procurement process late.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned company had failed to purchase paddy in accordance to its target last year as well. FMTC had set a target to purchase 30,000 metric tons of paddy last year but it was able to buy only 21,164 metric tons of paddy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FMTC has an obligation to purchase paddy fulfill Nepal&rsquo;s commitment for storage of food grains for SAARC nations. The government keeps a stock of food in order to supply them during times of crisis as well as to remote areas. In this context, the FMTC procures paddy and wheat from various centres every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the company Netra Subedi informed that they are in the process of procuring paddy till mid-February but admitted that they have failed to purchase paddy as per their target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Firstly, FMTC started the procurement process late and secondly we do not have large storage facility,&rdquo; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has also been found that the FMTC has been purchasing paddy at a higher price than the local businessmen. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Out of the 11 centres across the country, FMTC has not been able to purchase paddy in Jumla.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the data provided by the company, it has purchased 3,835 metric tons of paddy in Rajapur (Bardiya), 5,336 metric tons in Dhangadhi, 2,300 metric tons in Birtamode, 1,349 metric tons in Janakpur, 1,362 metric tons in Biratnagar, 2,256 metric tons in Lahan, 1,845 metric tons in Birgunj, 1,800 metric tons in Bhairahawa, 3,307 metric tons in Nepalgunj and 947 metric tons in Mahendranagar.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12957',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FNCCI urges NRB Governor to Extend Deadline for Payment of Loan',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). During the meeting FNCCI members requested NRB Governor Adhikari to extend the deadline for payment of loan and interest by three months till mid-April.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha informed that the industrialists and businessmen have been affected due to the dilly-dallying of banks and financial institutions to provide services in accordance to the government&rsquo;s policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also said that the central bank must play a special role to ensure that the business continuity loan is made available without any hassles. The delegation also informed Governor Adhikari that some banks and financial institutions have blacklisted businessmen under different pretexts. They also urged the governor not to keep the borrowers who have suffered business losses for two years under &ldquo;watchful list&rdquo;. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also pointed out to the need of extending the ceiling of online payment and to ensure proper safety.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, Governor Adhikari assured FNCCI members that the central bank will collaborate with them for revitalizing the businesses and industries affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12950',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Climbers from 11 Countries get Permits during Winter Season',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal. Nevertheless, mountaineers from 11 countries including Nepal have been granted permission to climb mountains during this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism has given climbing permits to 44 climbers of nine expedition teams from Nepal, India, Switzerland, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, USA, Qatar, Mexico, Spain and Italy since the start of climbing season this winter.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had opened trekking and expedition for foreigners from October 17 amid coronavirus pandemic. The ministry had issued a standard health protocol which the foreigners had to follow if they were interested in visiting Nepal to climb mountains.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the department believe that the government&rsquo;s decision to open the trekking and expedition industry for foreign tourists has contributed a lot to the ailing economy.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, Nepal, Spain and the USA have the highest number of climbers this season. Altogether 21 climbers from Nepal, 10 from Spain, four from USA and the remaining nine have received permits this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has collected royalty of Rs 879,000 from the climbers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a ten-member Nepali team, which also included Nirmal Purja, on Saturday climbed Mount K2 of Pakistan for the first time in history during winter season. The success of Nepali team is expected to boost mountaineering activities in 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200807075017_1596774556.Trekking%20pic.jpg" style="height:253px; width:450px" /></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12954',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Citizens Opt for Foreign Employment Despite Risk of Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had pledged to provide employment to Nepali migrant workers who had returned to the country after the disease started spreading in the labour destination countries. However, the government failed to live up to its commitment and this has forced thousands of workers to return to their work although the risk of Covid-19 has not yet subsided.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 72,366 Nepalis left for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The data was collected from five months record of Nepal Rastra Bank and one month&rsquo;s data prepared by the Department of Foreign Employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Among them, 30,837 workers took new labour permits while the remaining 41,529 had renewed their work permits.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Employment Tikaram Neupane says that the workers have been forced to travel abroad for employment as the government failed to launch the special scheme which it had announced.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had assured the Nepali workers who lost their foreign jobs that it would provide employment to them within the country. However, the government&rsquo;s scheme did kick off,&rdquo; said Neupane, adding, &ldquo;On top of that, there is political instability in the country. This too has forced Nepali citizens to go abroad for work.&rdquo;</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">There isn&rsquo;t any possibility for the government to launch programmes to create employment opportunities given the political instability which the country is going through. In such a situation, many more youths are likely to leave the country, says Neupane.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The latest reports show that the number of people opting for foreign employment is growing. Only around 3000 Nepalis had left for foreign employment in the first month of the current fiscal year. But the number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country in the sixth month has climbed to 14,753.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department says that the number of people leaving the country for overseas jobs is increasing despite the threat of coronavirus after the government gave a green signal for foreign employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Neupane says foreign countries have already started demanding workers. This has also prompted Nepali citizens to opt for foreign employment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12967',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Agriculture Development Bank Launches Credit Card for Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available for them.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned bank on Wednesday (January 20) launched the service coinciding with its 54<sup>th</sup> anniversary by providing credit cards to 15 farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel launched the card in addition to a smartphone application &lsquo;Kisan App&rsquo; developed especially for farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the launch, Minister Poudel said that these facilities have been launched to facilitate the farmers technologically.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson of Agriculture Development BankHem Lal Poudel confirmed that the bank provided credit cards to 15 customers who have been running agriculture firms in the capital.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to him, the service will be gradually expanded to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other areas after evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project launched in Kathmandu.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CEO of the bank Anil Kumar Upadhyay informed that the bank launched the credit card and app to engage farmers in technology-friendly transaction.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Any one involved in farming can get such credit cards but those who have taken loan for agriculture will be given special emphasis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12714',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12966',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s VAT Rebate for Home-Grown Packaging Industries Limited to Paper',
			'sub_title' => '‘Government Fails to Protect and Promote Local Industries’',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. The local packaging industries were happy that the government fulfilled their demand after 17 years. But their excitement was short lived.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The packaging industries have become disappointed after the pharmaceutical industries did not buy the local products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries were not happy with the government&rsquo;s decision to provide VAT rebate to packaging industries, according to Rabindra Barnawal, managing director of Print Pack Industry.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the government announced to provide VAT rebate on purchase of raw materials as well as locally-manufactured packing materials. However, pharmaceutical industries are least interested to take benefit from this facility.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries did not purchase such materials from the local companies as they are also getting customs duty waiver and VAT rebate on materials imported from other countries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for the import of raw materials and packaging materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">One of the owners of a pharmaceutical industry said that they would have considered purchasing local product if the price had been relatively less. But he insisted that there is not much difference in price and therefore they opted for imported materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Currently, 15 packaging industries have invested around Rs 4 billion. Barnawal says that they have to import raw materials for manufacturing packaging materials at higher cost and that has increased the cost factor of the finished product. While the pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for importing raw materials and packaging materials, the local packaging industries of Nepal have to pay 13 percent VAT and 15 percent customs duty for importing raw materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, operator of Matrix Printers Arbind Amatya says that the government has failed to adopt a policy to protect and promote local industries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government must charge at least one level less for raw materials,&rdquo; said Amatya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12964',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Establish Chemical Fertilizer Plant in Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </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">A recent meeting attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatt, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal and government secretaries discussed about setting up a chemical fertilizer factory in the country. </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 meeting discussed about the technology behind the production and the cost of setting up such factory. The technologies and methods prevalent in the world, natural gas, water electrolysis and hybrids were some of the technologies discussed in the meeting to determine the method suitable for Nepal. </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">Finance Minister Poudel said that he will prepare a proposal on the technology, investment method and cost related to the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal after further discussions. </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">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on October 8 had formed a committee under the coordination of Finance Minister Poudel to conduct a preliminary study on the establishment of a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12965',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Vaccine Arriving from India Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).