Government to get new BYD Buses within a Month

Nov 04, 2020 0 2 minutes 35 seconds to read

November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years.…

Finance Minister Reviewing Status of Budget Implementation

Nov 04, 2020 0 2 minutes 34 seconds to read

November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year…

Import of Coal Up Despite Current Crisis

Nov 04, 2020 0 1 minutes 59 seconds to read

November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone…

Central Bank to Auction Development Bonds worth Rs 20 Billion on Nov 4

Nov 03, 2020 0 1 minutes 49 seconds to read

November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal…

Most of the Roads Damaged during Monsoon have Become Operational: DoR

Nov 03, 2020 0 2 minutes 49 seconds to read

November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic.…

Sailung Enterprises unlikely to Import Fertilizer within Extended Deadline

Nov 03, 2020 0 1 minutes 53 seconds to read

November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing…

Nepal, Israel Prepare Protocol for Migrant Workers

Nov 03, 2020 0 2 minutes 53 seconds to read

November 3: A ‘protocol’ to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month…

High-Profile Visits for Mountaineering Give Silver Lining to the ailing Tourism Industry

Nov 03, 2020 0 3 minutes 16 seconds to read

November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions.…

Loans Worth Rs 191 billion Disbursed to the Agriculture Sector

Nov 02, 2020 0 3 minutes 30 seconds to read

Commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal…

Government yet to Integrate all Customs Facilities in Birgunj despite operation of ICP

Nov 02, 2020 0 1 minutes 49 seconds to read

November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP).…

Tourism Still the First Choice of Foreign Investors Despite Covid-19 Crisis

Nov 02, 2020 0 3 minutes 11 seconds to read

November 2: Despite a ‘wait and watch’ situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last…

Government Preparing to Gradually Reopen Tourism Industry

Nov 02, 2020 0 2 minutes 35 seconds to read

November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health…

Price of Potatoes up by 100 Percent in Wholesale Market

Nov 02, 2020 0 2 minutes 31 seconds to read

November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale…

Saurya Airlines gets India’s Kuber Group as new Business Partner

Oct 21, 2020 0 3 minutes 32 seconds to read

October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India’s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining…

