January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of…
January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of…
January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so…
January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by…
January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January…
January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic…
January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving…
January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country.…
January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted…
January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's…
January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year.…
January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection…
January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and…
January 1: Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third…
December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium.…
December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into…
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The tourism sector was shut down for nearly 10 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism entrepreneurs are excited by the presence of domestic tourists during the ‘New Year Eve’. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Although the New Year’s Eve, that is popular among foreign tourists, has become a new celebration for domestic tourists in recent years the tourism entrepreneurs are excited after influx of domestic tourists at the event organized amid confusion regarding whether or not to host such events during the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">They are hopeful that with the increase in domestic tourists, the tourism sector that has been battered by the coronavirus can be revived to some extent. The tourism entrepreneurs believe that domestic tourism is slowly gaining momentum due to the discounts offered by the airliners, including packages on air tickets, and the offers and discounts made by hoteliers and restaurateurs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On the occasion of the New Year, the number of tourists had increased in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan (Sauraha), Lumbini, Dolakha (Charikot). Recently, after the air bubble agreement with India, even Indian tourists have started coming to Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, said that the programs organized in the New Year and the presence of tourists are expected to boost domestic tourism in the context of non-arrival of foreign tourists due to the global coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The New Year's program has certainly added to the excitement of people,” he said, “Now there is no alternative to reopen tourism activities by complying with health safety standards.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12638', 'image' => '20210104014857_1609716158.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:48:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Mulls Providing Loan to Applicants who Submitted Proposals for Grant Assistance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.</span></span></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">Initially, the government had prepared a work prodecure to provide grants to the start-ups but later changed the modality to loan assistance for seed capital more than a month ago. However, the government is yet to implement the amended work procedure.</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">In September, the government had presented a proposal to the cabinet for amending the work procedure to provide 2 percent concessional loan to start-ups instead of grants.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission had accepted proposals of around 700 applicants for the grant but has not been able to take a decision on this matter after the modality was changed to loan assistance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The applicants have argued that the commission should not provide them loan instead of the grant for which they had submitted the proposals.</span></span></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">Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, who submitted a proposal for agricultural grants, argues that the government cannot force them to take loan by amending the work proposal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The government cannot change its policies every now and then. It should provide us grants in accordance to the application we have filed,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has already amend the work procedure that allows providing loan up to Rs 500 million. However, it has not asked for proposals for the loan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission says it will take a decision soon on whether to provide the applicants with grant or loan. Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the NPC, says that they have to do some additional homework before releasing the amount and therefore it is taking some time. The NPC is currently discussing whether to take new applications or not. It will take a decision on the old applications within a few days.</span></span></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">Although the government has announced in the current fiscal year’s budget to set up a fund of Rs 500 million to provide concessional loan at the rate of 2 percent to the start-ups, the NPC has not been able to manage amount for the fund.</span></span></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">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Jhakka Prasad Acharya says that the government is making efforts to collect money for the fund. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government intends to provide concessional loan between Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million to start-ups involved in the fields of information technology, agriculture, energy, health, tourism, and industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12637', 'image' => '20210104010319_20200906035436_MOF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:02:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank to Study Effectiveness of Concessional Loan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government decided to take such measure amid complaints that the targeted groups have not received the concessional loan. A recent meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel directed Nepal Rastra Bank to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting, according to joint secretary Rameshwar Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The finance minister has shown special interest toward concessional loan. The central bank has been instructed to conduct a study about the effectiveness of concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting,” said Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has announced business continuity loan for the sectors affected by coronavirus. However, the programme has not been effectively implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The private sector has been complaining that the affected businesses have not been able to take concessional loan at all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the high-level meeting, Minister Poudel noted the fact that the concessional loan announced by the government has not been able to reach the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The minister directed the central bank and Nepal Bankers Association to immediately implement the provision to avail concessional loan. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12636', 'image' => '20210104111442_IMG_0966.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 11:14:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cloudy Weather with Chances of Rainfall in Forecast', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3). There are also chances of light rainfall and snowfall in mountainous region, according to a report published by the national news agency, RSS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The mountainous areas of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Gandaki provinces have high changes of light snowfall, RSS reported citing the Metrological Forecasting Division (MFD). Likewise, high hills of Sudur Paschim and Karnali provinces will get light rainfall on Sunday.</span></span></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">According to the MFD, Sudur Paschim, Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini and Bagmati provinces are currently witnessing a generally cloudy weather while Provinces 1 and 2 are having partially cloudy weather.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The weather will remain cloudy across the country with changes of snowfall in high mountainous areas, the MFD stated.</span></span></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">According to the division, the minimum temperature of Kathmandu on Sunday was recorded at 1.3 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature was 18.4 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12635', 'image' => '20210103042227_1609651838.mausam-photo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Endorses Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A cabinet meeting held in late December endorsed the regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had presented the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Bill in parliament almost two years ago. The bill was endorsed by the parliament and authenticated by the president in July/August 2019. Although the act related to safeguards, anti-dumping and countervailing came into existence after the authentication, it could not be implemented due to the lack of regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With the endorsement of the regulation, the law now prevents dumping of goods by foreign countries on condition that they affect the home-grown products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As per the law, if foreign goods are found to be dumped in the country there is a provision to levy customs duty and additional charges on the import of such goods. However, three percent of the imported goods will be exempt of anti-dumping charges, informed Urmila KC, spokesperson at the ministry. According to her, if any goods are brought in excessive amount the government can partially or fully ban such goods. The government will use this privilege to safeguard the domestic industries, added KC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The ministry is currently preparing to impose additional customs duty and tariff rate for the goods that pose a threat to the local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Once the act is implemented, it will put an end to excessive import of goods as well as import of goods at an exceptionally low price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Umbrella bodies of Nepali industries including the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) had been demanding such law since a long time.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12634', 'image' => '20210103023653_1609629529.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:36:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Koshi Corridor Moves Ahead', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.<br /> The north-south track of Koshi Corridor has been opened, while roads are being upgraded in the remaining places.<br /> The Nepal Army has been awarded the contract to open the remaining 14 km road track of the corridor. In February last year, the government handed the contract to the army. According to the Koshi Corridor Road Project, a 10 km section of the highway between Khandbari and Kimathanka is being upgraded, and 39 km of road is being blacktopped.<br /> Chief of the project Gautam Kumar Shrestha informed that the contract is being signed for the blacktopping as the Ministry of Finance has already approved Rs 2.60 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The project directorate has already approved the release of a notice for the contract which will be published by next week," he informed.<br /> The road track from Dhongpa of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha to Chyamtang is yet to be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A 34 km road in the north has been constructed from Khandbari to Chyamtang, while a 14 km track from the Nepal-China border from Kimathanka to Dhongpa has been opened. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Only the middle section of the road remains to be finished. A total of 148 km track has been opened out of the total length of 162 km road. The remaining 14 km has been handed over to the army, and work is underway on other sections, said Project Chief Shrestha. According to him, the Nepal Army is preparing to visit the site for initiating the work.<br /> Shrestha informed that construction has to be initiated by paying attention to the environment as the highway is situated in the Makalu Barun National Park intermediate zone.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12633', 'image' => '20210103021456_1609572191.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Declines by 80 Percent in 2020', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. However, only 230,000 tourists visited Nepal during the period. The arrival of tourists did not meet the government’s expectations due to the coronavirus pandemic that surfaced during the start of 2020.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The arrival of tourists declined by 80 percent in 2020 compared to the figures of the previous year. In 2019, a total of 1,197,000 had visited Nepal while 1,172,072 tourists had arrived in the country in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal could not meet the target set for the Visit Nepal Year as the impact of coronavirus was felt across the globe. Nepal’s tourism industry, which was slowly getting back on track after the earthquakes of 2015, suffered another setback due to the pandemic. The arrival of tourists came to a complete halt last year due to the ban on international flights for nine months in order to prevent the spread of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Department of Immigration, maximum number of tourists arrived in Nepal from India in 2020. The number of Indian tourists who visited Nepal during the review period is 25,320. Similarly, a total of 9809 tourists arrived from China followed by 9,682 from the USA, 9518 from Thailand and 9400 from Myanmar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total 230,000 tourists who visited Nepal in 2020, 183,130 arrived from air route via Tribhuvan International Airport while the remaining 46,955 tourists arrived through land route.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had to postpone the Visit Nepal Year due to the impact of coronavirus. Tourism entrepreneurs say that it will take some more years for the battered tourism industry to return back to the previous state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the year 2020 was an exception, they have demanded revitalizing the tourism sector by allowing tourists who fulfill health standards set by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the arrival of tourists took a nosedive due to the impact of coronavirus, some high-profile visits during the pandemic year has raised hopes of better prospects in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry, which had come to a standstill, is clawing back to its feet thanks to the mountaineering sector. Some VVIPs visited Nepal for mountain expeditions amid coronavirus pandemic much to the delight of the beleaguered industry. Stakeholders say this has given a positive message to the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12632', 'image' => '20210103121633_1609629592.1 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 12:15:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'High-Level Committee to Ensure Concessional Loan Reaches Targeted Group', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee has made arrangements for Nepal Rastra Bank and Nepal Bankers Association to create favourable environment so that the maximum number of beneficiaries get the loan allocated by the government. The central bank and NBA have also been instructed to regularly make public the loan released under this heading. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the committee chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has also directed the central bank to study the effectiveness of the concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting also decided to address the grievances of the stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the relief package mentioned in the policies and programmes of the government by holding discussions between the concerned parties, the central bank and the NBA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other decisions taken by the meeting include a provision of opening branches of banks in four local units that are still out of reach of banking service under the initiative of the central bank. The meeting also instructed the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to analyze the market trend and prepare an updated report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting was attended by the Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Finance Secretary (Revenue), Deputy Governor, and heads of other regulatory bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12631', 'image' => '20210103041059_1609510978.finance_minister_meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Companies Unable to Sell Electricity due to Poor Quality of Transmission Lines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand. Currently, Nepal is importing up to 600 megawatts of electricity from India during peak hour. However, 19 hydropower projects have reduced generation of electricity due to the delay in construction of six transmission lines of the NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The hydropower projects with capacity of 190.65 megawatts are not able to operate in full capacity as the transmission lines cannot supply the produced electricity at the moment. This is evident from the data provided by the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Those hydropower projects can produce more than 50 megawatts of electricity during winter. However, the operators of those companies say they have been producing very less amount of electricity because the transmission lines are of low voltage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have been selling electricity through the 33 KV transmission line which has been in use since many years. The power producers say they have not been able to produce electricity in full capacity due to the low capacity of the transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">If the electricity produced within the country could be connected to the national grid, it will not only reduce the import of electricity but also lower the financial burden, according to the electricity producers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA has awarded contracts to various foreign companies to construct transmission lines of 220 KV along the Koshi Corridor, 132 KV double circuit along the Solu Corridor and 132 KV double circuit along the Singati Corridor. But those projects haven’t been completed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA itself has been unable to complete the 220 KV double circuit Marshyangdi Corridor, 220 KV Trishuli Corridor and 22 KV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to the low quality of the transmission lines, the hydropower projects in those areas are unable to supply energy to the main transmission line of the NEA. The private companies are facing great loss as they are unable to sell the electricity they produce due to the poor quality of transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12630', 'image' => '20210101040900_1609457277.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 16:08:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Electric Vehicles Declines by 88 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the first five months of the last fiscal year, 315 electric vehicles were imported to Nepal. According to the data released by the Department of Customs, only 37 electric vehicles have been imported in the first five months of the current fiscal year, which is a decrease of 88.25 percent compared to the previous year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government had adopted a policy of encouraging electric vehicles to reduce pollution in the Kathmandu Valley two years ago. The target was to increase the number of electric vehicles to 20 percent of the total vehicles by 2020. However, entrepreneurs say that the government is saying one thing and doing another. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has repeatedly encouraged the use of electric vehicles. Inaugurating the electric buses purchased under the Ministry of Tourism with the support of the Asian Development Bank, he also said that the country has entered the era of electric vehicles. However, the then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada increased the tax on electric vehicles by up to 70 percent in the current fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Both the import and sales of electric vehicles have been affected by the tax hike. Not only has the government increased taxes, but the government has not been flexible in urging businessmen to set standards for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations. NADA Chairman Krishna Prasad Dulal said that the import of electric vehicles has been declining every year due to the government's failure to fulfill its commitments. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> “Businessmen have not been able to import electric vehicles due to the government's tax hike that has doubled the price,” he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12629', 'image' => '20210101035213_20200601050236_electric car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 15:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'State Coffers in Surplus of Rs 33 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of December 25, the government has spent a total of Rs 353 billion while it has collected Rs 386 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has collected 32 percent revenue of its annual target while it has been able to spend only 24 percent of the annual budget, informed Deputy Financial Comptroller General Gyanendra Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s income is in accordance to its target. However, the spending is poor. If the government wants to spend the money, it has plenty of development budget in the state coffers,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s development expenditure as of December end is not satisfactory. It has spent only 12 percent of the development budget in the review period, informed the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s daily capital expenditure is not more than Rs 300 million while the current expenditure is more than Rs 4 billion per day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The capital expenditure will increase only if the development works gathers pace. However, the capital expenditure is low as the development works have not gained momentum at the moment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities at the Financial Comptroller General’s Office say that the current expenditure is high because of the implementation of the Covid-19 impact reduction programmes and the payment of government staffers, allowances, social security allowances, pensions among others.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former member of the National Planning Commission Dilli Raj Khanal says that it is not appropriate for the government to keep the allocated budget unused when it has plenty of opportunities to mobilize the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khanal, the government should have expedited development works from the month of Mangsir (midmid-November to mid-December) but it has failed to do so. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s job is not to collect money and keep it stored in the treasury but to revitalize the economy by mobilizing the money,” said Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Of late, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and the NPC are reviewing the budget expenditure every month. However, the government bodies responsible for the expenditure have not changed their way of spending the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12628', 'image' => '20210101025539_20180306114549_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 14:55:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Houses Affected due to Increase in Price of Construction Materials', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rods, cement, bricks, sand and aggregates have all increased, and this has in turn affected the construction works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">One of the construction entrepreneurs informed that those willing to construct personal houses are in a wait and watch situation as the cost of iron had increased of late. Nepal mostly imports iron and other related materials from abroad. The price of iron rods and other materials made of iron has gone up due to the increase in the price of billets that are imported from India and third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rod has increased between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Earlier, the price of iron rod was Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of cement has also increased by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per sack. Aggregates, which used to cost Rs 22,000 per truck, now costs Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The increase in price of construction materials is expected to increase the cost of constructing private and residential houses.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs of Nepal, Mohan Katuwal, says that the cost of metal frameworks has increased because they have to purchase iron from the mills at increased rate. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar says that the price of bricks has increased nominally. According to him, the price of bricks has increased from 10 to 15 percent depending on the shape of the bricks. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chitrakar informed that a normal brick costs Rs 17 per piece while special shaped bricks costs Rs 25 per piece.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12627', 'image' => '20210101015809_1609458496.78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 13:57:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12879', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agriculture Inputs Company to Recommend Blacklisting Shailung Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time. Shailung Enterprizes has been handed the responsibility of importing 25,000 metric tons of urea. The company had failed to supply fertilizers on time two times before.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes was awarded the contract to import 25,000 metric tons of urea in August/September and additional 30,000 metric tons of urea in October/November but has not been able to deliver the fertilizer within the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, chief of the purchase division of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, the deadline for Shailung Enterprises to deliver the fertilizer has exceeded 20 days as of December 31. Pokharel said that the state-owned company is preparing to initiate action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Action has already initiated against the private company for failing to deliver fertilizer as per the understanding reached in the second contract. The Patan High Court on Wednesday (December 30) scrapped an interim order issued earlier that prevented any action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprises had moved the high court after the Agriculture Inputs Company freezed its deposit of US$ 466,250 for failure to deliver the fertilizer. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A division bench of Chief Judge Dr Kumar Chuda and Judge Rekha Thapa on Wednesday scrapped the petition filed by the private company, paving way for the Agriculture Inputs Company to move ahead with the proceedings to take action.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The deadline for the company to deliver the 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer under the second contract was November 9. But the company has not delivered the fertilizer till date.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited Netra Bhandari informed that they have already freezed the deposits and further actions will be initiated from January 1 onward. He added that the company will be blacklisted in accordance to the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Currently we are taking action against the company for the second contract. After the process is over, we will initiate action for the third contract as well,” said Bhandari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12626', 'image' => '20210101114704_20200809115003_1596923819.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 11:46:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12878', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Renewal of Labour Permit Available Online from January 1', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. The Department of Foreign Employment is preparing to implement this provision from January 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign employment confirmed that workers can renew their labour permits online from January 1 onwards. However, this facility is not available for new labour permits. The department clarified that this new facility is currently available only for renewal of labour 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign Employment grants labour permits for a period of two years. After the two-year period of labour permit expires, the workers are forced to return to Nepal for the renewal process. Although Nepal’s embassies were said to provide the renewal service, it has not been implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">But now, the Nepali migrant workers no longer need to visit the department to renew the permit as it can be done through online medium, says Tika Mani Neupane, spokesperson of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In order to renew the labour permit online, the workers should deposit certain amount in the welfare fund and also pay the term life insurance premium in advance. The department has collaborated with digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti to avail the payment service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12625', 'image' => '20201231015705_1609371858.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:56:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12877', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata Customs to Consider Overseas Trade from Nepal’s Container Freight Station', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CFS was not able to conduct foreign trade until now because it did not fall under the domain of the Kolkata customs. The then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav had inaugurated the CFS in Kolkata on August 29, 2019. Nepali importers were not able to utilize the CFS even though it has been such a long time since it was established.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The goods taken to the CFS could not undergo the customs clearance as the port’s customs department had not finalized the process of including it within its domain. Nepal’s Consul General at Kolkata-based consulate, Ishwar Raj Poudel, informed that the CFS is not ready for overseas trade.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The land that Nepal has taken on lease since many years if finally being utilized for foreign trade,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Kolkata Port has also prepared a criteria for operating the CFS which is spread across 4,886 square meters in the costal area.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited (NTWC) Himnath Poudel says they have already received information about the criteria fixed by the port authorities for the operation of the CFS. He said that they have already initiated the process of operating the CFS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NTWC last year set up the Container Freight Station almost 40 years after the Government of Nepal took the land on lease. Once it comes into operation, Nepali importers can use the CFS for storing goods coming from third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The operation of CFS is expected to facilitate Nepal’s overseas trade and also reduce the cost of fines the importers have to pay.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CFS that has been set up at a cost of IRs 2.2 million has a capacity to store 500 containers at a time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NTWC is planning to avail the CFS at a comparatively lower price for Nepali importers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12624', 'image' => '20201231014525_1609370888.