</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">Organising a joint press meet in the capital on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Indian Embassy informed that the vaccines will be arriving on Thursday as part of India&rsquo;s grant assistance.</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">India&rsquo;s External Affairs Ministry had issued a notice on Monday stating that it would provide vaccines to neighbouring countries within this week.</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">Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra confirmed that India will be providing 1 million viles of vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. </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">Speaking at a press conference, Minister Tripathi informed that legal, administrative and financial issues have been resolved to begin vaccination drive in the country soon. The minister also said that all preparations including the storage of vaccine has been made for effective use of the vaccines.</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">&ldquo;This is a friendly gesture from India,&rdquo; said Minister Tripathi during the press conference.</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 government has estimated that 72 percent of the total population of Nepal will require vaccines, added Minister Tripathi. </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">Minister Tripathi further said that health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers will be the first to receive the vaccine. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12711',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12963',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bilateral Trade with China through Northern Border Points Increasing',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal’s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal’s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Nepal&rsquo;s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal&rsquo;s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although efforts had been made to reopen the border checkpoints since last May, it was not possible due to landslides. After the roads damaged by landslides were repaired, the border points were partly reopened with only five containers entering Nepal on a daily basis. Four months ago, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had reached an agreement with China to resume import and export between the two countries but the decision could not be implemented immediately.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The volume of trade between the two countries has increased significantly since the past one week, informed Lopsang Sherpa, a member of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Altogether 16 containers of goods are entering Nepal through the Tatopani border on a daily basis,&rdquo; said Sherpa, adding, &ldquo;Only two containers of goods used to arrive from Rasuwagadhi every day but now there has been an increase in import from that border point too.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">China has not allowed Nepali containers to go across the border. Chinese containers bring the goods up to the border and Nepali loaders have to cross the border to bring them back by following strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali importers say that the import of goods through the China border has increased to as much as 50 percent compared to pre-Covid-19 period. However, Nepal has not been able to export goods to China through the border.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'image' => '20210120050812_20201203020907_20200303035545_Trade Points in Northern Border to Remain Closed.jpg',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12962',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import exceeds Export at Birgunj Customs Resulting in Trade Deficit of Rs 190 Billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78, while the import from the same customs point was Rs 210 billion during the review period. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The main entry point of the country recorded a trade deficit of Rs 190 billion 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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, the total worth of goods traded through this checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December this year has reached Rs 229 billion, which is 10 percent less than the corresponding period of the last Fiscal Year 2076/77.&nbsp; </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products such as fuel, vehicles, medicines and industrial raw materials are imported through this checkpoint. Customs officer Ramesh Sukmani informed that raw material such as unrefined soybean oil, coal, tobacco, billet and other items were imported in large quantity. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The overall import from Birgunj custom has decreased. &ldquo;The import has declined by about 12 percent during the review period compared to the previous fiscal year. Last year, the import from July to December was Rs 238 billion,&rdquo; said Sukmani. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the export has increased by six percent. According to the data of Birgunj Customs, goods worth Rs 18 billion were exported till December last year. Last year, refined palm oil was exported the most via this customs point. The export was halted after India imposed a ban on import of palm oil. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">This year palm oil has been replaced by refined soybean oil. According to the data provided by the customs office, of the total exports, soybean oil worth Rs 11 billion has been exported through this checkpoint. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Fourteen oil industries in the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have exported 78,341 metric tonnes of such oil to India in the first six months of this year. This is three and a half times more than the export of the same produce during the corresponding period of the previous year. Juice, cloth, toothpaste, synthetic yarn, shoes and carpets have also been exported from this point. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 14:49:30',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12961',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge Government to Implement Relief Packages',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders made such request on Tuesday (January 19) during a discussion attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Finance Secretary Sishir Dhungana.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They told the ministers and government representatives that the special relief packages introduced by the government has not been effectively implemented and urged them to implement the packages immediately.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President of Hotel Association of Nepal Shreejana Rana requested the government to immediately provide relief to the most-affected businesses.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also requested the government for extension of business continuity loan and discount on electricity demand charge.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also reminded the government about is plan to extend government holiday during weekend to promote internal tourism, which is still pending.</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">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the government is committed to provide necessary assistance to revitalize the tourism sector.</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">&nbsp;Stating that the government has already announced relief programmes, Finance Minister Poudel said that emphasis would now be laid on effective implementation of the plans and programmes.</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">Similarly, Tourism Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal informed that the ministry has held discussions with stakeholders to resolve the problems faced by the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12960',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Conducts Test Flight to Lhasa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight operation was held is in line with the company&rsquo;s commercial plan to introduce scheduled flights to Lhasa during summer of 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight H9 961 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 07:17 hours (local time) and landed at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport (LXA) at 10:46 hours (local time). The return flight H9 962, from Lhasa, was scheduled to depart at 15:00 hours (local time) on the same day and is expected to land in Kathmandu at 14:00 hours (local time).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Captain Hao Di, vice president-operations of the company, led the test flight crew including senior-level captains who would carry out three different approaches at Lhasa airport for the validation flight.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The airlines inducted a brand new narrow-body A319-115 aircraft registered as H9-AJK on March 2, 2020, especially for high altitude operations. Configured with 120 economy-class and 8 business-class seats, the aircraft has modifications for high altitude operations and capabilities to operate through the trans-Himalayan routes with aerodromes elevation to maximum 14,500 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, informed that the airline&#39;s</span>&nbsp;team worked meticulously on this high altitude operation to Lhasa since 2020.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s test flight take-off has reinforced commitment to our key guiding principles of safety, team spirit and winning spirit. I congratulate our team for the successful operation of validation flight, and we are grateful to receive the support of civil aviation authorities of both the countries which has enabled us to carry out this mission effortlessly,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Vijay Shrestha, vice president-administration, remarked that</span>&nbsp;it is indeed a pride for Himalaya to be the first and the only foreign airline to land at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Complying with CAAN requirements for high altitude operations, with this test flight&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Himalaya shall ensure the operational viability on this sector.</span>&nbsp;We feel privileged to get the opportunity to strengthen the cross-border relationship, and we are confident, post-pandemic, this sector will significantly boost the tourist movement between Nepal and Tibet,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight is planned for the verification of RNP-AR approaches besides the conventional approaches at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport which has an elevation of 3570 m equivalent to 11711 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12959',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Deferred Again',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.&nbsp; However, both the railway line and the trains are in a state of readiness. Two trains, brought from India, are in parking lot since their test operation on September 20.<br />
Nepal Railway Company Limited, the government entity entrusted for operating the railway, has deferred the operation three times.<br />
While buying the train, the company had announced to start operating the trains by mid-November 2020. But the company later pushed the operation date to December 2020. &nbsp;After two setbacks, the company has now vowed to start it by end of this month.<br />
Guru Bhattarai, general manager of the company, informed that the inauguration of the railway would be held in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries (Nepal and India). Due to this, the exact timing for operation of the railway has been uncertain, he informed.<br />
Stating that preparations for operating the train are in the final stage, he said, &quot;The date has not been fixed yet as the train will be inaugurated in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India.&quot; However, the company is preparing to run the train by the end of January.<br />