Over 3500 Bank Employees Test Positive for Covid-19

Oct 21, 2020 0 3 minutes 51 seconds to read

October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of…

< previous579580581582583584585586587next >

No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'title' => 'Government to get new BYD Buses within a Month ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project head of the company Sahil Shrestha informed that the company will provide the electric buses to the government after completing the due processes within a month as per the agreement reached with the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stating that they are the mediator between Chinese manufacturer BYD and the Government of Nepal, he further informed that the vehicles have already reached Kolkata port. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Five big electric buses including 14 small ones have already arrived in Kolkata,&rdquo; &nbsp;Shrestha said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although Cimex Inc had promised to provide new buses within April, they were not able to do so due to coronavirus. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism Kamal Prasad Bhattarai said that the buses will be operated in Lumbini after they have been tested.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The company has said that the buses have already arrived but technical tests are yet to be done. After doing the necessary tests, we will carry out the necessary processes to acquire the vehicles according to the agreement.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The buses were procured by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to operate electric buses from Gautam Buddha International Airport to Lumbini. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry had purchased those buses for Lumbini Development Trust from the Chinese company BYD. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of Rs 290 million provided by the ADB, five buses were purchased for Rs 87.5 million. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12635',
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			'title' => 'Finance Minister Reviewing Status of Budget Implementation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel, who was appointed as finance minister in mid-October, has started reviewing the progress with officials of various ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, Finance Minister has held discussions regarding the implementation of budget &ndash; especially the capital expenditure &ndash; with the officials of the Ministry of Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed Yamlal Bhusal, joint secretary at finance ministry.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Several ministries have not been able to perform their works in accordance to the target citing the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, Finance Minister Poudel has reportedly instructed the line ministries not to delay the implementation of budget on the pretext of Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He has also directed the ministries to complete their work in order to meet the target as per the work plan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During Monday&rsquo;s meeting with authorities of the two ministries, Finance Minister Poudel instructed them to effectively implement the policies and programmes announced in the budget for the prevention coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, secretaries of the two ministries requested the finance minister to facilitate in implementing the current budget instead of bringing new policies and programmes. They also stressed on the need to implement small and petty programmes through the provincial governments and the local units instead of the federal ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, the government has been able to spend only Rs 201 billion out of the total budget of Rs 1474 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The government&rsquo;s expenditure is just 13.63 percent of the total budget. The government had set a target to spend 20 percent of the total budget in the first quarter.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The current expenditure of the government during the review period is Rs 182 billion while the capital expenditure is just Rs 15.4 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12634',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import of Coal Up Despite Current Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up. Coal is used as a raw material for preparing clinker, which is a vital component of cement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data maintained by the Birgunj Customs Office shows that the import of coal has increased by 42 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the customs office, 141,528 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.88 billion was imported into the country during the review period. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 99,381 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.42 billion was imported through Birgunj customs during the corresponding period of last fiscal year, according to Information Officer at the customs office Bimal Sah. Out of the country&rsquo;s total import of coal, 50 percent of coal enters the country through Birgunj.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say that some industries have imported huge quantity of coal right now because the price of coal has dropped in the Indian market. One of the importers told New Business Age that although there isn&rsquo;t much demand for cement in the market, they decided to import coal in large quantity to take advantage of the decline in its price.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Madhav Rajpal, an importer of coal, claimed that the import of the product was increasing even during the lockdown period because the cement industry of Nepal has been expanding in recent years with more investment in the sector. He said that 70 percent of the imported coal will be used to make clinker while the remaining 30 percent is utilized by brick kilns.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'id' => '12633',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank to Auction Development Bonds worth Rs 20 Billion on Nov 4',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank is all set to sell development bonds worth Rs 20 billion on November 4. The development bonds will have a maturity period of ten years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB decided to issue the bonds to assist the government&rsquo;s target of raising internal loans of Rs 225 billion in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The National Debt Management Department of NRB will be issuing the Development Bond 2087 &lsquo;D&rsquo; on behalf of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The interest rate of the development bond will be decided through bidding process. The development bonds, which will be issued in an auction, can be used as collateral to receive loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Non-banking institutes as well as finance companies, insurance companies, formal sector organisations and Nepali citizens can purchase the development bond.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB Spokesperson Dr Gunakar Bhatta expects banks and financial institutes to purchase most of the development bonds this time due to Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank had issued Treasury Bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on October 3 to raise internal loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'id' => '12632',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Roads Damaged during Monsoon have Become Operational: DoR',
			'sub_title' => 'Department of Roads estimates Budget Requirement of Rs 3 Billion to Fully Repair the Roads',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Roads (DoR), altogether 253 sections of roads and highways were damaged by floods and landslides this year. Among them, 139 sections have been fully repaired while the remaining 112 areas have been partially reopened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, two areas along the Sanfebagar-Martadi road section that was damaged on August 10 have not become operational yet. The Department of Roads informed that this road section sustained major damage in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Arniko Highway, which was worst affected by floods and landslides this year, has become partially operational with one-way traffic in some areas. More than 25 areas along the highway have been partially opened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the initial estimates of DoR, it will cost more than Rs 3 billion to fully repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides. Arniko Highway alone will require Rs 1.5 billion for repair works, informed Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Beni-Jomsom road also sustained major damages due to flood this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, floods swept away large chunks of road as well as Bailey bridges and under-construction bridges during monsoon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Many areas of Siddhartha Highway, Pritivi Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Koshi Highway, Trishuli-Syafrubesi road section among others are still operating with one-way traffic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has requested for budget from the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in order to repair the roads. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although roads get damaged by floods and landslides every year, the government does not allocate budget specifically for this purpose. The budget for the repair works of roads is released from the additional expenses of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Infrastructure experts point out the need to identify the vulnerable spots and repair them during winter to minimize damages during the monsoon season.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12631',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sailung Enterprises unlikely to Import Fertilizer within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sailung Enterprises, which was awarded the contract to import 30,000 metric tons of urea, has not been able to bring the fertilizer even as the deadline of contract is about to expire. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The deadline for Sailung Enterprises was extended for the second time to import 30,000 metric tons of urea even though it failed not bring 25,000 metric tons of urea within the initial deadline. Due to the inordinate delay, the farmers could not get chemical fertilizers during the wheat cultivation season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Only a week is left for the contract agreement expire. However, the company has not brought the fertilizers yet. Sailung Enterprises was awarded the contract to import the fertilizers on July 2. Even after 110 days of getting the contract, the company has not been able to bring fertilizers yet. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Bishnu Pokharel of Agriculture Inputs Company Limited informed that the company should bring the fertilizers within the extended deadline.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">But he added that the possibility of Sailung Enterprises bringing the fertilizers is extremely low this time as well. He said that the contract was given to the wrong company for the purchase of fertilizers. Pokharel added that they were unaware about as the weaknesses of the company before. It is widely believed that an inexperienced company was given the responsibility of importing fertilizer due to political pressure. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12630',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal, Israel Prepare Protocol for Migrant Workers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: A ‘protocol’ to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: A &lsquo;protocol&rsquo; to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">High-ranking officials of the two countries prepared the protocol after almost a month of negotiations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and&nbsp; restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, as per the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal, who represented the Nepali side during negotiations with Israel, says that the two countries prepared the protocol on the basis of the labour pact.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, Dahal informed that the two countries are yet to endorse the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Representatives of the two countries will endorse the protocol immediately after Tihar. The process of sending workers to Israel will begin soon after endorsing it,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Dahal, 500 Nepali workers will be sent to Israel in the first phase. The Department of Foreign Employment is finalizing a separate work procedure for it, informed Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We are finalizing a work procedure to implement the labour agreement and the protocol. It will be ready soon,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal had also signed a labour pact with Israel in 2015. Back then, very few Nepalis had gone to Israel for work. Israel had agreed to take nurses and care givers having three months of training but the agreement could not be implemented for a long time.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12629',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'High-Profile Visits for Mountaineering Give Silver Lining to the ailing Tourism Industry ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Government officials and entrepreneurs believe that the arrival of high-profile foreign delegates for climbing mountains has given a positive message to the tourism sector of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1604362035.23.jpg" style="height:237px; width:320px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah</span></span></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah has already reached the base camp of Mt Ama Dablam to scale the 6,814-meter peak. A 14-member team of Prince Abdullah reached the base camp on Sunday (November 1). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism informed that the expedition team of Prince Abdullah includes six climbers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a six-member Nepali team has also scaled Baruntse amid coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, two other expedition teams have received permission to scale 6151-meter high Gyalzen Peal and 7126-meter high Himlung.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Recently, the Royal Force team of Baharain&rsquo;s prince Nasir Bin Hamid Al Khalifa successfully scaled 8163-meter high Manaslu.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Tourism, the government has granted permission to five expedition teams to climb mountain amid coronavirus crisis. The department informed that two out of the five teams have already completed their missions. The department has collected royalties of Rs 2.3 million for granting permission for the expedition teams to climb mountains.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai informed that the arrival of high-profile teams for scaling mountains amid coronavirus pandemic has given a message that Nepal is a safe destination for tourism.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The visits of princes of Qatar and Baharain for mountain expeditions have given a clear message that Nepal is safe for visit during coronavirus crisis. Now, the government is preparing to open other sectors associated with the tourism industry,&rdquo; said Minister Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association Kul Bahadur Gurung believes that the arrival of tourists for climbing mountains at a time when tourists visiting Nepal has been almost nil gives a positive message.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to make arrangements for PCR tests for the tourists at the airport arguing that the provision for 6-day hotel quarantine for the visitors will only lead to a decline in number of tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12628',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Loans Worth Rs 191 billion Disbursed to the Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '5.85 percent of the total credit disbursed to agriculture so far this year',
			'summary' => 'Commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Although the monetary policy of the current fiscal year has introduced a provision for commercial banks to increase the minimum percentage of the total credit to be disbursed to the agricultural sector from 10 percent to 15 percent, the commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">By the end of Bhadra (mid-September) of the last year, a total credit of Rs 3 trillion 274 billion and 970 million was disbursed from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;Out of the total loan, Rs&nbsp;191.72 billion was been disbursed for the agricultural sector.&nbsp;In the past, 10 percent of credit for the agriculture sector was mandatory. However, the central bank is optimistic about the current credit flow to the agricultural sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank has stated that even amid the pandemic, the agricultural credit has increased by Rs 26.73 billion.&nbsp;According to the Banks and Financial Institutions Regulation Department of the central bank, the total sectoral credit stood at Rs 2 trillion 976 billion and 740 million out of which, Rs&nbsp;164.98 billion was disbursed to the agricultural sector in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The monthly data published by the Department of Banking and Financial Institutions Regulation of NRB classifies credit for agriculture, forestry and fishery as agricultural loans.&nbsp;Namely, &#39;agricultural sector&#39; covers grains, vegetables and other cash crops, tobacco, hemp, fruits and floriculture, poultry and bee keeping, manure and pesticides, cold storage, irrigation, forest, livestock or poultry farming, among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the statistics department of Nepal Rastra Bank informs that the statistics of concessional agricultural loans and priority agricultural loans have not been included in the data of agricultural credit flow. Preferential agricultural loans include pure agricultural loans as well as loans for the purchase of materials for production, tea and coffee production.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank by the end of Bhadra (mid-September), the Agriculture Development Bank has the largest share in the disbursement of agriculture and forestry loans amongst all commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;The Agriculture Development Bank has the highest share of 16.57 percent (Rs 28.655 billion) of the total agricultural loans.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hemlal Poudyal, spokesperson of the bank, said that the bank has emphasized on the flow of agricultural loans without collateral under concessional loans by taking risks. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank has disbursed 9.1 percent (Rs 15.592 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The bank, which has been aggressive in credit flow, has also disbursed agricultural credit well.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank is also the first bank to disburse the most loans in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;Arjun Raj Khaniya, head of public relations at NIC Asia Bank, says that the overall loan investment of the bank has increased due to the increase in the number of branch offices and extension counters across the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Rastriya Banijya Bank has disbursed 7.74 percent (Rs 13.39 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The commercial banks that disburse more agricultural credit are Prime Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Global IME Bank, Sunrise Bank and Nepal Bank respectively.&nbsp;Agricultural credit worth Rs 19.439 billion was disbursed from 19 development banks.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12627',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government yet to Integrate all Customs Facilities in Birgunj despite operation of ICP',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). However, even after three years of operation of the ICP, this objective has not been achieved. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The goal of making the import and export transparent by merging the old customs point at the Birgunj-Raxaul border and the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP has been largely neglected so far. After the closure of the Nepal-India border during the coronavirus pandemic, most of the trade taking place throug the Birgunj-Raxaul-Inarwa transit point has been shifted to the ICP.&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Birgunj Customs Officer Ramesh Sukmani said that most of the customs work has been concentrated in the ICP after March as the border was closed due to coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;Most of the import and export businesses are now being done through the ICP. More than 99 percent of the goods are cleared through the ICP,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, only a small quantity of petroleum products, vegetables, clinker, coal, iron ore and some other goods are imported through Inarwa. The Birgunj Customs had also started construction of infrastructure with scanners to shift the import-export trade to ICP by making Inarwa a passenger transit point. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">It has been almost a year since the decision was taken to shift the dry port to the ICP. However, no progress has been seen in the decision of the Council of Ministers to merge these customs facilities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12626',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Still the First Choice of Foreign Investors Despite Covid-19 Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Despite a ‘wait and watch’ situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Despite a &lsquo;wait and watch&rsquo; situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 89 projects with investment of Rs 19.15 billion have been registered with the Department of Industry in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The registration of such projects registered during the corresponding period of last fiscal year was also similar in number. The number of projects with foreign investment has remained almost similar in the last two years. However, the number is significantly less compared to the registration of foreign-backed projects in FY 2018/19, when a total of 129 projects were registered in the first three months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 2,846 persons will get employment from the projects ranging from agriculture to IT, production, service sector and tourism industry registered in the current FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the review period, tourism and service sectors have attracted more investment this year as well. A total of 58 projects related to tourism industry have been registered in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The total investment for the projects is estimated to be&nbsp; around Rs 13.8 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The second choice for foreign investors is the service sector. During the review period, a total of 25 projects were registered in this sector while the agriculture sector recorded one project and the IT sector drew just three projects. The commitment for investment in the service sector in the review period is Rs 4.5 billion. None of the investors have shown any interest in the energy sector in the first three months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Senior Vice President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah says it is a positive development to see investors interested in the tourism industry but added there has been very little investment in real sense.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have also notice a trend of foreign investors just acquiring license,&rdquo; said Shah, adding, &ldquo;Foreign investors might have been attracted because there is still plenty of opportunities in the provincial capitals and other areas outside the capital.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the number of projects registered in the first three months of FY 2018/19 was significantly more, the investment&nbsp; commitment in that particular year was less than either the current FY year or the last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In FY 2018/19, a total of 129 projects with investment of Rs 7.13 billion were registered with the department. However, investment for 88 projects registered in the last FY 2019/20 was Rs 19.25 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12625',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Gradually Reopen Tourism Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'Tourism Ministry to Present a Proposal to Cabinet Soon',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols. The government has already opened doors for trekking and mountaineering since October 17 and has not decided to take a step further by opening other sectors of tourism industry amid Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation&nbsp; Yogesh Bhattarai said during a Webinar organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association on the occasion of its 47<sup>th</sup> anniversary that there is no alternative to gradually reopening the tourism sector despite the risk of Covid-19 infection. He further said that the government is preparing to open all the sectors associated with the tourism industry by strictly implementing health protocols. Minister Bhattarai added that the proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval soon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the tourists will be allowed to enter Nepal on condition that they abide by health and safety standards. According to the minister, Kuwait&rsquo;s prince is preparing to visit Nepal soon for mountain expedition. The government has already announced on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal in groups provided that they stay in quarantine for seven days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the Webinar, NMA Chairman Santabir Lama said that the employees associated to the mountaineering sector have been struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of Covid-19. He also urged the government to set up a basket fund to support them during the current crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of NMA Kul Bahadur Gurung pointed out to the need of concessional loan and relief to the entrepreneurs involved in the tourism sector. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, President of TAAN Khum Bahadur Subedi said that the government must bring additional relief packages to revitalize the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Stakeholders are preparing to organize a nationwide cycle tour from Mechi to Mahakali from November 2 to promote the tourism industry. Renowned cyclist Pushkar Shah will be leading the tour, informed Nepal Tourism Board.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180513122353_tourism%281%29.jpg" style="height:311px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12624',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Potatoes up by 100 Percent in Wholesale Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market. According to the records kept by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, the price of potato has increased by 100 percent this year compared to the corresponding period of last year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the available data, the price of potato was very less during last year than this year. Currently, the price of red potatoes imported from India is Rs 68 per kilogram, which is 100 percent more than the price of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data kept by the committee show that the price of red potatoes from India was Rs 34 per kg on November 2 last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of red potatoes grown in Nepal is Rs 91 per kilogram at present. The current price is 45 percent more than last year&rsquo;s price of home-grown red potatoes, when the cost of such local potatoes was Rs 63 per kg.