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:44:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘New Year Eve’ Gives Hope of Revival of Tourism Industry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of Nepal. The tourism sector was shut down for nearly 10 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism entrepreneurs are excited by the presence of domestic tourists during the ‘New Year Eve’. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Although the New Year’s Eve, that is popular among foreign tourists, has become a new celebration for domestic tourists in recent years the tourism entrepreneurs are excited after influx of domestic tourists at the event organized amid confusion regarding whether or not to host such events during the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">They are hopeful that with the increase in domestic tourists, the tourism sector that has been battered by the coronavirus can be revived to some extent. The tourism entrepreneurs believe that domestic tourism is slowly gaining momentum due to the discounts offered by the airliners, including packages on air tickets, and the offers and discounts made by hoteliers and restaurateurs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On the occasion of the New Year, the number of tourists had increased in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan (Sauraha), Lumbini, Dolakha (Charikot). Recently, after the air bubble agreement with India, even Indian tourists have started coming to Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, said that the programs organized in the New Year and the presence of tourists are expected to boost domestic tourism in the context of non-arrival of foreign tourists due to the global coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The New Year's program has certainly added to the excitement of people,” he said, “Now there is no alternative to reopen tourism activities by complying with health safety standards.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12638', 'image' => '20210104014857_1609716158.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:48:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Mulls Providing Loan to Applicants who Submitted Proposals for Grant Assistance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.</span></span></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">Initially, the government had prepared a work prodecure to provide grants to the start-ups but later changed the modality to loan assistance for seed capital more than a month ago. However, the government is yet to implement the amended work procedure.</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">In September, the government had presented a proposal to the cabinet for amending the work procedure to provide 2 percent concessional loan to start-ups instead of grants.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission had accepted proposals of around 700 applicants for the grant but has not been able to take a decision on this matter after the modality was changed to loan assistance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The applicants have argued that the commission should not provide them loan instead of the grant for which they had submitted the proposals.</span></span></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">Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, who submitted a proposal for agricultural grants, argues that the government cannot force them to take loan by amending the work proposal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The government cannot change its policies every now and then. It should provide us grants in accordance to the application we have filed,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has already amend the work procedure that allows providing loan up to Rs 500 million. However, it has not asked for proposals for the loan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission says it will take a decision soon on whether to provide the applicants with grant or loan. Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the NPC, says that they have to do some additional homework before releasing the amount and therefore it is taking some time. The NPC is currently discussing whether to take new applications or not. It will take a decision on the old applications within a few days.</span></span></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">Although the government has announced in the current fiscal year’s budget to set up a fund of Rs 500 million to provide concessional loan at the rate of 2 percent to the start-ups, the NPC has not been able to manage amount for the fund.</span></span></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">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Jhakka Prasad Acharya says that the government is making efforts to collect money for the fund. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government intends to provide concessional loan between Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million to start-ups involved in the fields of information technology, agriculture, energy, health, tourism, and industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12637', 'image' => '20210104010319_20200906035436_MOF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:02:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank to Study Effectiveness of Concessional Loan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government decided to take such measure amid complaints that the targeted groups have not received the concessional loan. A recent meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel directed Nepal Rastra Bank to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting, according to joint secretary Rameshwar Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The finance minister has shown special interest toward concessional loan. The central bank has been instructed to conduct a study about the effectiveness of concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting,” said Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has announced business continuity loan for the sectors affected by coronavirus. However, the programme has not been effectively implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The private sector has been complaining that the affected businesses have not been able to take concessional loan at all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the high-level meeting, Minister Poudel noted the fact that the concessional loan announced by the government has not been able to reach the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The minister directed the central bank and Nepal Bankers Association to immediately implement the provision to avail concessional loan. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12636', 'image' => '20210104111442_IMG_0966.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 11:14:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cloudy Weather with Chances of Rainfall in Forecast', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3). There are also chances of light rainfall and snowfall in mountainous region, according to a report published by the national news agency, RSS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The mountainous areas of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Gandaki provinces have high changes of light snowfall, RSS reported citing the Metrological Forecasting Division (MFD). Likewise, high hills of Sudur Paschim and Karnali provinces will get light rainfall on Sunday.</span></span></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">According to the MFD, Sudur Paschim, Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini and Bagmati provinces are currently witnessing a generally cloudy weather while Provinces 1 and 2 are having partially cloudy weather.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The weather will remain cloudy across the country with changes of snowfall in high mountainous areas, the MFD stated.</span></span></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">According to the division, the minimum temperature of Kathmandu on Sunday was recorded at 1.3 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature was 18.4 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12635', 'image' => '20210103042227_1609651838.mausam-photo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Endorses Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A cabinet meeting held in late December endorsed the regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had presented the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Bill in parliament almost two years ago. The bill was endorsed by the parliament and authenticated by the president in July/August 2019. Although the act related to safeguards, anti-dumping and countervailing came into existence after the authentication, it could not be implemented due to the lack of regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With the endorsement of the regulation, the law now prevents dumping of goods by foreign countries on condition that they affect the home-grown products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As per the law, if foreign goods are found to be dumped in the country there is a provision to levy customs duty and additional charges on the import of such goods. However, three percent of the imported goods will be exempt of anti-dumping charges, informed Urmila KC, spokesperson at the ministry. According to her, if any goods are brought in excessive amount the government can partially or fully ban such goods. The government will use this privilege to safeguard the domestic industries, added KC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The ministry is currently preparing to impose additional customs duty and tariff rate for the goods that pose a threat to the local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Once the act is implemented, it will put an end to excessive import of goods as well as import of goods at an exceptionally low price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Umbrella bodies of Nepali industries including the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) had been demanding such law since a long time.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12634', 'image' => '20210103023653_1609629529.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:36:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Koshi Corridor Moves Ahead', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.<br /> The north-south track of Koshi Corridor has been opened, while roads are being upgraded in the remaining places.<br /> The Nepal Army has been awarded the contract to open the remaining 14 km road track of the corridor. In February last year, the government handed the contract to the army. According to the Koshi Corridor Road Project, a 10 km section of the highway between Khandbari and Kimathanka is being upgraded, and 39 km of road is being blacktopped.<br /> Chief of the project Gautam Kumar Shrestha informed that the contract is being signed for the blacktopping as the Ministry of Finance has already approved Rs 2.60 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The project directorate has already approved the release of a notice for the contract which will be published by next week," he informed.<br /> The road track from Dhongpa of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha to Chyamtang is yet to be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A 34 km road in the north has been constructed from Khandbari to Chyamtang, while a 14 km track from the Nepal-China border from Kimathanka to Dhongpa has been opened. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Only the middle section of the road remains to be finished. A total of 148 km track has been opened out of the total length of 162 km road. The remaining 14 km has been handed over to the army, and work is underway on other sections, said Project Chief Shrestha. According to him, the Nepal Army is preparing to visit the site for initiating the work.<br /> Shrestha informed that construction has to be initiated by paying attention to the environment as the highway is situated in the Makalu Barun National Park intermediate zone.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12633', 'image' => '20210103021456_1609572191.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Declines by 80 Percent in 2020', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. However, only 230,000 tourists visited Nepal during the period. The arrival of tourists did not meet the government’s expectations due to the coronavirus pandemic that surfaced during the start of 2020.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The arrival of tourists declined by 80 percent in 2020 compared to the figures of the previous year. In 2019, a total of 1,197,000 had visited Nepal while 1,172,072 tourists had arrived in the country in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal could not meet the target set for the Visit Nepal Year as the impact of coronavirus was felt across the globe. Nepal’s tourism industry, which was slowly getting back on track after the earthquakes of 2015, suffered another setback due to the pandemic. The arrival of tourists came to a complete halt last year due to the ban on international flights for nine months in order to prevent the spread of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Department of Immigration, maximum number of tourists arrived in Nepal from India in 2020. The number of Indian tourists who visited Nepal during the review period is 25,320. Similarly, a total of 9809 tourists arrived from China followed by 9,682 from the USA, 9518 from Thailand and 9400 from Myanmar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total 230,000 tourists who visited Nepal in 2020, 183,130 arrived from air route via Tribhuvan International Airport while the remaining 46,955 tourists arrived through land route.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had to postpone the Visit Nepal Year due to the impact of coronavirus. Tourism entrepreneurs say that it will take some more years for the battered tourism industry to return back to the previous state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the year 2020 was an exception, they have demanded revitalizing the tourism sector by allowing tourists who fulfill health standards set by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the arrival of tourists took a nosedive due to the impact of coronavirus, some high-profile visits during the pandemic year has raised hopes of better prospects in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry, which had come to a standstill, is clawing back to its feet thanks to the mountaineering sector. Some VVIPs visited Nepal for mountain expeditions amid coronavirus pandemic much to the delight of the beleaguered industry. Stakeholders say this has given a positive message to the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12632', 'image' => '20210103121633_1609629592.1 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 12:15:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'High-Level Committee to Ensure Concessional Loan Reaches Targeted Group', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee has made arrangements for Nepal Rastra Bank and Nepal Bankers Association to create favourable environment so that the maximum number of beneficiaries get the loan allocated by the government. The central bank and NBA have also been instructed to regularly make public the loan released under this heading. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the committee chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has also directed the central bank to study the effectiveness of the concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting also decided to address the grievances of the stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the relief package mentioned in the policies and programmes of the government by holding discussions between the concerned parties, the central bank and the NBA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other decisions taken by the meeting include a provision of opening branches of banks in four local units that are still out of reach of banking service under the initiative of the central bank. The meeting also instructed the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to analyze the market trend and prepare an updated report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting was attended by the Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Finance Secretary (Revenue), Deputy Governor, and heads of other regulatory bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12631', 'image' => '20210103041059_1609510978.finance_minister_meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Companies Unable to Sell Electricity due to Poor Quality of Transmission Lines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand. Currently, Nepal is importing up to 600 megawatts of electricity from India during peak hour. However, 19 hydropower projects have reduced generation of electricity due to the delay in construction of six transmission lines of the NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The hydropower projects with capacity of 190.65 megawatts are not able to operate in full capacity as the transmission lines cannot supply the produced electricity at the moment. This is evident from the data provided by the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Those hydropower projects can produce more than 50 megawatts of electricity during winter. However, the operators of those companies say they have been producing very less amount of electricity because the transmission lines are of low voltage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have been selling electricity through the 33 KV transmission line which has been in use since many years. The power producers say they have not been able to produce electricity in full capacity due to the low capacity of the transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">If the electricity produced within the country could be connected to the national grid, it will not only reduce the import of electricity but also lower the financial burden, according to the electricity producers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA has awarded contracts to various foreign companies to construct transmission lines of 220 KV along the Koshi Corridor, 132 KV double circuit along the Solu Corridor and 132 KV double circuit along the Singati Corridor. But those projects haven’t been completed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA itself has been unable to complete the 220 KV double circuit Marshyangdi Corridor, 220 KV Trishuli Corridor and 22 KV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to the low quality of the transmission lines, the hydropower projects in those areas are unable to supply energy to the main transmission line of the NEA. The private companies are facing great loss as they are unable to sell the electricity they produce due to the poor quality of transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12630', 'image' => '20210101040900_1609457277.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 16:08:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Electric Vehicles Declines by 88 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the first five months of the last fiscal year, 315 electric vehicles were imported to Nepal. According to the data released by the Department of Customs, only 37 electric vehicles have been imported in the first five months of the current fiscal year, which is a decrease of 88.25 percent compared to the previous year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government had adopted a policy of encouraging electric vehicles to reduce pollution in the Kathmandu Valley two years ago. The target was to increase the number of electric vehicles to 20 percent of the total vehicles by 2020. However, entrepreneurs say that the government is saying one thing and doing another. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has repeatedly encouraged the use of electric vehicles. Inaugurating the electric buses purchased under the Ministry of Tourism with the support of the Asian Development Bank, he also said that the country has entered the era of electric vehicles. However, the then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada increased the tax on electric vehicles by up to 70 percent in the current fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Both the import and sales of electric vehicles have been affected by the tax hike. Not only has the government increased taxes, but the government has not been flexible in urging businessmen to set standards for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations. NADA Chairman Krishna Prasad Dulal said that the import of electric vehicles has been declining every year due to the government's failure to fulfill its commitments. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> “Businessmen have not been able to import electric vehicles due to the government's tax hike that has doubled the price,” he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12629', 'image' => '20210101035213_20200601050236_electric car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 15:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'State Coffers in Surplus of Rs 33 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of December 25, the government has spent a total of Rs 353 billion while it has collected Rs 386 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has collected 32 percent revenue of its annual target while it has been able to spend only 24 percent of the annual budget, informed Deputy Financial Comptroller General Gyanendra Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s income is in accordance to its target. However, the spending is poor. If the government wants to spend the money, it has plenty of development budget in the state coffers,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s development expenditure as of December end is not satisfactory. It has spent only 12 percent of the development budget in the review period, informed the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s daily capital expenditure is not more than Rs 300 million while the current expenditure is more than Rs 4 billion per day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The capital expenditure will increase only if the development works gathers pace. However, the capital expenditure is low as the development works have not gained momentum at the moment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities at the Financial Comptroller General’s Office say that the current expenditure is high because of the implementation of the Covid-19 impact reduction programmes and the payment of government staffers, allowances, social security allowances, pensions among others.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former member of the National Planning Commission Dilli Raj Khanal says that it is not appropriate for the government to keep the allocated budget unused when it has plenty of opportunities to mobilize the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khanal, the government should have expedited development works from the month of Mangsir (midmid-November to mid-December) but it has failed to do so. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s job is not to collect money and keep it stored in the treasury but to revitalize the economy by mobilizing the money,” said Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Of late, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and the NPC are reviewing the budget expenditure every month. However, the government bodies responsible for the expenditure have not changed their way of spending the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12628', 'image' => '20210101025539_20180306114549_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 14:55:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Houses Affected due to Increase in Price of Construction Materials', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rods, cement, bricks, sand and aggregates have all increased, and this has in turn affected the construction works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">One of the construction entrepreneurs informed that those willing to construct personal houses are in a wait and watch situation as the cost of iron had increased of late. Nepal mostly imports iron and other related materials from abroad. The price of iron rods and other materials made of iron has gone up due to the increase in the price of billets that are imported from India and third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rod has increased between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Earlier, the price of iron rod was Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of cement has also increased by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per sack. Aggregates, which used to cost Rs 22,000 per truck, now costs Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The increase in price of construction materials is expected to increase the cost of constructing private and residential houses.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs of Nepal, Mohan Katuwal, says that the cost of metal frameworks has increased because they have to purchase iron from the mills at increased rate. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar says that the price of bricks has increased nominally. According to him, the price of bricks has increased from 10 to 15 percent depending on the shape of the bricks. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chitrakar informed that a normal brick costs Rs 17 per piece while special shaped bricks costs Rs 25 per piece.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12627', 'image' => '20210101015809_1609458496.78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 13:57:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12879', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agriculture Inputs Company to Recommend Blacklisting Shailung Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time. Shailung Enterprizes has been handed the responsibility of importing 25,000 metric tons of urea. The company had failed to supply fertilizers on time two times before.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes was awarded the contract to import 25,000 metric tons of urea in August/September and additional 30,000 metric tons of urea in October/November but has not been able to deliver the fertilizer within the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, chief of the purchase division of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, the deadline for Shailung Enterprises to deliver the fertilizer has exceeded 20 days as of December 31. Pokharel said that the state-owned company is preparing to initiate action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Action has already initiated against the private company for failing to deliver fertilizer as per the understanding reached in the second contract. The Patan High Court on Wednesday (December 30) scrapped an interim order issued earlier that prevented any action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprises had moved the high court after the Agriculture Inputs Company freezed its deposit of US$ 466,250 for failure to deliver the fertilizer. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A division bench of Chief Judge Dr Kumar Chuda and Judge Rekha Thapa on Wednesday scrapped the petition filed by the private company, paving way for the Agriculture Inputs Company to move ahead with the proceedings to take action.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The deadline for the company to deliver the 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer under the second contract was November 9. But the company has not delivered the fertilizer till date.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited Netra Bhandari informed that they have already freezed the deposits and further actions will be initiated from January 1 onward. He added that the company will be blacklisted in accordance to the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Currently we are taking action against the company for the second contract. After the process is over, we will initiate action for the third contract as well,” said Bhandari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12626', 'image' => '20210101114704_20200809115003_1596923819.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 11:46:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12878', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Renewal of Labour Permit Available Online from January 1', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. The Department of Foreign Employment is preparing to implement this provision from January 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign employment confirmed that workers can renew their labour permits online from January 1 onwards. However, this facility is not available for new labour permits. The department clarified that this new facility is currently available only for renewal of labour 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign Employment grants labour permits for a period of two years. After the two-year period of labour permit expires, the workers are forced to return to Nepal for the renewal process. Although Nepal’s embassies were said to provide the renewal service, it has not been implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">But now, the Nepali migrant workers no longer need to visit the department to renew the permit as it can be done through online medium, says Tika Mani Neupane, spokesperson of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In order to renew the labour permit online, the workers should deposit certain amount in the welfare fund and also pay the term life insurance premium in advance. The department has collaborated with digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti to avail the payment service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12625', 'image' => '20201231015705_1609371858.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:56:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12877', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata Customs to Consider Overseas Trade from Nepal’s Container Freight Station', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CFS was not able to conduct foreign trade until now because it did not fall under the domain of the Kolkata customs. The then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav had inaugurated the CFS in Kolkata on August 29, 2019. Nepali importers were not able to utilize the CFS even though it has been such a long time since it was established.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The goods taken to the CFS could not undergo the customs clearance as the port’s customs department had not finalized the process of including it within its domain. Nepal’s Consul General at Kolkata-based consulate, Ishwar Raj Poudel, informed that the CFS is not ready for overseas trade.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The land that Nepal has taken on lease since many years if finally being utilized for foreign trade,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Kolkata Port has also prepared a criteria for operating the CFS which is spread across 4,886 square meters in the costal area.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited (NTWC) Himnath Poudel says they have already received information about the criteria fixed by the port authorities for the operation of the CFS. He said that they have already initiated the process of operating the CFS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NTWC last year set up the Container Freight Station almost 40 years after the Government of Nepal took the land on lease. Once it comes into operation, Nepali importers can use the CFS for storing goods coming from third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The operation of CFS is expected to facilitate Nepal’s overseas trade and also reduce the cost of fines the importers have to pay.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CFS that has been set up at a cost of IRs 2.2 million has a capacity to store 500 containers at a time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NTWC is planning to avail the CFS at a comparatively lower price for Nepali importers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12624', 'image' => '20201231014525_1609370888.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:44:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘New Year Eve’ Gives Hope of Revival of Tourism Industry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 4: The beginning of 2021 has given a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry of Nepal. The tourism sector was shut down for nearly 10 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism entrepreneurs are excited by the presence of domestic tourists during the ‘New Year Eve’. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Although the New Year’s Eve, that is popular among foreign tourists, has become a new celebration for domestic tourists in recent years the tourism entrepreneurs are excited after influx of domestic tourists at the event organized amid confusion regarding whether or not to host such events during the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">They are hopeful that with the increase in domestic tourists, the tourism sector that has been battered by the coronavirus can be revived to some extent. The tourism entrepreneurs believe that domestic tourism is slowly gaining momentum due to the discounts offered by the airliners, including packages on air tickets, and the offers and discounts made by hoteliers and restaurateurs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On the occasion of the New Year, the number of tourists had increased in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan (Sauraha), Lumbini, Dolakha (Charikot). Recently, after the air bubble agreement with India, even Indian tourists have started coming to Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, said that the programs organized in the New Year and the presence of tourists are expected to boost domestic tourism in the context of non-arrival of foreign tourists due to the global coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The New Year's program has certainly added to the excitement of people,” he said, “Now there is no alternative to reopen tourism activities by complying with health safety standards.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12638', 'image' => '20210104014857_1609716158.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:48:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Mulls Providing Loan to Applicants who Submitted Proposals for Grant Assistance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.</span></span></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">Initially, the government had prepared a work prodecure to provide grants to the start-ups but later changed the modality to loan assistance for seed capital more than a month ago. However, the government is yet to implement the amended work procedure.</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">In September, the government had presented a proposal to the cabinet for amending the work procedure to provide 2 percent concessional loan to start-ups instead of grants.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission had accepted proposals of around 700 applicants for the grant but has not been able to take a decision on this matter after the modality was changed to loan assistance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The applicants have argued that the commission should not provide them loan instead of the grant for which they had submitted the proposals.</span></span></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">Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, who submitted a proposal for agricultural grants, argues that the government cannot force them to take loan by amending the work proposal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The government cannot change its policies every now and then. It should provide us grants in accordance to the application we have filed,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has already amend the work procedure that allows providing loan up to Rs 500 million. However, it has not asked for proposals for the loan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission says it will take a decision soon on whether to provide the applicants with grant or loan. Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the NPC, says that they have to do some additional homework before releasing the amount and therefore it is taking some time. The NPC is currently discussing whether to take new applications or not. It will take a decision on the old applications within a few days.</span></span></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">Although the government has announced in the current fiscal year’s budget to set up a fund of Rs 500 million to provide concessional loan at the rate of 2 percent to the start-ups, the NPC has not been able to manage amount for the fund.</span></span></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">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Jhakka Prasad Acharya says that the government is making efforts to collect money for the fund. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government intends to provide concessional loan between Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million to start-ups involved in the fields of information technology, agriculture, energy, health, tourism, and industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12637', 'image' => '20210104010319_20200906035436_MOF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:02:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank to Study Effectiveness of Concessional Loan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government decided to take such measure amid complaints that the targeted groups have not received the concessional loan. A recent meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel directed Nepal Rastra Bank to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting, according to joint secretary Rameshwar Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The finance minister has shown special interest toward concessional loan. The central bank has been instructed to conduct a study about the effectiveness of concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting,” said Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has announced business continuity loan for the sectors affected by coronavirus. However, the programme has not been effectively implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The private sector has been complaining that the affected businesses have not been able to take concessional loan at all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the high-level meeting, Minister Poudel noted the fact that the concessional loan announced by the government has not been able to reach the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The minister directed the central bank and Nepal Bankers Association to immediately implement the provision to avail concessional loan. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12636', 'image' => '20210104111442_IMG_0966.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 11:14:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cloudy Weather with Chances of Rainfall in Forecast', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3). There are also chances of light rainfall and snowfall in mountainous region, according to a report published by the national news agency, RSS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The mountainous areas of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Gandaki provinces have high changes of light snowfall, RSS reported citing the Metrological Forecasting Division (MFD). Likewise, high hills of Sudur Paschim and Karnali provinces will get light rainfall on Sunday.</span></span></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">According to the MFD, Sudur Paschim, Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini and Bagmati provinces are currently witnessing a generally cloudy weather while Provinces 1 and 2 are having partially cloudy weather.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The weather will remain cloudy across the country with changes of snowfall in high mountainous areas, the MFD stated.</span></span></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">According to the division, the minimum temperature of Kathmandu on Sunday was recorded at 1.3 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature was 18.4 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12635', 'image' => '20210103042227_1609651838.mausam-photo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Endorses Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A cabinet meeting held in late December endorsed the regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had presented the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Bill in parliament almost two years ago. The bill was endorsed by the parliament and authenticated by the president in July/August 2019. Although the act related to safeguards, anti-dumping and countervailing came into existence after the authentication, it could not be implemented due to the lack of regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With the endorsement of the regulation, the law now prevents dumping of goods by foreign countries on condition that they affect the home-grown products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As per the law, if foreign goods are found to be dumped in the country there is a provision to levy customs duty and additional charges on the import of such goods. However, three percent of the imported goods will be exempt of anti-dumping charges, informed Urmila KC, spokesperson at the ministry. According to her, if any goods are brought in excessive amount the government can partially or fully ban such goods. The government will use this privilege to safeguard the domestic industries, added KC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The ministry is currently preparing to impose additional customs duty and tariff rate for the goods that pose a threat to the local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Once the act is implemented, it will put an end to excessive import of goods as well as import of goods at an exceptionally low price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Umbrella bodies of Nepali industries including the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) had been demanding such law since a long time.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12634', 'image' => '20210103023653_1609629529.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:36:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Koshi Corridor Moves Ahead', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.<br /> The north-south track of Koshi Corridor has been opened, while roads are being upgraded in the remaining places.<br /> The Nepal Army has been awarded the contract to open the remaining 14 km road track of the corridor. In February last year, the government handed the contract to the army. According to the Koshi Corridor Road Project, a 10 km section of the highway between Khandbari and Kimathanka is being upgraded, and 39 km of road is being blacktopped.<br /> Chief of the project Gautam Kumar Shrestha informed that the contract is being signed for the blacktopping as the Ministry of Finance has already approved Rs 2.60 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The project directorate has already approved the release of a notice for the contract which will be published by next week," he informed.<br /> The road track from Dhongpa of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha to Chyamtang is yet to be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A 34 km road in the north has been constructed from Khandbari to Chyamtang, while a 14 km track from the Nepal-China border from Kimathanka to Dhongpa has been opened. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Only the middle section of the road remains to be finished. A total of 148 km track has been opened out of the total length of 162 km road. The remaining 14 km has been handed over to the army, and work is underway on other sections, said Project Chief Shrestha. According to him, the Nepal Army is preparing to visit the site for initiating the work.<br /> Shrestha informed that construction has to be initiated by paying attention to the environment as the highway is situated in the Makalu Barun National Park intermediate zone.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12633', 'image' => '20210103021456_1609572191.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Declines by 80 Percent in 2020', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. However, only 230,000 tourists visited Nepal during the period. The arrival of tourists did not meet the government’s expectations due to the coronavirus pandemic that surfaced during the start of 2020.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The arrival of tourists declined by 80 percent in 2020 compared to the figures of the previous year. In 2019, a total of 1,197,000 had visited Nepal while 1,172,072 tourists had arrived in the country in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal could not meet the target set for the Visit Nepal Year as the impact of coronavirus was felt across the globe. Nepal’s tourism industry, which was slowly getting back on track after the earthquakes of 2015, suffered another setback due to the pandemic. The arrival of tourists came to a complete halt last year due to the ban on international flights for nine months in order to prevent the spread of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Department of Immigration, maximum number of tourists arrived in Nepal from India in 2020. The number of Indian tourists who visited Nepal during the review period is 25,320. Similarly, a total of 9809 tourists arrived from China followed by 9,682 from the USA, 9518 from Thailand and 9400 from Myanmar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total 230,000 tourists who visited Nepal in 2020, 183,130 arrived from air route via Tribhuvan International Airport while the remaining 46,955 tourists arrived through land route.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had to postpone the Visit Nepal Year due to the impact of coronavirus. Tourism entrepreneurs say that it will take some more years for the battered tourism industry to return back to the previous state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the year 2020 was an exception, they have demanded revitalizing the tourism sector by allowing tourists who fulfill health standards set by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the arrival of tourists took a nosedive due to the impact of coronavirus, some high-profile visits during the pandemic year has raised hopes of better prospects in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry, which had come to a standstill, is clawing back to its feet thanks to the mountaineering sector. Some VVIPs visited Nepal for mountain expeditions amid coronavirus pandemic much to the delight of the beleaguered industry. Stakeholders say this has given a positive message to the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12632', 'image' => '20210103121633_1609629592.1 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 12:15:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'High-Level Committee to Ensure Concessional Loan Reaches Targeted Group', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee has made arrangements for Nepal Rastra Bank and Nepal Bankers Association to create favourable environment so that the maximum number of beneficiaries get the loan allocated by the government. The central bank and NBA have also been instructed to regularly make public the loan released under this heading. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the committee chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has also directed the central bank to study the effectiveness of the concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting also decided to address the grievances of the stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the relief package mentioned in the policies and programmes of the government by holding discussions between the concerned parties, the central bank and the NBA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other decisions taken by the meeting include a provision of opening branches of banks in four local units that are still out of reach of banking service under the initiative of the central bank. The meeting also instructed the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to analyze the market trend and prepare an updated report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting was attended by the Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Finance Secretary (Revenue), Deputy Governor, and heads of other regulatory bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12631', 'image' => '20210103041059_1609510978.finance_minister_meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Companies Unable to Sell Electricity due to Poor Quality of Transmission Lines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand. Currently, Nepal is importing up to 600 megawatts of electricity from India during peak hour. However, 19 hydropower projects have reduced generation of electricity due to the delay in construction of six transmission lines of the NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The hydropower projects with capacity of 190.65 megawatts are not able to operate in full capacity as the transmission lines cannot supply the produced electricity at the moment. This is evident from the data provided by the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Those hydropower projects can produce more than 50 megawatts of electricity during winter. However, the operators of those companies say they have been producing very less amount of electricity because the transmission lines are of low voltage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have been selling electricity through the 33 KV transmission line which has been in use since many years. The power producers say they have not been able to produce electricity in full capacity due to the low capacity of the transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">If the electricity produced within the country could be connected to the national grid, it will not only reduce the import of electricity but also lower the financial burden, according to the electricity producers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA has awarded contracts to various foreign companies to construct transmission lines of 220 KV along the Koshi Corridor, 132 KV double circuit along the Solu Corridor and 132 KV double circuit along the Singati Corridor. But those projects haven’t been completed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA itself has been unable to complete the 220 KV double circuit Marshyangdi Corridor, 220 KV Trishuli Corridor and 22 KV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to the low quality of the transmission lines, the hydropower projects in those areas are unable to supply energy to the main transmission line of the NEA. The private companies are facing great loss as they are unable to sell the electricity they produce due to the poor quality of transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12630', 'image' => '20210101040900_1609457277.