Although the company has made final preparations to run the trains, the recruitment process for Nepali employees has not started yet. A few days before the train arrived, the company had published vacancy for 129 employees for 29 different posts on September 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-20',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12706',
			'image' => '20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 11:32:32',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12958',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project unlikely within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire. However, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Himal Power Company, promoter of the project funded by foreign investors, is yet to reach an understanding for the handover. This is the first hydropower company that is about to be handed over to the government by the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The two sides have reached a short-term understanding to continue operating the project although the share transfer process has not yet completed. The short-term agreement expires in mid-February but the two sides have not yet reached any substantial understanding for the handover.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company, 50 percent shares of the company should have been transferred to the government by July 11. However, the deadline was extended till mid-February as the share transfer process could not be completed within the stipulated date. The handover process has not made any progress although the extended deadline is coming closer.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Looking at the current situation, it is unlikely that the handover process will be completed within mid-Fedruary.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director of NEA Prabal Adhikari informed New Business Age that they are currently discussing the issue. He added that it is impossible to transfer the shares within mid-February.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project which is being run by Himal Power Company since July 2000 is the first hydropower project built with investment from the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The then government had signed an agreement with the developers to transfer 50 percent of shares to the government after 20 years of operation. The project reached the milestone of generating electricity for 20 years on July 11 last year.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement, the NEA will own 100 percent shares of the project in the next 30 years.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For the completion of share transfer process, stakeholders including the NEA and the promoters of the project should establish a joint venture. Then the new entity will have to finalize the power purchasing agreement (PPA) with the NEA. However, the joint venture company is yet to be established and the issue of PPA is also pending.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-19',
			'modified' => '2021-01-19',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12705',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12955',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC to Stop Importing Petrol from Raxaul',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the state-run news agency of Nepal, RSS, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has been citing security concerns for more than two years regarding the operation of the depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">NOC decided to stop importing petroleum products from Raxaul citing the security concerns of IOC&#39;s. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Arrangements have been made for petroleum dealers from Bara and Parsa, who have been importing petroleum products from Raxaul Depot, to purchase fuel at the Nepal Oil Corporation&#39;s Provincial Office in Province 2, said Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the corporation. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All billings will now be made from the Provincial Office of the NOC. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12956',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FMTC lags behind in Meeting its Target of Paddy Procurement ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The FMTC&nbsp; had set a target of purchasing 60,000 metric tons of paddy from purchase centres spread across the country. However, it has managed to purchase only 22,555 metric tons of paddy so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been learnt that the company has not been able to meet its target due to lack of adequate storage facility and also because it started the procurement process late.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned company had failed to purchase paddy in accordance to its target last year as well. FMTC had set a target to purchase 30,000 metric tons of paddy last year but it was able to buy only 21,164 metric tons of paddy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FMTC has an obligation to purchase paddy fulfill Nepal&rsquo;s commitment for storage of food grains for SAARC nations. The government keeps a stock of food in order to supply them during times of crisis as well as to remote areas. In this context, the FMTC procures paddy and wheat from various centres every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the company Netra Subedi informed that they are in the process of procuring paddy till mid-February but admitted that they have failed to purchase paddy as per their target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Firstly, FMTC started the procurement process late and secondly we do not have large storage facility,&rdquo; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has also been found that the FMTC has been purchasing paddy at a higher price than the local businessmen. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Out of the 11 centres across the country, FMTC has not been able to purchase paddy in Jumla.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the data provided by the company, it has purchased 3,835 metric tons of paddy in Rajapur (Bardiya), 5,336 metric tons in Dhangadhi, 2,300 metric tons in Birtamode, 1,349 metric tons in Janakpur, 1,362 metric tons in Biratnagar, 2,256 metric tons in Lahan, 1,845 metric tons in Birgunj, 1,800 metric tons in Bhairahawa, 3,307 metric tons in Nepalgunj and 947 metric tons in Mahendranagar.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12957',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FNCCI urges NRB Governor to Extend Deadline for Payment of Loan',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). During the meeting FNCCI members requested NRB Governor Adhikari to extend the deadline for payment of loan and interest by three months till mid-April.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha informed that the industrialists and businessmen have been affected due to the dilly-dallying of banks and financial institutions to provide services in accordance to the government&rsquo;s policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also said that the central bank must play a special role to ensure that the business continuity loan is made available without any hassles. The delegation also informed Governor Adhikari that some banks and financial institutions have blacklisted businessmen under different pretexts. They also urged the governor not to keep the borrowers who have suffered business losses for two years under &ldquo;watchful list&rdquo;. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also pointed out to the need of extending the ceiling of online payment and to ensure proper safety.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, Governor Adhikari assured FNCCI members that the central bank will collaborate with them for revitalizing the businesses and industries affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12950',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Climbers from 11 Countries get Permits during Winter Season',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal. Nevertheless, mountaineers from 11 countries including Nepal have been granted permission to climb mountains during this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism has given climbing permits to 44 climbers of nine expedition teams from Nepal, India, Switzerland, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, USA, Qatar, Mexico, Spain and Italy since the start of climbing season this winter.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had opened trekking and expedition for foreigners from October 17 amid coronavirus pandemic. The ministry had issued a standard health protocol which the foreigners had to follow if they were interested in visiting Nepal to climb mountains.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the department believe that the government&rsquo;s decision to open the trekking and expedition industry for foreign tourists has contributed a lot to the ailing economy.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, Nepal, Spain and the USA have the highest number of climbers this season. Altogether 21 climbers from Nepal, 10 from Spain, four from USA and the remaining nine have received permits this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has collected royalty of Rs 879,000 from the climbers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a ten-member Nepali team, which also included Nirmal Purja, on Saturday climbed Mount K2 of Pakistan for the first time in history during winter season. The success of Nepali team is expected to boost mountaineering activities in 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200807075017_1596774556.Trekking%20pic.jpg" style="height:253px; width:450px" /></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12954',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Citizens Opt for Foreign Employment Despite Risk of Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had pledged to provide employment to Nepali migrant workers who had returned to the country after the disease started spreading in the labour destination countries. However, the government failed to live up to its commitment and this has forced thousands of workers to return to their work although the risk of Covid-19 has not yet subsided.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 72,366 Nepalis left for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The data was collected from five months record of Nepal Rastra Bank and one month&rsquo;s data prepared by the Department of Foreign Employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Among them, 30,837 workers took new labour permits while the remaining 41,529 had renewed their work permits.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Employment Tikaram Neupane says that the workers have been forced to travel abroad for employment as the government failed to launch the special scheme which it had announced.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had assured the Nepali workers who lost their foreign jobs that it would provide employment to them within the country. However, the government&rsquo;s scheme did kick off,&rdquo; said Neupane, adding, &ldquo;On top of that, there is political instability in the country. This too has forced Nepali citizens to go abroad for work.&rdquo;</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">There isn&rsquo;t any possibility for the government to launch programmes to create employment opportunities given the political instability which the country is going through. In such a situation, many more youths are likely to leave the country, says Neupane.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The latest reports show that the number of people opting for foreign employment is growing. Only around 3000 Nepalis had left for foreign employment in the first month of the current fiscal year. But the number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country in the sixth month has climbed to 14,753.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department says that the number of people leaving the country for overseas jobs is increasing despite the threat of coronavirus after the government gave a green signal for foreign employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Neupane says foreign countries have already started demanding workers. This has also prompted Nepali citizens to opt for foreign employment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12967',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Agriculture Development Bank Launches Credit Card for Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available for them.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned bank on Wednesday (January 20) launched the service coinciding with its 54<sup>th</sup> anniversary by providing credit cards to 15 farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel launched the card in addition to a smartphone application &lsquo;Kisan App&rsquo; developed especially for farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the launch, Minister Poudel said that these facilities have been launched to facilitate the farmers technologically.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson of Agriculture Development BankHem Lal Poudel confirmed that the bank provided credit cards to 15 customers who have been running agriculture firms in the capital.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to him, the service will be gradually expanded to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other areas after evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project launched in Kathmandu.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CEO of the bank Anil Kumar Upadhyay informed that the bank launched the credit card and app to engage farmers in technology-friendly transaction.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Any one involved in farming can get such credit cards but those who have taken loan for agriculture will be given special emphasis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12966',