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Information officer at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, Binaya Shrestha, informed that there is no additional demand for potatoes in the market but the price is still high because it will take some time for the locally produced potatoes to be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that the price of potatoes has increased in the Indian market as well, which has also affected the price in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India is the main supplier of potatoes to Nepal during this season. As the price has increased in India, it is obvious that the price will increase in Nepal,&rdquo; said Shrestha, adding that the price of potatoes will go down from mid-November onwards when adequate amount of locally produced potatoes will be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, consumers complain that the retailers have been fixing the prices of potatoes arbitrarily as the wholesale price itself is exorbitantly high. It has been found that the retail stores in Kirtiour, Balkhu and Kalanki have been selling potatoes at a price which is Rs 40 more per kg than the wholesale price.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12623',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Saurya Airlines gets India’s Kuber Group as new Business Partner',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India’s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India&rsquo;s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive. After acquiring a new business partner, the airline company has also received permission to operate flights effective from October 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Indian company owns 49 percent share of Saurya Airlines while the remaining 51 percent stake belongs to the Nepali shareholders.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the existing laws of the country, foreign companies cannot own majority shares of any company operating in Nepal. Therefore, Saurya Airlines has kept majority share of 51 percent while making the Indian company its business partner, informed Gopal Bhattarai, managing director of Saurya Airlines. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We were facing problem to implement new plans due to financial crisis. So we signed a partnership deal with a reputed Indian company. We are now hopeful of making an impact in the domestic market as well as the regional market in the near future,&rdquo; said Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Bhattarai claimed that Saurya Airlines has become the first airline company in Nepal to acquire foreign business partner. Kuber Group invests in real estate and tobacco business in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to MD Bhattarai, Saurya Airlines will be providing its services through three aircraft for the time being while it is planning to procure a new ATR aircraft soon. He says that the operation of ATR is cost effective in Nepal and the plane is also suitable for Nepal considering its geography.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In total, Saurya Airlines is planning to add five more aircraft to its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;The airline company has already procured a 50-seater Canadian Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the company has received permission to operate 10 flights per day, Saurya Airlines is planning to operate one flight each with its three aircraft per day for the time being, informed the company&rsquo;s spokesperson Mukesh 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Khanal, two of their three aircraft are currently being repaired.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Saurya Airlines, which came into operation in 2014, was sold by the establishment faction to new owners within four years of operation due to financial crisis. The new operators have collaborated with the Indian company for effective 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines are the three major companies operating flights along the trunk route in Nepal. With the revival of Saurya Airlines, the domestic airline market of Nepal is expected to become more competitive.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12622',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 3500 Bank Employees Test Positive for Covid-19 ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.&nbsp;As the number of infected employees is increasing day by day, banks have not been able to provide services from all of the branches at the same time.</span></span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the data from Nepal Rastra Bank, around 3,500 employees of commercial banks have been infected with coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Compared to the employees of commercial banks, the number of infected employees in development banks, finance companies and microfinance companies is less.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Development Bankers Association, 485 employees of 20 development banks have been infected as October 18.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of these, 176 have already recovered from the disease while 309 employees are still infected. Similarly, a total of 183 family members of the infected employees have also tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, about 200 employees of 21 &ldquo;C&rdquo; class finance companies have been infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the bankers, the banking services have been affected as employees from the cashier sitting at the bank&#39;s counter to high-level ones have been infected with the virus.&nbsp;Most of the companies have therefore not been able to operate all of the branches lately due to the increase in cases of infection.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Some finance companies have opened branch offices alternately, while others have reduced the service period from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Most of the offices of the 84 microfinance institutions currently in operation are located outside the capital, ie in the rural areas. So, only a few employees of such companies have been infected.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Basanta Raj Lamsal, the president of the Nepal Microfinance Bankers&#39; Association, only 2 percent of the total employees of all microfinance companies are infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">He added that even though only a few employees were infected with coronavirus, the current situation doesn&rsquo;t allow the employees to go to the field to collect interest from the customers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Even though areas like Dailekh and West Nawalparasi are not very crowded, the virus has still spread by coming in contact with people coming from India. The services have been affected despite the fact that only a small number of employees have been infected,&quot; he told New Business Age. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, the financial statements of the first quarter of the current fiscal year will be affected due to this.&nbsp;Arjun Khaniya, head of the public relations department of NIC Asia Bank, says that all the services have been affected as more employees are becoming infected day by day.&nbsp;According to him, about 150 employees of all branches of NIC Asia Bank have been infected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank, Bodhraj Devkota, said that the process of infection and recovery will keep on continuing as the employees are working under high risk.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '12636',
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			'title' => 'Government to get new BYD Buses within a Month ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project head of the company Sahil Shrestha informed that the company will provide the electric buses to the government after completing the due processes within a month as per the agreement reached with the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stating that they are the mediator between Chinese manufacturer BYD and the Government of Nepal, he further informed that the vehicles have already reached Kolkata port. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Five big electric buses including 14 small ones have already arrived in Kolkata,&rdquo; &nbsp;Shrestha said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although Cimex Inc had promised to provide new buses within April, they were not able to do so due to coronavirus. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism Kamal Prasad Bhattarai said that the buses will be operated in Lumbini after they have been tested.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The company has said that the buses have already arrived but technical tests are yet to be done. After doing the necessary tests, we will carry out the necessary processes to acquire the vehicles according to the agreement.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The buses were procured by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to operate electric buses from Gautam Buddha International Airport to Lumbini. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry had purchased those buses for Lumbini Development Trust from the Chinese company BYD. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of Rs 290 million provided by the ADB, five buses were purchased for Rs 87.5 million. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12635',