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 16:08:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Electric Vehicles Declines by 88 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the first five months of the last fiscal year, 315 electric vehicles were imported to Nepal. According to the data released by the Department of Customs, only 37 electric vehicles have been imported in the first five months of the current fiscal year, which is a decrease of 88.25 percent compared to the previous year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government had adopted a policy of encouraging electric vehicles to reduce pollution in the Kathmandu Valley two years ago. The target was to increase the number of electric vehicles to 20 percent of the total vehicles by 2020. However, entrepreneurs say that the government is saying one thing and doing another. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has repeatedly encouraged the use of electric vehicles. Inaugurating the electric buses purchased under the Ministry of Tourism with the support of the Asian Development Bank, he also said that the country has entered the era of electric vehicles. However, the then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada increased the tax on electric vehicles by up to 70 percent in the current fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Both the import and sales of electric vehicles have been affected by the tax hike. Not only has the government increased taxes, but the government has not been flexible in urging businessmen to set standards for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations. NADA Chairman Krishna Prasad Dulal said that the import of electric vehicles has been declining every year due to the government's failure to fulfill its commitments. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> “Businessmen have not been able to import electric vehicles due to the government's tax hike that has doubled the price,” he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12629', 'image' => '20210101035213_20200601050236_electric car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 15:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'State Coffers in Surplus of Rs 33 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of December 25, the government has spent a total of Rs 353 billion while it has collected Rs 386 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has collected 32 percent revenue of its annual target while it has been able to spend only 24 percent of the annual budget, informed Deputy Financial Comptroller General Gyanendra Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s income is in accordance to its target. However, the spending is poor. If the government wants to spend the money, it has plenty of development budget in the state coffers,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s development expenditure as of December end is not satisfactory. It has spent only 12 percent of the development budget in the review period, informed the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s daily capital expenditure is not more than Rs 300 million while the current expenditure is more than Rs 4 billion per day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The capital expenditure will increase only if the development works gathers pace. However, the capital expenditure is low as the development works have not gained momentum at the moment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities at the Financial Comptroller General’s Office say that the current expenditure is high because of the implementation of the Covid-19 impact reduction programmes and the payment of government staffers, allowances, social security allowances, pensions among others.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former member of the National Planning Commission Dilli Raj Khanal says that it is not appropriate for the government to keep the allocated budget unused when it has plenty of opportunities to mobilize the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khanal, the government should have expedited development works from the month of Mangsir (midmid-November to mid-December) but it has failed to do so. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s job is not to collect money and keep it stored in the treasury but to revitalize the economy by mobilizing the money,” said Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Of late, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and the NPC are reviewing the budget expenditure every month. However, the government bodies responsible for the expenditure have not changed their way of spending the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12628', 'image' => '20210101025539_20180306114549_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 14:55:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Houses Affected due to Increase in Price of Construction Materials', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rods, cement, bricks, sand and aggregates have all increased, and this has in turn affected the construction works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">One of the construction entrepreneurs informed that those willing to construct personal houses are in a wait and watch situation as the cost of iron had increased of late. Nepal mostly imports iron and other related materials from abroad. The price of iron rods and other materials made of iron has gone up due to the increase in the price of billets that are imported from India and third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rod has increased between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Earlier, the price of iron rod was Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of cement has also increased by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per sack. Aggregates, which used to cost Rs 22,000 per truck, now costs Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The increase in price of construction materials is expected to increase the cost of constructing private and residential houses.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs of Nepal, Mohan Katuwal, says that the cost of metal frameworks has increased because they have to purchase iron from the mills at increased rate. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar says that the price of bricks has increased nominally. According to him, the price of bricks has increased from 10 to 15 percent depending on the shape of the bricks. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chitrakar informed that a normal brick costs Rs 17 per piece while special shaped bricks costs Rs 25 per piece.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12627', 'image' => '20210101015809_1609458496.78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 13:57:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12879', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agriculture Inputs Company to Recommend Blacklisting Shailung Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time. Shailung Enterprizes has been handed the responsibility of importing 25,000 metric tons of urea. The company had failed to supply fertilizers on time two times before.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes was awarded the contract to import 25,000 metric tons of urea in August/September and additional 30,000 metric tons of urea in October/November but has not been able to deliver the fertilizer within the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, chief of the purchase division of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, the deadline for Shailung Enterprises to deliver the fertilizer has exceeded 20 days as of December 31. Pokharel said that the state-owned company is preparing to initiate action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Action has already initiated against the private company for failing to deliver fertilizer as per the understanding reached in the second contract. The Patan High Court on Wednesday (December 30) scrapped an interim order issued earlier that prevented any action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprises had moved the high court after the Agriculture Inputs Company freezed its deposit of US$ 466,250 for failure to deliver the fertilizer. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A division bench of Chief Judge Dr Kumar Chuda and Judge Rekha Thapa on Wednesday scrapped the petition filed by the private company, paving way for the Agriculture Inputs Company to move ahead with the proceedings to take action.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The deadline for the company to deliver the 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer under the second contract was November 9. But the company has not delivered the fertilizer till date.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited Netra Bhandari informed that they have already freezed the deposits and further actions will be initiated from January 1 onward. He added that the company will be blacklisted in accordance to the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Currently we are taking action against the company for the second contract. After the process is over, we will initiate action for the third contract as well,” said Bhandari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12626', 'image' => '20210101114704_20200809115003_1596923819.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 11:46:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12878', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Renewal of Labour Permit Available Online from January 1', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. The Department of Foreign Employment is preparing to implement this provision from January 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign employment confirmed that workers can renew their labour permits online from January 1 onwards. However, this facility is not available for new labour permits. The department clarified that this new facility is currently available only for renewal of labour 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign Employment grants labour permits for a period of two years. After the two-year period of labour permit expires, the workers are forced to return to Nepal for the renewal process. Although Nepal’s embassies were said to provide the renewal service, it has not been implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">But now, the Nepali migrant workers no longer need to visit the department to renew the permit as it can be done through online medium, says Tika Mani Neupane, spokesperson of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In order to renew the labour permit online, the workers should deposit certain amount in the welfare fund and also pay the term life insurance premium in advance. The department has collaborated with digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti to avail the payment service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12625', 'image' => '20201231015705_1609371858.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:56:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12877', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata Customs to Consider Overseas Trade from Nepal’s Container Freight Station', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CFS was not able to conduct foreign trade until now because it did not fall under the domain of the Kolkata customs. The then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav had inaugurated the CFS in Kolkata on August 29, 2019. Nepali importers were not able to utilize the CFS even though it has been such a long time since it was established.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The goods taken to the CFS could not undergo the customs clearance as the port’s customs department had not finalized the process of including it within its domain. Nepal’s Consul General at Kolkata-based consulate, Ishwar Raj Poudel, informed that the CFS is not ready for overseas trade.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The land that Nepal has taken on lease since many years if finally being utilized for foreign trade,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Kolkata Port has also prepared a criteria for operating the CFS which is spread across 4,886 square meters in the costal area.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited (NTWC) Himnath Poudel says they have already received information about the criteria fixed by the port authorities for the operation of the CFS. He said that they have already initiated the process of operating the CFS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NTWC last year set up the Container Freight Station almost 40 years after the Government of Nepal took the land on lease. Once it comes into operation, Nepali importers can use the CFS for storing goods coming from third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The operation of CFS is expected to facilitate Nepal’s overseas trade and also reduce the cost of fines the importers have to pay.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CFS that has been set up at a cost of IRs 2.2 million has a capacity to store 500 containers at a time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NTWC is planning to avail the CFS at a comparatively lower price for Nepali importers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12624', 'image' => '20201231014525_1609370888.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:44:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The tourism sector was shut down for nearly 10 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism entrepreneurs are excited by the presence of domestic tourists during the ‘New Year Eve’. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Although the New Year’s Eve, that is popular among foreign tourists, has become a new celebration for domestic tourists in recent years the tourism entrepreneurs are excited after influx of domestic tourists at the event organized amid confusion regarding whether or not to host such events during the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">They are hopeful that with the increase in domestic tourists, the tourism sector that has been battered by the coronavirus can be revived to some extent. The tourism entrepreneurs believe that domestic tourism is slowly gaining momentum due to the discounts offered by the airliners, including packages on air tickets, and the offers and discounts made by hoteliers and restaurateurs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On the occasion of the New Year, the number of tourists had increased in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan (Sauraha), Lumbini, Dolakha (Charikot). Recently, after the air bubble agreement with India, even Indian tourists have started coming to Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, said that the programs organized in the New Year and the presence of tourists are expected to boost domestic tourism in the context of non-arrival of foreign tourists due to the global coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The New Year's program has certainly added to the excitement of people,” he said, “Now there is no alternative to reopen tourism activities by complying with health safety standards.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12638', 'image' => '20210104014857_1609716158.