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			'title' => 'Government’s VAT Rebate for Home-Grown Packaging Industries Limited to Paper',
			'sub_title' => '‘Government Fails to Protect and Promote Local Industries’',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. The local packaging industries were happy that the government fulfilled their demand after 17 years. But their excitement was short lived.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The packaging industries have become disappointed after the pharmaceutical industries did not buy the local products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries were not happy with the government&rsquo;s decision to provide VAT rebate to packaging industries, according to Rabindra Barnawal, managing director of Print Pack Industry.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the government announced to provide VAT rebate on purchase of raw materials as well as locally-manufactured packing materials. However, pharmaceutical industries are least interested to take benefit from this facility.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries did not purchase such materials from the local companies as they are also getting customs duty waiver and VAT rebate on materials imported from other countries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for the import of raw materials and packaging materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">One of the owners of a pharmaceutical industry said that they would have considered purchasing local product if the price had been relatively less. But he insisted that there is not much difference in price and therefore they opted for imported materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Currently, 15 packaging industries have invested around Rs 4 billion. Barnawal says that they have to import raw materials for manufacturing packaging materials at higher cost and that has increased the cost factor of the finished product. While the pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for importing raw materials and packaging materials, the local packaging industries of Nepal have to pay 13 percent VAT and 15 percent customs duty for importing raw materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, operator of Matrix Printers Arbind Amatya says that the government has failed to adopt a policy to protect and promote local industries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government must charge at least one level less for raw materials,&rdquo; said Amatya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-21',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12713',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12964',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Establish Chemical Fertilizer Plant in Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </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">A recent meeting attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatt, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal and government secretaries discussed about setting up a chemical fertilizer factory in the country. </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 meeting discussed about the technology behind the production and the cost of setting up such factory. The technologies and methods prevalent in the world, natural gas, water electrolysis and hybrids were some of the technologies discussed in the meeting to determine the method suitable for Nepal. </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">Finance Minister Poudel said that he will prepare a proposal on the technology, investment method and cost related to the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal after further discussions. </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">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on October 8 had formed a committee under the coordination of Finance Minister Poudel to conduct a preliminary study on the establishment of a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-21',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12712',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12965',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Vaccine Arriving from India Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).</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">Organising a joint press meet in the capital on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Indian Embassy informed that the vaccines will be arriving on Thursday as part of India&rsquo;s grant assistance.</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">India&rsquo;s External Affairs Ministry had issued a notice on Monday stating that it would provide vaccines to neighbouring countries within this week.</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">Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra confirmed that India will be providing 1 million viles of vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. </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">Speaking at a press conference, Minister Tripathi informed that legal, administrative and financial issues have been resolved to begin vaccination drive in the country soon. The minister also said that all preparations including the storage of vaccine has been made for effective use of the vaccines.</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">&ldquo;This is a friendly gesture from India,&rdquo; said Minister Tripathi during the press conference.</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 government has estimated that 72 percent of the total population of Nepal will require vaccines, added Minister Tripathi. </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">Minister Tripathi further said that health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers will be the first to receive the vaccine. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12963',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bilateral Trade with China through Northern Border Points Increasing',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal’s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal’s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Nepal&rsquo;s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal&rsquo;s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although efforts had been made to reopen the border checkpoints since last May, it was not possible due to landslides. After the roads damaged by landslides were repaired, the border points were partly reopened with only five containers entering Nepal on a daily basis. Four months ago, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had reached an agreement with China to resume import and export between the two countries but the decision could not be implemented immediately.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The volume of trade between the two countries has increased significantly since the past one week, informed Lopsang Sherpa, a member of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Altogether 16 containers of goods are entering Nepal through the Tatopani border on a daily basis,&rdquo; said Sherpa, adding, &ldquo;Only two containers of goods used to arrive from Rasuwagadhi every day but now there has been an increase in import from that border point too.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">China has not allowed Nepali containers to go across the border. Chinese containers bring the goods up to the border and Nepali loaders have to cross the border to bring them back by following strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali importers say that the import of goods through the China border has increased to as much as 50 percent compared to pre-Covid-19 period. However, Nepal has not been able to export goods to China through the border.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12962',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import exceeds Export at Birgunj Customs Resulting in Trade Deficit of Rs 190 Billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78, while the import from the same customs point was Rs 210 billion during the review period. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The main entry point of the country recorded a trade deficit of Rs 190 billion 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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, the total worth of goods traded through this checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December this year has reached Rs 229 billion, which is 10 percent less than the corresponding period of the last Fiscal Year 2076/77.&nbsp; </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products such as fuel, vehicles, medicines and industrial raw materials are imported through this checkpoint. Customs officer Ramesh Sukmani informed that raw material such as unrefined soybean oil, coal, tobacco, billet and other items were imported in large quantity. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The overall import from Birgunj custom has decreased. &ldquo;The import has declined by about 12 percent during the review period compared to the previous fiscal year. Last year, the import from July to December was Rs 238 billion,&rdquo; said Sukmani. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the export has increased by six percent. According to the data of Birgunj Customs, goods worth Rs 18 billion were exported till December last year. Last year, refined palm oil was exported the most via this customs point. The export was halted after India imposed a ban on import of palm oil. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">This year palm oil has been replaced by refined soybean oil. According to the data provided by the customs office, of the total exports, soybean oil worth Rs 11 billion has been exported through this checkpoint. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Fourteen oil industries in the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have exported 78,341 metric tonnes of such oil to India in the first six months of this year. This is three and a half times more than the export of the same produce during the corresponding period of the previous year. Juice, cloth, toothpaste, synthetic yarn, shoes and carpets have also been exported from this point. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12961',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge Government to Implement Relief Packages',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders made such request on Tuesday (January 19) during a discussion attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Finance Secretary Sishir Dhungana.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They told the ministers and government representatives that the special relief packages introduced by the government has not been effectively implemented and urged them to implement the packages immediately.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President of Hotel Association of Nepal Shreejana Rana requested the government to immediately provide relief to the most-affected businesses.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also requested the government for extension of business continuity loan and discount on electricity demand charge.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also reminded the government about is plan to extend government holiday during weekend to promote internal tourism, which is still pending.</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">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the government is committed to provide necessary assistance to revitalize the tourism sector.