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			'title' => 'Finance Minister Reviewing Status of Budget Implementation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel, who was appointed as finance minister in mid-October, has started reviewing the progress with officials of various ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, Finance Minister has held discussions regarding the implementation of budget &ndash; especially the capital expenditure &ndash; with the officials of the Ministry of Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed Yamlal Bhusal, joint secretary at finance ministry.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Several ministries have not been able to perform their works in accordance to the target citing the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, Finance Minister Poudel has reportedly instructed the line ministries not to delay the implementation of budget on the pretext of Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He has also directed the ministries to complete their work in order to meet the target as per the work plan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During Monday&rsquo;s meeting with authorities of the two ministries, Finance Minister Poudel instructed them to effectively implement the policies and programmes announced in the budget for the prevention coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, secretaries of the two ministries requested the finance minister to facilitate in implementing the current budget instead of bringing new policies and programmes. They also stressed on the need to implement small and petty programmes through the provincial governments and the local units instead of the federal ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, the government has been able to spend only Rs 201 billion out of the total budget of Rs 1474 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The government&rsquo;s expenditure is just 13.63 percent of the total budget. The government had set a target to spend 20 percent of the total budget in the first quarter.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The current expenditure of the government during the review period is Rs 182 billion while the capital expenditure is just Rs 15.4 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up. Coal is used as a raw material for preparing clinker, which is a vital component of cement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data maintained by the Birgunj Customs Office shows that the import of coal has increased by 42 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the customs office, 141,528 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.88 billion was imported into the country during the review period. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 99,381 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.42 billion was imported through Birgunj customs during the corresponding period of last fiscal year, according to Information Officer at the customs office Bimal Sah. Out of the country&rsquo;s total import of coal, 50 percent of coal enters the country through Birgunj.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say that some industries have imported huge quantity of coal right now because the price of coal has dropped in the Indian market. One of the importers told New Business Age that although there isn&rsquo;t much demand for cement in the market, they decided to import coal in large quantity to take advantage of the decline in its price.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Madhav Rajpal, an importer of coal, claimed that the import of the product was increasing even during the lockdown period because the cement industry of Nepal has been expanding in recent years with more investment in the sector. He said that 70 percent of the imported coal will be used to make clinker while the remaining 30 percent is utilized by brick kilns.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-11-04',
			'modified' => '2020-11-04',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12633',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank to Auction Development Bonds worth Rs 20 Billion on Nov 4',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank is all set to sell development bonds worth Rs 20 billion on November 4. The development bonds will have a maturity period of ten years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB decided to issue the bonds to assist the government&rsquo;s target of raising internal loans of Rs 225 billion in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The National Debt Management Department of NRB will be issuing the Development Bond 2087 &lsquo;D&rsquo; on behalf of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The interest rate of the development bond will be decided through bidding process. The development bonds, which will be issued in an auction, can be used as collateral to receive loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Non-banking institutes as well as finance companies, insurance companies, formal sector organisations and Nepali citizens can purchase the development bond.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB Spokesperson Dr Gunakar Bhatta expects banks and financial institutes to purchase most of the development bonds this time due to Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank had issued Treasury Bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on October 3 to raise internal loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-11-03',
			'modified' => '2020-11-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12380',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12632',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Roads Damaged during Monsoon have Become Operational: DoR',
			'sub_title' => 'Department of Roads estimates Budget Requirement of Rs 3 Billion to Fully Repair the Roads',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Roads (DoR), altogether 253 sections of roads and highways were damaged by floods and landslides this year. Among them, 139 sections have been fully repaired while the remaining 112 areas have been partially reopened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, two areas along the Sanfebagar-Martadi road section that was damaged on August 10 have not become operational yet. The Department of Roads informed that this road section sustained major damage in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Arniko Highway, which was worst affected by floods and landslides this year, has become partially operational with one-way traffic in some areas. More than 25 areas along the highway have been partially opened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the initial estimates of DoR, it will cost more than Rs 3 billion to fully repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides. Arniko Highway alone will require Rs 1.5 billion for repair works, informed Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Beni-Jomsom road also sustained major damages due to flood this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, floods swept away large chunks of road as well as Bailey bridges and under-construction bridges during monsoon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Many areas of Siddhartha Highway, Pritivi Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Koshi Highway, Trishuli-Syafrubesi road section among others are still operating with one-way traffic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has requested for budget from the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in order to repair the roads. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although roads get damaged by floods and landslides every year, the government does not allocate budget specifically for this purpose. The budget for the repair works of roads is released from the additional expenses of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Infrastructure experts point out the need to identify the vulnerable spots and repair them during winter to minimize damages during the monsoon season.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12631',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sailung Enterprises unlikely to Import Fertilizer within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sailung Enterprises, which was awarded the contract to import 30,000 metric tons of urea, has not been able to bring the fertilizer even as the deadline of contract is about to expire. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The deadline for Sailung Enterprises was extended for the second time to import 30,000 metric tons of urea even though it failed not bring 25,000 metric tons of urea within the initial deadline. Due to the inordinate delay, the farmers could not get chemical fertilizers during the wheat cultivation season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Only a week is left for the contract agreement expire. However, the company has not brought the fertilizers yet. Sailung Enterprises was awarded the contract to import the fertilizers on July 2. Even after 110 days of getting the contract, the company has not been able to bring fertilizers yet. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Bishnu Pokharel of Agriculture Inputs Company Limited informed that the company should bring the fertilizers within the extended deadline.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">But he added that the possibility of Sailung Enterprises bringing the fertilizers is extremely low this time as well. He said that the contract was given to the wrong company for the purchase of fertilizers. Pokharel added that they were unaware about as the weaknesses of the company before. It is widely believed that an inexperienced company was given the responsibility of importing fertilizer due to political pressure. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '12378',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12630',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal, Israel Prepare Protocol for Migrant Workers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: A ‘protocol’ to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: A &lsquo;protocol&rsquo; to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">High-ranking officials of the two countries prepared the protocol after almost a month of negotiations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and&nbsp; restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, as per the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal, who represented the Nepali side during negotiations with Israel, says that the two countries prepared the protocol on the basis of the labour pact.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, Dahal informed that the two countries are yet to endorse the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Representatives of the two countries will endorse the protocol immediately after Tihar. The process of sending workers to Israel will begin soon after endorsing it,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Dahal, 500 Nepali workers will be sent to Israel in the first phase. The Department of Foreign Employment is finalizing a separate work procedure for it, informed Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We are finalizing a work procedure to implement the labour agreement and the protocol. It will be ready soon,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal had also signed a labour pact with Israel in 2015. Back then, very few Nepalis had gone to Israel for work. Israel had agreed to take nurses and care givers having three months of training but the agreement could not be implemented for a long time.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-11-03',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12629',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'High-Profile Visits for Mountaineering Give Silver Lining to the ailing Tourism Industry ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Government officials and entrepreneurs believe that the arrival of high-profile foreign delegates for climbing mountains has given a positive message to the tourism sector of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1604362035.23.jpg" style="height:237px; width:320px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah</span></span></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah has already reached the base camp of Mt Ama Dablam to scale the 6,814-meter peak. A 14-member team of Prince Abdullah reached the base camp on Sunday (November 1). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism informed that the expedition team of Prince Abdullah includes six climbers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a six-member Nepali team has also scaled Baruntse amid coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, two other expedition teams have received permission to scale 6151-meter high Gyalzen Peal and 7126-meter high Himlung.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Recently, the Royal Force team of Baharain&rsquo;s prince Nasir Bin Hamid Al Khalifa successfully scaled 8163-meter high Manaslu.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Tourism, the government has granted permission to five expedition teams to climb mountain amid coronavirus crisis. The department informed that two out of the five teams have already completed their missions. The department has collected royalties of Rs 2.3 million for granting permission for the expedition teams to climb mountains.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai informed that the arrival of high-profile teams for scaling mountains amid coronavirus pandemic has given a message that Nepal is a safe destination for tourism.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The visits of princes of Qatar and Baharain for mountain expeditions have given a clear message that Nepal is safe for visit during coronavirus crisis. Now, the government is preparing to open other sectors associated with the tourism industry,&rdquo; said Minister Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association Kul Bahadur Gurung believes that the arrival of tourists for climbing mountains at a time when tourists visiting Nepal has been almost nil gives a positive message.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to make arrangements for PCR tests for the tourists at the airport arguing that the provision for 6-day hotel quarantine for the visitors will only lead to a decline in number of tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12628',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Loans Worth Rs 191 billion Disbursed to the Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '5.85 percent of the total credit disbursed to agriculture so far this year',
			'summary' => 'Commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Although the monetary policy of the current fiscal year has introduced a provision for commercial banks to increase the minimum percentage of the total credit to be disbursed to the agricultural sector from 10 percent to 15 percent, the commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">By the end of Bhadra (mid-September) of the last year, a total credit of Rs 3 trillion 274 billion and 970 million was disbursed from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;Out of the total loan, Rs&nbsp;191.72 billion was been disbursed for the agricultural sector.&nbsp;In the past, 10 percent of credit for the agriculture sector was mandatory. However, the central bank is optimistic about the current credit flow to the agricultural sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank has stated that even amid the pandemic, the agricultural credit has increased by Rs 26.73 billion.&nbsp;According to the Banks and Financial Institutions Regulation Department of the central bank, the total sectoral credit stood at Rs 2 trillion 976 billion and 740 million out of which, Rs&nbsp;164.98 billion was disbursed to the agricultural sector in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The monthly data published by the Department of Banking and Financial Institutions Regulation of NRB classifies credit for agriculture, forestry and fishery as agricultural loans.&nbsp;Namely, &#39;agricultural sector&#39; covers grains, vegetables and other cash crops, tobacco, hemp, fruits and floriculture, poultry and bee keeping, manure and pesticides, cold storage, irrigation, forest, livestock or poultry farming, among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the statistics department of Nepal Rastra Bank informs that the statistics of concessional agricultural loans and priority agricultural loans have not been included in the data of agricultural credit flow. Preferential agricultural loans include pure agricultural loans as well as loans for the purchase of materials for production, tea and coffee production.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank by the end of Bhadra (mid-September), the Agriculture Development Bank has the largest share in the disbursement of agriculture and forestry loans amongst all commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;The Agriculture Development Bank has the highest share of 16.57 percent (Rs 28.655 billion) of the total agricultural loans.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hemlal Poudyal, spokesperson of the bank, said that the bank has emphasized on the flow of agricultural loans without collateral under concessional loans by taking risks. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank has disbursed 9.1 percent (Rs 15.592 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The bank, which has been aggressive in credit flow, has also disbursed agricultural credit well.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank is also the first bank to disburse the most loans in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;Arjun Raj Khaniya, head of public relations at NIC Asia Bank, says that the overall loan investment of the bank has increased due to the increase in the number of branch offices and extension counters across the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Rastriya Banijya Bank has disbursed 7.74 percent (Rs 13.39 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The commercial banks that disburse more agricultural credit are Prime Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Global IME Bank, Sunrise Bank and Nepal Bank respectively.&nbsp;Agricultural credit worth Rs 19.439 billion was disbursed from 19 development banks.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12627',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government yet to Integrate all Customs Facilities in Birgunj despite operation of ICP',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). However, even after three years of operation of the ICP, this objective has not been achieved. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The goal of making the import and export transparent by merging the old customs point at the Birgunj-Raxaul border and the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP has been largely neglected so far. After the closure of the Nepal-India border during the coronavirus pandemic, most of the trade taking place throug the Birgunj-Raxaul-Inarwa transit point has been shifted to the ICP.