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:48:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Mulls Providing Loan to Applicants who Submitted Proposals for Grant Assistance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 4: The government had made announcement last year to support start-up businesses last year but has not been able to implement the programme so far.</span></span></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">Initially, the government had prepared a work prodecure to provide grants to the start-ups but later changed the modality to loan assistance for seed capital more than a month ago. However, the government is yet to implement the amended work procedure.</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">In September, the government had presented a proposal to the cabinet for amending the work procedure to provide 2 percent concessional loan to start-ups instead of grants.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission had accepted proposals of around 700 applicants for the grant but has not been able to take a decision on this matter after the modality was changed to loan assistance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The applicants have argued that the commission should not provide them loan instead of the grant for which they had submitted the proposals.</span></span></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">Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, who submitted a proposal for agricultural grants, argues that the government cannot force them to take loan by amending the work proposal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The government cannot change its policies every now and then. It should provide us grants in accordance to the application we have filed,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has already amend the work procedure that allows providing loan up to Rs 500 million. However, it has not asked for proposals for the loan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The National Planning Commission says it will take a decision soon on whether to provide the applicants with grant or loan. Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the NPC, says that they have to do some additional homework before releasing the amount and therefore it is taking some time. The NPC is currently discussing whether to take new applications or not. It will take a decision on the old applications within a few days.</span></span></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">Although the government has announced in the current fiscal year’s budget to set up a fund of Rs 500 million to provide concessional loan at the rate of 2 percent to the start-ups, the NPC has not been able to manage amount for the fund.</span></span></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">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Jhakka Prasad Acharya says that the government is making efforts to collect money for the fund. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government intends to provide concessional loan between Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million to start-ups involved in the fields of information technology, agriculture, energy, health, tourism, and industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12637', 'image' => '20210104010319_20200906035436_MOF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 13:02:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank to Study Effectiveness of Concessional Loan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 4: The government has decided to conduct a study in order to effectively implement the release of concessional loans for sectors affected by Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government decided to take such measure amid complaints that the targeted groups have not received the concessional loan. A recent meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel directed Nepal Rastra Bank to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting, according to joint secretary Rameshwar Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The finance minister has shown special interest toward concessional loan. The central bank has been instructed to conduct a study about the effectiveness of concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting,” said Dangal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has announced business continuity loan for the sectors affected by coronavirus. However, the programme has not been effectively implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The private sector has been complaining that the affected businesses have not been able to take concessional loan at all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the high-level meeting, Minister Poudel noted the fact that the concessional loan announced by the government has not been able to reach the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The minister directed the central bank and Nepal Bankers Association to immediately implement the provision to avail concessional loan. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-04', 'modified' => '2021-01-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12636', 'image' => '20210104111442_IMG_0966.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-04 11:14:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cloudy Weather with Chances of Rainfall in Forecast', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">January 3: The westerly wind is likely to cause cloudy weather in most parts of the country on Sunday (January 3). There are also chances of light rainfall and snowfall in mountainous region, according to a report published by the national news agency, RSS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The mountainous areas of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Gandaki provinces have high changes of light snowfall, RSS reported citing the Metrological Forecasting Division (MFD). Likewise, high hills of Sudur Paschim and Karnali provinces will get light rainfall on Sunday.</span></span></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">According to the MFD, Sudur Paschim, Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini and Bagmati provinces are currently witnessing a generally cloudy weather while Provinces 1 and 2 are having partially cloudy weather.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The weather will remain cloudy across the country with changes of snowfall in high mountainous areas, the MFD stated.</span></span></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">According to the division, the minimum temperature of Kathmandu on Sunday was recorded at 1.3 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature was 18.4 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12635', 'image' => '20210103042227_1609651838.mausam-photo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Endorses Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: The government has endorsed the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Regulation in a bid to curb the imports of goods that destabilize the domestic market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A cabinet meeting held in late December endorsed the regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had presented the Safeguards, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Bill in parliament almost two years ago. The bill was endorsed by the parliament and authenticated by the president in July/August 2019. Although the act related to safeguards, anti-dumping and countervailing came into existence after the authentication, it could not be implemented due to the lack of regulation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With the endorsement of the regulation, the law now prevents dumping of goods by foreign countries on condition that they affect the home-grown products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As per the law, if foreign goods are found to be dumped in the country there is a provision to levy customs duty and additional charges on the import of such goods. However, three percent of the imported goods will be exempt of anti-dumping charges, informed Urmila KC, spokesperson at the ministry. According to her, if any goods are brought in excessive amount the government can partially or fully ban such goods. The government will use this privilege to safeguard the domestic industries, added KC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The ministry is currently preparing to impose additional customs duty and tariff rate for the goods that pose a threat to the local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Once the act is implemented, it will put an end to excessive import of goods as well as import of goods at an exceptionally low price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Umbrella bodies of Nepali industries including the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) had been demanding such law since a long time.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12634', 'image' => '20210103023653_1609629529.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:36:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Koshi Corridor Moves Ahead', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">January 3: Despite difficulties of geographical conditions and challenges, the construction of the Koshi corridor is moving ahead.<br /> The north-south track of Koshi Corridor has been opened, while roads are being upgraded in the remaining places.<br /> The Nepal Army has been awarded the contract to open the remaining 14 km road track of the corridor. In February last year, the government handed the contract to the army. According to the Koshi Corridor Road Project, a 10 km section of the highway between Khandbari and Kimathanka is being upgraded, and 39 km of road is being blacktopped.<br /> Chief of the project Gautam Kumar Shrestha informed that the contract is being signed for the blacktopping as the Ministry of Finance has already approved Rs 2.60 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The project directorate has already approved the release of a notice for the contract which will be published by next week," he informed.<br /> The road track from Dhongpa of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha to Chyamtang is yet to be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A 34 km road in the north has been constructed from Khandbari to Chyamtang, while a 14 km track from the Nepal-China border from Kimathanka to Dhongpa has been opened. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Only the middle section of the road remains to be finished. A total of 148 km track has been opened out of the total length of 162 km road. The remaining 14 km has been handed over to the army, and work is underway on other sections, said Project Chief Shrestha. According to him, the Nepal Army is preparing to visit the site for initiating the work.<br /> Shrestha informed that construction has to be initiated by paying attention to the environment as the highway is situated in the Makalu Barun National Park intermediate zone.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12633', 'image' => '20210103021456_1609572191.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 14:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Declines by 80 Percent in 2020', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The government had declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with the target of welcoming 2 million tourists to the country. However, only 230,000 tourists visited Nepal during the period. The arrival of tourists did not meet the government’s expectations due to the coronavirus pandemic that surfaced during the start of 2020.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The arrival of tourists declined by 80 percent in 2020 compared to the figures of the previous year. In 2019, a total of 1,197,000 had visited Nepal while 1,172,072 tourists had arrived in the country in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal could not meet the target set for the Visit Nepal Year as the impact of coronavirus was felt across the globe. Nepal’s tourism industry, which was slowly getting back on track after the earthquakes of 2015, suffered another setback due to the pandemic. The arrival of tourists came to a complete halt last year due to the ban on international flights for nine months in order to prevent the spread of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Department of Immigration, maximum number of tourists arrived in Nepal from India in 2020. The number of Indian tourists who visited Nepal during the review period is 25,320. Similarly, a total of 9809 tourists arrived from China followed by 9,682 from the USA, 9518 from Thailand and 9400 from Myanmar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total 230,000 tourists who visited Nepal in 2020, 183,130 arrived from air route via Tribhuvan International Airport while the remaining 46,955 tourists arrived through land route.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had to postpone the Visit Nepal Year due to the impact of coronavirus. Tourism entrepreneurs say that it will take some more years for the battered tourism industry to return back to the previous state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the year 2020 was an exception, they have demanded revitalizing the tourism sector by allowing tourists who fulfill health standards set by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the arrival of tourists took a nosedive due to the impact of coronavirus, some high-profile visits during the pandemic year has raised hopes of better prospects in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry, which had come to a standstill, is clawing back to its feet thanks to the mountaineering sector. Some VVIPs visited Nepal for mountain expeditions amid coronavirus pandemic much to the delight of the beleaguered industry. Stakeholders say this has given a positive message to the tourism industry.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12632', 'image' => '20210103121633_1609629592.1 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 12:15:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'High-Level Committee to Ensure Concessional Loan Reaches Targeted Group', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 3: The High-Level Financial Sector Coordination Committee has decided to ensure that the concessional loan, business continuity loan and refinancing facility under the relief package reaches the targeted group.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee has made arrangements for Nepal Rastra Bank and Nepal Bankers Association to create favourable environment so that the maximum number of beneficiaries get the loan allocated by the government. The central bank and NBA have also been instructed to regularly make public the loan released under this heading. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the committee chaired by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has also directed the central bank to study the effectiveness of the concessional loan and present a report in the next meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting also decided to address the grievances of the stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the relief package mentioned in the policies and programmes of the government by holding discussions between the concerned parties, the central bank and the NBA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other decisions taken by the meeting include a provision of opening branches of banks in four local units that are still out of reach of banking service under the initiative of the central bank. The meeting also instructed the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to analyze the market trend and prepare an updated report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The meeting was attended by the Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Finance Secretary (Revenue), Deputy Governor, and heads of other regulatory bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-03', 'modified' => '2021-01-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12631', 'image' => '20210103041059_1609510978.finance_minister_meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-03 16:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Companies Unable to Sell Electricity due to Poor Quality of Transmission Lines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from India on a daily basis to meet the country's demand. Currently, Nepal is importing up to 600 megawatts of electricity from India during peak hour. However, 19 hydropower projects have reduced generation of electricity due to the delay in construction of six transmission lines of the NEA.