</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">&nbsp;Stating that the government has already announced relief programmes, Finance Minister Poudel said that emphasis would now be laid on effective implementation of the plans and programmes.</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">Similarly, Tourism Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal informed that the ministry has held discussions with stakeholders to resolve the problems faced by the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12960',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Conducts Test Flight to Lhasa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight operation was held is in line with the company&rsquo;s commercial plan to introduce scheduled flights to Lhasa during summer of 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight H9 961 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 07:17 hours (local time) and landed at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport (LXA) at 10:46 hours (local time). The return flight H9 962, from Lhasa, was scheduled to depart at 15:00 hours (local time) on the same day and is expected to land in Kathmandu at 14:00 hours (local time).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Captain Hao Di, vice president-operations of the company, led the test flight crew including senior-level captains who would carry out three different approaches at Lhasa airport for the validation flight.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The airlines inducted a brand new narrow-body A319-115 aircraft registered as H9-AJK on March 2, 2020, especially for high altitude operations. Configured with 120 economy-class and 8 business-class seats, the aircraft has modifications for high altitude operations and capabilities to operate through the trans-Himalayan routes with aerodromes elevation to maximum 14,500 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, informed that the airline&#39;s</span>&nbsp;team worked meticulously on this high altitude operation to Lhasa since 2020.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s test flight take-off has reinforced commitment to our key guiding principles of safety, team spirit and winning spirit. I congratulate our team for the successful operation of validation flight, and we are grateful to receive the support of civil aviation authorities of both the countries which has enabled us to carry out this mission effortlessly,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Vijay Shrestha, vice president-administration, remarked that</span>&nbsp;it is indeed a pride for Himalaya to be the first and the only foreign airline to land at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Complying with CAAN requirements for high altitude operations, with this test flight&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Himalaya shall ensure the operational viability on this sector.</span>&nbsp;We feel privileged to get the opportunity to strengthen the cross-border relationship, and we are confident, post-pandemic, this sector will significantly boost the tourist movement between Nepal and Tibet,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight is planned for the verification of RNP-AR approaches besides the conventional approaches at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport which has an elevation of 3570 m equivalent to 11711 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12959',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Deferred Again',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.&nbsp; However, both the railway line and the trains are in a state of readiness. Two trains, brought from India, are in parking lot since their test operation on September 20.<br />
Nepal Railway Company Limited, the government entity entrusted for operating the railway, has deferred the operation three times.<br />
While buying the train, the company had announced to start operating the trains by mid-November 2020. But the company later pushed the operation date to December 2020. &nbsp;After two setbacks, the company has now vowed to start it by end of this month.<br />
Guru Bhattarai, general manager of the company, informed that the inauguration of the railway would be held in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries (Nepal and India). Due to this, the exact timing for operation of the railway has been uncertain, he informed.<br />
Stating that preparations for operating the train are in the final stage, he said, &quot;The date has not been fixed yet as the train will be inaugurated in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India.&quot; However, the company is preparing to run the train by the end of January.<br />
Although the company has made final preparations to run the trains, the recruitment process for Nepali employees has not started yet. A few days before the train arrived, the company had published vacancy for 129 employees for 29 different posts on September 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-20',
			'modified' => '2021-01-20',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12706',
			'image' => '20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 11:32:32',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12958',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project unlikely within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire. However, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Himal Power Company, promoter of the project funded by foreign investors, is yet to reach an understanding for the handover. This is the first hydropower company that is about to be handed over to the government by the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The two sides have reached a short-term understanding to continue operating the project although the share transfer process has not yet completed. The short-term agreement expires in mid-February but the two sides have not yet reached any substantial understanding for the handover.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company, 50 percent shares of the company should have been transferred to the government by July 11. However, the deadline was extended till mid-February as the share transfer process could not be completed within the stipulated date. The handover process has not made any progress although the extended deadline is coming closer.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Looking at the current situation, it is unlikely that the handover process will be completed within mid-Fedruary.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director of NEA Prabal Adhikari informed New Business Age that they are currently discussing the issue. He added that it is impossible to transfer the shares within mid-February.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project which is being run by Himal Power Company since July 2000 is the first hydropower project built with investment from the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The then government had signed an agreement with the developers to transfer 50 percent of shares to the government after 20 years of operation. The project reached the milestone of generating electricity for 20 years on July 11 last year.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement, the NEA will own 100 percent shares of the project in the next 30 years.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For the completion of share transfer process, stakeholders including the NEA and the promoters of the project should establish a joint venture. Then the new entity will have to finalize the power purchasing agreement (PPA) with the NEA. However, the joint venture company is yet to be established and the issue of PPA is also pending.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'created' => '2021-01-19',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12955',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC to Stop Importing Petrol from Raxaul',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the state-run news agency of Nepal, RSS, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has been citing security concerns for more than two years regarding the operation of the depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">NOC decided to stop importing petroleum products from Raxaul citing the security concerns of IOC&#39;s. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Arrangements have been made for petroleum dealers from Bara and Parsa, who have been importing petroleum products from Raxaul Depot, to purchase fuel at the Nepal Oil Corporation&#39;s Provincial Office in Province 2, said Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the corporation. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All billings will now be made from the Provincial Office of the NOC. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'image' => '20210119120932_20200401103058_petrol-2-1539134824.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-19 12:08:56',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12956',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FMTC lags behind in Meeting its Target of Paddy Procurement ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The FMTC&nbsp; had set a target of purchasing 60,000 metric tons of paddy from purchase centres spread across the country. However, it has managed to purchase only 22,555 metric tons of paddy so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been learnt that the company has not been able to meet its target due to lack of adequate storage facility and also because it started the procurement process late.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned company had failed to purchase paddy in accordance to its target last year as well. FMTC had set a target to purchase 30,000 metric tons of paddy last year but it was able to buy only 21,164 metric tons of paddy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FMTC has an obligation to purchase paddy fulfill Nepal&rsquo;s commitment for storage of food grains for SAARC nations. The government keeps a stock of food in order to supply them during times of crisis as well as to remote areas. In this context, the FMTC procures paddy and wheat from various centres every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the company Netra Subedi informed that they are in the process of procuring paddy till mid-February but admitted that they have failed to purchase paddy as per their target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Firstly, FMTC started the procurement process late and secondly we do not have large storage facility,&rdquo; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has also been found that the FMTC has been purchasing paddy at a higher price than the local businessmen. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Out of the 11 centres across the country, FMTC has not been able to purchase paddy in Jumla.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the data provided by the company, it has purchased 3,835 metric tons of paddy in Rajapur (Bardiya), 5,336 metric tons in Dhangadhi, 2,300 metric tons in Birtamode, 1,349 metric tons in Janakpur, 1,362 metric tons in Biratnagar, 2,256 metric tons in Lahan, 1,845 metric tons in Birgunj, 1,800 metric tons in Bhairahawa, 3,307 metric tons in Nepalgunj and 947 metric tons in Mahendranagar.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-19',
			'modified' => '2021-01-19',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12703',
			'image' => '20210119125635_1611012425.Clipboard07.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-19 12:55:57',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12957',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FNCCI urges NRB Governor to Extend Deadline for Payment of Loan',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). During the meeting FNCCI members requested NRB Governor Adhikari to extend the deadline for payment of loan and interest by three months till mid-April.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha informed that the industrialists and businessmen have been affected due to the dilly-dallying of banks and financial institutions to provide services in accordance to the government&rsquo;s policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also said that the central bank must play a special role to ensure that the business continuity loan is made available without any hassles. The delegation also informed Governor Adhikari that some banks and financial institutions have blacklisted businessmen under different pretexts. They also urged the governor not to keep the borrowers who have suffered business losses for two years under &ldquo;watchful list&rdquo;. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also pointed out to the need of extending the ceiling of online payment and to ensure proper safety.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, Governor Adhikari assured FNCCI members that the central bank will collaborate with them for revitalizing the businesses and industries affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-19',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12702',
			'image' => '20210119011932_20201211011108_20200407080848_IMG_4955 - Copy.JPG',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-19 13:18:45',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12950',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Climbers from 11 Countries get Permits during Winter Season',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal. Nevertheless, mountaineers from 11 countries including Nepal have been granted permission to climb mountains during this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism has given climbing permits to 44 climbers of nine expedition teams from Nepal, India, Switzerland, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, USA, Qatar, Mexico, Spain and Italy since the start of climbing season this winter.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had opened trekking and expedition for foreigners from October 17 amid coronavirus pandemic. The ministry had issued a standard health protocol which the foreigners had to follow if they were interested in visiting Nepal to climb mountains.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the department believe that the government&rsquo;s decision to open the trekking and expedition industry for foreign tourists has contributed a lot to the ailing economy.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, Nepal, Spain and the USA have the highest number of climbers this season. Altogether 21 climbers from Nepal, 10 from Spain, four from USA and the remaining nine have received permits this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has collected royalty of Rs 879,000 from the climbers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a ten-member Nepali team, which also included Nirmal Purja, on Saturday climbed Mount K2 of Pakistan for the first time in history during winter season. The success of Nepali team is expected to boost mountaineering activities in 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200807075017_1596774556.Trekking%20pic.jpg" style="height:253px; width:450px" /></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-18',
			'modified' => '2021-01-18',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12701',
			'image' => '20210118104022_20200917091916_Clipboard36.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-18 10:39:23',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12954',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Citizens Opt for Foreign Employment Despite Risk of Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had pledged to provide employment to Nepali migrant workers who had returned to the country after the disease started spreading in the labour destination countries. However, the government failed to live up to its commitment and this has forced thousands of workers to return to their work although the risk of Covid-19 has not yet subsided.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 72,366 Nepalis left for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The data was collected from five months record of Nepal Rastra Bank and one month&rsquo;s data prepared by the Department of Foreign Employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Among them, 30,837 workers took new labour permits while the remaining 41,529 had renewed their work permits.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Employment Tikaram Neupane says that the workers have been forced to travel abroad for employment as the government failed to launch the special scheme which it had announced.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had assured the Nepali workers who lost their foreign jobs that it would provide employment to them within the country. However, the government&rsquo;s scheme did kick off,&rdquo; said Neupane, adding, &ldquo;On top of that, there is political instability in the country. This too has forced Nepali citizens to go abroad for work.&rdquo;</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">There isn&rsquo;t any possibility for the government to launch programmes to create employment opportunities given the political instability which the country is going through. In such a situation, many more youths are likely to leave the country, says Neupane.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The latest reports show that the number of people opting for foreign employment is growing. Only around 3000 Nepalis had left for foreign employment in the first month of the current fiscal year. But the number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country in the sixth month has climbed to 14,753.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department says that the number of people leaving the country for overseas jobs is increasing despite the threat of coronavirus after the government gave a green signal for foreign employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Neupane says foreign countries have already started demanding workers. This has also prompted Nepali citizens to opt for foreign employment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12967',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Agriculture Development Bank Launches Credit Card for Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available for them.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Agriculture Development Bank has for the first time launched credit card for farmers in order to make loan easily available 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned bank on Wednesday (January 20) launched the service coinciding with its 54<sup>th</sup> anniversary by providing credit cards to 15 farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel launched the card in addition to a smartphone application &lsquo;Kisan App&rsquo; developed especially for farmers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the launch, Minister Poudel said that these facilities have been launched to facilitate the farmers technologically.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson of Agriculture Development BankHem Lal Poudel confirmed that the bank provided credit cards to 15 customers who have been running agriculture firms in the capital.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to him, the service will be gradually expanded to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other areas after evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project launched in Kathmandu.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CEO of the bank Anil Kumar Upadhyay informed that the bank launched the credit card and app to engage farmers in technology-friendly transaction.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Any one involved in farming can get such credit cards but those who have taken loan for agriculture will be given special emphasis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12966',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s VAT Rebate for Home-Grown Packaging Industries Limited to Paper',
			'sub_title' => '‘Government Fails to Protect and Promote Local Industries’',
			'summary' => 'January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 21: Proprietors of packaging industries of Nepal were excited after the government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year announced refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on packaging materials purchased by pharmaceutical companies from local industries. The local packaging industries were happy that the government fulfilled their demand after 17 years. But their excitement was short lived.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The packaging industries have become disappointed after the pharmaceutical industries did not buy the local products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries were not happy with the government&rsquo;s decision to provide VAT rebate to packaging industries, according to Rabindra Barnawal, managing director of Print Pack Industry.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the government announced to provide VAT rebate on purchase of raw materials as well as locally-manufactured packing materials. However, pharmaceutical industries are least interested to take benefit from this facility.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The pharmaceutical industries did not purchase such materials from the local companies as they are also getting customs duty waiver and VAT rebate on materials imported from other countries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for the import of raw materials and packaging materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">One of the owners of a pharmaceutical industry said that they would have considered purchasing local product if the price had been relatively less. But he insisted that there is not much difference in price and therefore they opted for imported materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Currently, 15 packaging industries have invested around Rs 4 billion. Barnawal says that they have to import raw materials for manufacturing packaging materials at higher cost and that has increased the cost factor of the finished product. While the pharmaceutical companies need to pay only 1 percent excise duty for importing raw materials and packaging materials, the local packaging industries of Nepal have to pay 13 percent VAT and 15 percent customs duty for importing raw materials.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, operator of Matrix Printers Arbind Amatya says that the government has failed to adopt a policy to protect and promote local industries.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government must charge at least one level less for raw materials,&rdquo; said Amatya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12964',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Establish Chemical Fertilizer Plant in Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: The government is making necessary preparations for setting up a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </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">A recent meeting attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatt, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal and government secretaries discussed about setting up a chemical fertilizer factory in the country. </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 meeting discussed about the technology behind the production and the cost of setting up such factory. The technologies and methods prevalent in the world, natural gas, water electrolysis and hybrids were some of the technologies discussed in the meeting to determine the method suitable for Nepal. </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">Finance Minister Poudel said that he will prepare a proposal on the technology, investment method and cost related to the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal after further discussions. </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">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on October 8 had formed a committee under the coordination of Finance Minister Poudel to conduct a preliminary study on the establishment of a chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12965',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Vaccine Arriving from India Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 21: India is all set to deliver 1 million viles of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal in the first phase on Thursday (January 21).</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">Organising a joint press meet in the capital on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Indian Embassy informed that the vaccines will be arriving on Thursday as part of India&rsquo;s grant assistance.</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">India&rsquo;s External Affairs Ministry had issued a notice on Monday stating that it would provide vaccines to neighbouring countries within this week.</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">Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra confirmed that India will be providing 1 million viles of vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. </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">Speaking at a press conference, Minister Tripathi informed that legal, administrative and financial issues have been resolved to begin vaccination drive in the country soon. The minister also said that all preparations including the storage of vaccine has been made for effective use of the vaccines.</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">&ldquo;This is a friendly gesture from India,&rdquo; said Minister Tripathi during the press conference.