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The hydropower projects with capacity of 190.65 megawatts are not able to operate in full capacity as the transmission lines cannot supply the produced electricity at the moment. This is evident from the data provided by the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Those hydropower projects can produce more than 50 megawatts of electricity during winter. However, the operators of those companies say they have been producing very less amount of electricity because the transmission lines are of low voltage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have been selling electricity through the 33 KV transmission line which has been in use since many years. The power producers say they have not been able to produce electricity in full capacity due to the low capacity of the transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">If the electricity produced within the country could be connected to the national grid, it will not only reduce the import of electricity but also lower the financial burden, according to the electricity producers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA has awarded contracts to various foreign companies to construct transmission lines of 220 KV along the Koshi Corridor, 132 KV double circuit along the Solu Corridor and 132 KV double circuit along the Singati Corridor. But those projects haven’t been completed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NEA itself has been unable to complete the 220 KV double circuit Marshyangdi Corridor, 220 KV Trishuli Corridor and 22 KV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to the low quality of the transmission lines, the hydropower projects in those areas are unable to supply energy to the main transmission line of the NEA. The private companies are facing great loss as they are unable to sell the electricity they produce due to the poor quality of transmission lines.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12630', 'image' => '20210101040900_1609457277.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 16:08:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Electric Vehicles Declines by 88 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">January 1: Despite the government's policy of replacing petroleum-run vehicles with electric vehicles, imports of electric vehicles have declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the first five months of the last fiscal year, 315 electric vehicles were imported to Nepal. According to the data released by the Department of Customs, only 37 electric vehicles have been imported in the first five months of the current fiscal year, which is a decrease of 88.25 percent compared to the previous year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government had adopted a policy of encouraging electric vehicles to reduce pollution in the Kathmandu Valley two years ago. The target was to increase the number of electric vehicles to 20 percent of the total vehicles by 2020. However, entrepreneurs say that the government is saying one thing and doing another. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has repeatedly encouraged the use of electric vehicles. Inaugurating the electric buses purchased under the Ministry of Tourism with the support of the Asian Development Bank, he also said that the country has entered the era of electric vehicles. However, the then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada increased the tax on electric vehicles by up to 70 percent in the current fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Both the import and sales of electric vehicles have been affected by the tax hike. Not only has the government increased taxes, but the government has not been flexible in urging businessmen to set standards for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations. NADA Chairman Krishna Prasad Dulal said that the import of electric vehicles has been declining every year due to the government's failure to fulfill its commitments. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> “Businessmen have not been able to import electric vehicles due to the government's tax hike that has doubled the price,” he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12629', 'image' => '20210101035213_20200601050236_electric car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 15:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'State Coffers in Surplus of Rs 33 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The state treasury is in a surplus of Rs 32.61 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office as result of low capital expenditure and the government meeting its revenue collection target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of December 25, the government has spent a total of Rs 353 billion while it has collected Rs 386 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has collected 32 percent revenue of its annual target while it has been able to spend only 24 percent of the annual budget, informed Deputy Financial Comptroller General Gyanendra Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s income is in accordance to its target. However, the spending is poor. If the government wants to spend the money, it has plenty of development budget in the state coffers,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s development expenditure as of December end is not satisfactory. It has spent only 12 percent of the development budget in the review period, informed the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government’s daily capital expenditure is not more than Rs 300 million while the current expenditure is more than Rs 4 billion per day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The capital expenditure will increase only if the development works gathers pace. However, the capital expenditure is low as the development works have not gained momentum at the moment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities at the Financial Comptroller General’s Office say that the current expenditure is high because of the implementation of the Covid-19 impact reduction programmes and the payment of government staffers, allowances, social security allowances, pensions among others.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Former member of the National Planning Commission Dilli Raj Khanal says that it is not appropriate for the government to keep the allocated budget unused when it has plenty of opportunities to mobilize the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khanal, the government should have expedited development works from the month of Mangsir (midmid-November to mid-December) but it has failed to do so. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The government’s job is not to collect money and keep it stored in the treasury but to revitalize the economy by mobilizing the money,” said Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Of late, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and the NPC are reviewing the budget expenditure every month. However, the government bodies responsible for the expenditure have not changed their way of spending the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12628', 'image' => '20210101025539_20180306114549_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 14:55:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Houses Affected due to Increase in Price of Construction Materials', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rods, cement, bricks, sand and aggregates have all increased, and this has in turn affected the construction works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">One of the construction entrepreneurs informed that those willing to construct personal houses are in a wait and watch situation as the cost of iron had increased of late. Nepal mostly imports iron and other related materials from abroad. The price of iron rods and other materials made of iron has gone up due to the increase in the price of billets that are imported from India and third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of iron rod has increased between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Earlier, the price of iron rod was Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of cement has also increased by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per sack. Aggregates, which used to cost Rs 22,000 per truck, now costs Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The increase in price of construction materials is expected to increase the cost of constructing private and residential houses.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs of Nepal, Mohan Katuwal, says that the cost of metal frameworks has increased because they have to purchase iron from the mills at increased rate. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar says that the price of bricks has increased nominally. According to him, the price of bricks has increased from 10 to 15 percent depending on the shape of the bricks. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chitrakar informed that a normal brick costs Rs 17 per piece while special shaped bricks costs Rs 25 per piece.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12627', 'image' => '20210101015809_1609458496.78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 13:57:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12879', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agriculture Inputs Company to Recommend Blacklisting Shailung Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 1: Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">January 1: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes has failed to deliver chemical fertilizer to the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company Limited for the third time. Shailung Enterprizes has been handed the responsibility of importing 25,000 metric tons of urea. The company had failed to supply fertilizers on time two times before.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprizes was awarded the contract to import 25,000 metric tons of urea in August/September and additional 30,000 metric tons of urea in October/November but has not been able to deliver the fertilizer within the deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, chief of the purchase division of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, the deadline for Shailung Enterprises to deliver the fertilizer has exceeded 20 days as of December 31. Pokharel said that the state-owned company is preparing to initiate action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Action has already initiated against the private company for failing to deliver fertilizer as per the understanding reached in the second contract. The Patan High Court on Wednesday (December 30) scrapped an interim order issued earlier that prevented any action against Shailung Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shailung Enterprises had moved the high court after the Agriculture Inputs Company freezed its deposit of US$ 466,250 for failure to deliver the fertilizer. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A division bench of Chief Judge Dr Kumar Chuda and Judge Rekha Thapa on Wednesday scrapped the petition filed by the private company, paving way for the Agriculture Inputs Company to move ahead with the proceedings to take action.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The deadline for the company to deliver the 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer under the second contract was November 9. But the company has not delivered the fertilizer till date.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited Netra Bhandari informed that they have already freezed the deposits and further actions will be initiated from January 1 onward. He added that the company will be blacklisted in accordance to the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Currently we are taking action against the company for the second contract. After the process is over, we will initiate action for the third contract as well,” said Bhandari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-01-01', 'modified' => '2021-01-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12626', 'image' => '20210101114704_20200809115003_1596923819.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-01-01 11:46:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12878', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Renewal of Labour Permit Available Online from January 1', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. The Department of Foreign Employment is preparing to implement this provision from January 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign employment confirmed that workers can renew their labour permits online from January 1 onwards. However, this facility is not available for new labour permits. The department clarified that this new facility is currently available only for renewal of labour 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department of Foreign Employment grants labour permits for a period of two years. After the two-year period of labour permit expires, the workers are forced to return to Nepal for the renewal process. Although Nepal’s embassies were said to provide the renewal service, it has not been implemented so far.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">But now, the Nepali migrant workers no longer need to visit the department to renew the permit as it can be done through online medium, says Tika Mani Neupane, spokesperson of 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In order to renew the labour permit online, the workers should deposit certain amount in the welfare fund and also pay the term life insurance premium in advance. The department has collaborated with digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti to avail the payment service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12625', 'image' => '20201231015705_1609371858.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:56:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12877', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata Customs to Consider Overseas Trade from Nepal’s Container Freight Station', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">December 31: The Container Freight Station (CFS) set up by Nepal in Kolkata has been included by the Kolkata customs within its jurisdiction almost one and a half years after it came into operation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CFS was not able to conduct foreign trade until now because it did not fall under the domain of the Kolkata customs. The then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav had inaugurated the CFS in Kolkata on August 29, 2019. Nepali importers were not able to utilize the CFS even though it has been such a long time since it was established.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The goods taken to the CFS could not undergo the customs clearance as the port’s customs department had not finalized the process of including it within its domain. Nepal’s Consul General at Kolkata-based consulate, Ishwar Raj Poudel, informed that the CFS is not ready for overseas trade.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The land that Nepal has taken on lease since many years if finally being utilized for foreign trade,” said Poudel.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Kolkata Port has also prepared a criteria for operating the CFS which is spread across 4,886 square meters in the costal area.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chief of the Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited (NTWC) Himnath Poudel says they have already received information about the criteria fixed by the port authorities for the operation of the CFS. He said that they have already initiated the process of operating the CFS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NTWC last year set up the Container Freight Station almost 40 years after the Government of Nepal took the land on lease. Once it comes into operation, Nepali importers can use the CFS for storing goods coming from third 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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The operation of CFS is expected to facilitate Nepal’s overseas trade and also reduce the cost of fines the importers have to pay.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CFS that has been set up at a cost of IRs 2.2 million has a capacity to store 500 containers at a time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NTWC is planning to avail the CFS at a comparatively lower price for Nepali importers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-12-31', 'modified' => '2020-12-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12624', 'image' => '20201231014525_1609370888.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-12-31 13:44:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