</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 government has estimated that 72 percent of the total population of Nepal will require vaccines, added Minister Tripathi. </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">Minister Tripathi further said that health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers will be the first to receive the vaccine. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12963',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bilateral Trade with China through Northern Border Points Increasing',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal’s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal’s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Nepal&rsquo;s bilateral trade with China through the northern border is returning back to normalcy. Nepal&rsquo;s border with China had remained obstructed since last year due to the emergence of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although efforts had been made to reopen the border checkpoints since last May, it was not possible due to landslides. After the roads damaged by landslides were repaired, the border points were partly reopened with only five containers entering Nepal on a daily basis. Four months ago, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had reached an agreement with China to resume import and export between the two countries but the decision could not be implemented immediately.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The volume of trade between the two countries has increased significantly since the past one week, informed Lopsang Sherpa, a member of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Altogether 16 containers of goods are entering Nepal through the Tatopani border on a daily basis,&rdquo; said Sherpa, adding, &ldquo;Only two containers of goods used to arrive from Rasuwagadhi every day but now there has been an increase in import from that border point too.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">China has not allowed Nepali containers to go across the border. Chinese containers bring the goods up to the border and Nepali loaders have to cross the border to bring them back by following strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali importers say that the import of goods through the China border has increased to as much as 50 percent compared to pre-Covid-19 period. However, Nepal has not been able to export goods to China through the border.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12962',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import exceeds Export at Birgunj Customs Resulting in Trade Deficit of Rs 190 Billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Birgunj customs recorded export worth Rs 19 billion in the first six months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2077/78, while the import from the same customs point was Rs 210 billion during the review period. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The main entry point of the country recorded a trade deficit of Rs 190 billion 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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, the total worth of goods traded through this checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December this year has reached Rs 229 billion, which is 10 percent less than the corresponding period of the last Fiscal Year 2076/77.&nbsp; </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products such as fuel, vehicles, medicines and industrial raw materials are imported through this checkpoint. Customs officer Ramesh Sukmani informed that raw material such as unrefined soybean oil, coal, tobacco, billet and other items were imported in large quantity. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The overall import from Birgunj custom has decreased. &ldquo;The import has declined by about 12 percent during the review period compared to the previous fiscal year. Last year, the import from July to December was Rs 238 billion,&rdquo; said Sukmani. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the export has increased by six percent. According to the data of Birgunj Customs, goods worth Rs 18 billion were exported till December last year. Last year, refined palm oil was exported the most via this customs point. The export was halted after India imposed a ban on import of palm oil. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">This year palm oil has been replaced by refined soybean oil. According to the data provided by the customs office, of the total exports, soybean oil worth Rs 11 billion has been exported through this checkpoint. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Fourteen oil industries in the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have exported 78,341 metric tonnes of such oil to India in the first six months of this year. This is three and a half times more than the export of the same produce during the corresponding period of the previous year. Juice, cloth, toothpaste, synthetic yarn, shoes and carpets have also been exported from this point. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12961',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge Government to Implement Relief Packages',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 20: Tourism entrepreneurs have requested the government to revive the hospitality business as well as hotel industry that have been badly affected by coronavirus.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders made such request on Tuesday (January 19) during a discussion attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Finance Secretary Sishir Dhungana.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They told the ministers and government representatives that the special relief packages introduced by the government has not been effectively implemented and urged them to implement the packages immediately.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President of Hotel Association of Nepal Shreejana Rana requested the government to immediately provide relief to the most-affected businesses.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also requested the government for extension of business continuity loan and discount on electricity demand charge.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also reminded the government about is plan to extend government holiday during weekend to promote internal tourism, which is still pending.</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">Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the government is committed to provide necessary assistance to revitalize the tourism sector.</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">&nbsp;Stating that the government has already announced relief programmes, Finance Minister Poudel said that emphasis would now be laid on effective implementation of the plans and programmes.</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">Similarly, Tourism Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal informed that the ministry has held discussions with stakeholders to resolve the problems faced by the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12960',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Conducts Test Flight to Lhasa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">January 20: Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture company of Nepal and China, has conducted a test flight to Lhasa, its first high-altitude destination, on January 19, 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight operation was held is in line with the company&rsquo;s commercial plan to introduce scheduled flights to Lhasa during summer of 2021.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight H9 961 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 07:17 hours (local time) and landed at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport (LXA) at 10:46 hours (local time). The return flight H9 962, from Lhasa, was scheduled to depart at 15:00 hours (local time) on the same day and is expected to land in Kathmandu at 14:00 hours (local time).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Captain Hao Di, vice president-operations of the company, led the test flight crew including senior-level captains who would carry out three different approaches at Lhasa airport for the validation flight.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The airlines inducted a brand new narrow-body A319-115 aircraft registered as H9-AJK on March 2, 2020, especially for high altitude operations. Configured with 120 economy-class and 8 business-class seats, the aircraft has modifications for high altitude operations and capabilities to operate through the trans-Himalayan routes with aerodromes elevation to maximum 14,500 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, informed that the airline&#39;s</span>&nbsp;team worked meticulously on this high altitude operation to Lhasa since 2020.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s test flight take-off has reinforced commitment to our key guiding principles of safety, team spirit and winning spirit. I congratulate our team for the successful operation of validation flight, and we are grateful to receive the support of civil aviation authorities of both the countries which has enabled us to carry out this mission effortlessly,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Vijay Shrestha, vice president-administration, remarked that</span>&nbsp;it is indeed a pride for Himalaya to be the first and the only foreign airline to land at Lhasa&rsquo;s Gonggar International Airport.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">&ldquo;Complying with CAAN requirements for high altitude operations, with this test flight&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Himalaya shall ensure the operational viability on this sector.</span>&nbsp;We feel privileged to get the opportunity to strengthen the cross-border relationship, and we are confident, post-pandemic, this sector will significantly boost the tourist movement between Nepal and Tibet,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The test flight is planned for the verification of RNP-AR approaches besides the conventional approaches at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport which has an elevation of 3570 m equivalent to 11711 ft.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12959',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Deferred Again',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">January 20: The operation of the 34-kilometre-long Janakpur (Kurtha) -Jayanagar railway line has been pushed back repeatedly.&nbsp; However, both the railway line and the trains are in a state of readiness. Two trains, brought from India, are in parking lot since their test operation on September 20.<br />
Nepal Railway Company Limited, the government entity entrusted for operating the railway, has deferred the operation three times.<br />
While buying the train, the company had announced to start operating the trains by mid-November 2020. But the company later pushed the operation date to December 2020. &nbsp;After two setbacks, the company has now vowed to start it by end of this month.<br />
Guru Bhattarai, general manager of the company, informed that the inauguration of the railway would be held in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries (Nepal and India). Due to this, the exact timing for operation of the railway has been uncertain, he informed.<br />
Stating that preparations for operating the train are in the final stage, he said, &quot;The date has not been fixed yet as the train will be inaugurated in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India.&quot; However, the company is preparing to run the train by the end of January.<br />
Although the company has made final preparations to run the trains, the recruitment process for Nepali employees has not started yet. A few days before the train arrived, the company had published vacancy for 129 employees for 29 different posts on September 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2021-01-20',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12706',
			'image' => '20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-01-20 11:32:32',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12958',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project unlikely within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The extended deadline for handover of the 60 megawatt Khimti Hydropower Project to the government is about expire. However, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Himal Power Company, promoter of the project funded by foreign investors, is yet to reach an understanding for the handover. This is the first hydropower company that is about to be handed over to the government by the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The two sides have reached a short-term understanding to continue operating the project although the share transfer process has not yet completed. The short-term agreement expires in mid-February but the two sides have not yet reached any substantial understanding for the handover.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company, 50 percent shares of the company should have been transferred to the government by July 11. However, the deadline was extended till mid-February as the share transfer process could not be completed within the stipulated date. The handover process has not made any progress although the extended deadline is coming closer.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Looking at the current situation, it is unlikely that the handover process will be completed within mid-Fedruary.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director of NEA Prabal Adhikari informed New Business Age that they are currently discussing the issue. He added that it is impossible to transfer the shares within mid-February.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project which is being run by Himal Power Company since July 2000 is the first hydropower project built with investment from the private sector.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The then government had signed an agreement with the developers to transfer 50 percent of shares to the government after 20 years of operation. The project reached the milestone of generating electricity for 20 years on July 11 last year.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement, the NEA will own 100 percent shares of the project in the next 30 years.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For the completion of share transfer process, stakeholders including the NEA and the promoters of the project should establish a joint venture. Then the new entity will have to finalize the power purchasing agreement (PPA) with the NEA. However, the joint venture company is yet to be established and the issue of PPA is also pending.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-19',
			'modified' => '2021-01-19',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12705',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12955',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC to Stop Importing Petrol from Raxaul',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 19: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop the import of petroleum products from the Raxaul-based depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the state-run news agency of Nepal, RSS, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has been citing security concerns for more than two years regarding the operation of the depot. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">NOC decided to stop importing petroleum products from Raxaul citing the security concerns of IOC&#39;s. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Arrangements have been made for petroleum dealers from Bara and Parsa, who have been importing petroleum products from Raxaul Depot, to purchase fuel at the Nepal Oil Corporation&#39;s Provincial Office in Province 2, said Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the corporation. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All billings will now be made from the Provincial Office of the NOC. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12956',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FMTC lags behind in Meeting its Target of Paddy Procurement ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) Limited has not been able to purchase paddy as per its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The FMTC&nbsp; had set a target of purchasing 60,000 metric tons of paddy from purchase centres spread across the country. However, it has managed to purchase only 22,555 metric tons of paddy so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been learnt that the company has not been able to meet its target due to lack of adequate storage facility and also because it started the procurement process late.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The state-owned company had failed to purchase paddy in accordance to its target last year as well. FMTC had set a target to purchase 30,000 metric tons of paddy last year but it was able to buy only 21,164 metric tons of paddy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FMTC has an obligation to purchase paddy fulfill Nepal&rsquo;s commitment for storage of food grains for SAARC nations. The government keeps a stock of food in order to supply them during times of crisis as well as to remote areas. In this context, the FMTC procures paddy and wheat from various centres every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the company Netra Subedi informed that they are in the process of procuring paddy till mid-February but admitted that they have failed to purchase paddy as per their target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Firstly, FMTC started the procurement process late and secondly we do not have large storage facility,&rdquo; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has also been found that the FMTC has been purchasing paddy at a higher price than the local businessmen. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Out of the 11 centres across the country, FMTC has not been able to purchase paddy in Jumla.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the data provided by the company, it has purchased 3,835 metric tons of paddy in Rajapur (Bardiya), 5,336 metric tons in Dhangadhi, 2,300 metric tons in Birtamode, 1,349 metric tons in Janakpur, 1,362 metric tons in Biratnagar, 2,256 metric tons in Lahan, 1,845 metric tons in Birgunj, 1,800 metric tons in Bhairahawa, 3,307 metric tons in Nepalgunj and 947 metric tons in Mahendranagar.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12957',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FNCCI urges NRB Governor to Extend Deadline for Payment of Loan',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 19: A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) held a meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on Monday (January 19). During the meeting FNCCI members requested NRB Governor Adhikari to extend the deadline for payment of loan and interest by three months till mid-April.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha informed that the industrialists and businessmen have been affected due to the dilly-dallying of banks and financial institutions to provide services in accordance to the government&rsquo;s policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also said that the central bank must play a special role to ensure that the business continuity loan is made available without any hassles. The delegation also informed Governor Adhikari that some banks and financial institutions have blacklisted businessmen under different pretexts. They also urged the governor not to keep the borrowers who have suffered business losses for two years under &ldquo;watchful list&rdquo;. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">FNCCI also pointed out to the need of extending the ceiling of online payment and to ensure proper safety.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, Governor Adhikari assured FNCCI members that the central bank will collaborate with them for revitalizing the businesses and industries affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2021-01-19',
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			'keywords' => '',
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			'sortorder' => '12702',
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			'article_date' => '2021-01-19 13:18:45',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12950',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Climbers from 11 Countries get Permits during Winter Season',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Winter season is considered hostile for climbing mountains in Nepal. Nevertheless, mountaineers from 11 countries including Nepal have been granted permission to climb mountains during this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism has given climbing permits to 44 climbers of nine expedition teams from Nepal, India, Switzerland, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, USA, Qatar, Mexico, Spain and Italy since the start of climbing season this winter.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had opened trekking and expedition for foreigners from October 17 amid coronavirus pandemic. The ministry had issued a standard health protocol which the foreigners had to follow if they were interested in visiting Nepal to climb mountains.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the department believe that the government&rsquo;s decision to open the trekking and expedition industry for foreign tourists has contributed a lot to the ailing economy.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, Nepal, Spain and the USA have the highest number of climbers this season. Altogether 21 climbers from Nepal, 10 from Spain, four from USA and the remaining nine have received permits this season.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has collected royalty of Rs 879,000 from the climbers.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a ten-member Nepali team, which also included Nirmal Purja, on Saturday climbed Mount K2 of Pakistan for the first time in history during winter season. The success of Nepali team is expected to boost mountaineering activities in 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200807075017_1596774556.Trekking%20pic.jpg" style="height:253px; width:450px" /></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Nepali Citizens Opt for Foreign Employment Despite Risk of Coronavirus',
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			'summary' => 'January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">January 18: Nepali citizens have been forced to visit abroad for foreign employment even during coronavirus pandemic due to lack of job opportunities within 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had pledged to provide employment to Nepali migrant workers who had returned to the country after the disease started spreading in the labour destination countries. However, the government failed to live up to its commitment and this has forced thousands of workers to return to their work although the risk of Covid-19 has not yet subsided.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 72,366 Nepalis left for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The data was collected from five months record of Nepal Rastra Bank and one month&rsquo;s data prepared by the Department of Foreign Employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Among them, 30,837 workers took new labour permits while the remaining 41,529 had renewed their work permits.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Employment Tikaram Neupane says that the workers have been forced to travel abroad for employment as the government failed to launch the special scheme which it had announced.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had assured the Nepali workers who lost their foreign jobs that it would provide employment to them within the country. However, the government&rsquo;s scheme did kick off,&rdquo; said Neupane, adding, &ldquo;On top of that, there is political instability in the country. This too has forced Nepali citizens to go abroad for work.&rdquo;</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">There isn&rsquo;t any possibility for the government to launch programmes to create employment opportunities given the political instability which the country is going through. In such a situation, many more youths are likely to leave the country, says Neupane.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The latest reports show that the number of people opting for foreign employment is growing. Only around 3000 Nepalis had left for foreign employment in the first month of the current fiscal year. But the number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country in the sixth month has climbed to 14,753.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department says that the number of people leaving the country for overseas jobs is increasing despite the threat of coronavirus after the government gave a green signal for foreign employment.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Neupane says foreign countries have already started demanding workers. This has also prompted Nepali citizens to opt for foreign employment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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FOREX

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)

Bullion

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

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00