&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Birgunj Customs Officer Ramesh Sukmani said that most of the customs work has been concentrated in the ICP after March as the border was closed due to coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;Most of the import and export businesses are now being done through the ICP. More than 99 percent of the goods are cleared through the ICP,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, only a small quantity of petroleum products, vegetables, clinker, coal, iron ore and some other goods are imported through Inarwa. The Birgunj Customs had also started construction of infrastructure with scanners to shift the import-export trade to ICP by making Inarwa a passenger transit point. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">It has been almost a year since the decision was taken to shift the dry port to the ICP. However, no progress has been seen in the decision of the Council of Ministers to merge these customs facilities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12626',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Still the First Choice of Foreign Investors Despite Covid-19 Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Despite a ‘wait and watch’ situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Despite a &lsquo;wait and watch&rsquo; situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 89 projects with investment of Rs 19.15 billion have been registered with the Department of Industry in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The registration of such projects registered during the corresponding period of last fiscal year was also similar in number. The number of projects with foreign investment has remained almost similar in the last two years. However, the number is significantly less compared to the registration of foreign-backed projects in FY 2018/19, when a total of 129 projects were registered in the first three months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 2,846 persons will get employment from the projects ranging from agriculture to IT, production, service sector and tourism industry registered in the current FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the review period, tourism and service sectors have attracted more investment this year as well. A total of 58 projects related to tourism industry have been registered in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The total investment for the projects is estimated to be&nbsp; around Rs 13.8 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The second choice for foreign investors is the service sector. During the review period, a total of 25 projects were registered in this sector while the agriculture sector recorded one project and the IT sector drew just three projects. The commitment for investment in the service sector in the review period is Rs 4.5 billion. None of the investors have shown any interest in the energy sector in the first three months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Senior Vice President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah says it is a positive development to see investors interested in the tourism industry but added there has been very little investment in real sense.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have also notice a trend of foreign investors just acquiring license,&rdquo; said Shah, adding, &ldquo;Foreign investors might have been attracted because there is still plenty of opportunities in the provincial capitals and other areas outside the capital.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the number of projects registered in the first three months of FY 2018/19 was significantly more, the investment&nbsp; commitment in that particular year was less than either the current FY year or the last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In FY 2018/19, a total of 129 projects with investment of Rs 7.13 billion were registered with the department. However, investment for 88 projects registered in the last FY 2019/20 was Rs 19.25 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12625',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Gradually Reopen Tourism Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'Tourism Ministry to Present a Proposal to Cabinet Soon',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols. The government has already opened doors for trekking and mountaineering since October 17 and has not decided to take a step further by opening other sectors of tourism industry amid Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation&nbsp; Yogesh Bhattarai said during a Webinar organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association on the occasion of its 47<sup>th</sup> anniversary that there is no alternative to gradually reopening the tourism sector despite the risk of Covid-19 infection. He further said that the government is preparing to open all the sectors associated with the tourism industry by strictly implementing health protocols. Minister Bhattarai added that the proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval soon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the tourists will be allowed to enter Nepal on condition that they abide by health and safety standards. According to the minister, Kuwait&rsquo;s prince is preparing to visit Nepal soon for mountain expedition. The government has already announced on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal in groups provided that they stay in quarantine for seven days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the Webinar, NMA Chairman Santabir Lama said that the employees associated to the mountaineering sector have been struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of Covid-19. He also urged the government to set up a basket fund to support them during the current crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of NMA Kul Bahadur Gurung pointed out to the need of concessional loan and relief to the entrepreneurs involved in the tourism sector. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, President of TAAN Khum Bahadur Subedi said that the government must bring additional relief packages to revitalize the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Stakeholders are preparing to organize a nationwide cycle tour from Mechi to Mahakali from November 2 to promote the tourism industry. Renowned cyclist Pushkar Shah will be leading the tour, informed Nepal Tourism Board.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180513122353_tourism%281%29.jpg" style="height:311px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12624',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Potatoes up by 100 Percent in Wholesale Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market. According to the records kept by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, the price of potato has increased by 100 percent this year compared to the corresponding period of last year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the available data, the price of potato was very less during last year than this year. Currently, the price of red potatoes imported from India is Rs 68 per kilogram, which is 100 percent more than the price of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data kept by the committee show that the price of red potatoes from India was Rs 34 per kg on November 2 last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of red potatoes grown in Nepal is Rs 91 per kilogram at present. The current price is 45 percent more than last year&rsquo;s price of home-grown red potatoes, when the cost of such local potatoes was Rs 63 per kg.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Information officer at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, Binaya Shrestha, informed that there is no additional demand for potatoes in the market but the price is still high because it will take some time for the locally produced potatoes to be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that the price of potatoes has increased in the Indian market as well, which has also affected the price in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India is the main supplier of potatoes to Nepal during this season. As the price has increased in India, it is obvious that the price will increase in Nepal,&rdquo; said Shrestha, adding that the price of potatoes will go down from mid-November onwards when adequate amount of locally produced potatoes will be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, consumers complain that the retailers have been fixing the prices of potatoes arbitrarily as the wholesale price itself is exorbitantly high. It has been found that the retail stores in Kirtiour, Balkhu and Kalanki have been selling potatoes at a price which is Rs 40 more per kg than the wholesale price.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12623',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Saurya Airlines gets India’s Kuber Group as new Business Partner',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India’s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India&rsquo;s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive. After acquiring a new business partner, the airline company has also received permission to operate flights effective from October 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Indian company owns 49 percent share of Saurya Airlines while the remaining 51 percent stake belongs to the Nepali shareholders.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the existing laws of the country, foreign companies cannot own majority shares of any company operating in Nepal. Therefore, Saurya Airlines has kept majority share of 51 percent while making the Indian company its business partner, informed Gopal Bhattarai, managing director of Saurya Airlines. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We were facing problem to implement new plans due to financial crisis. So we signed a partnership deal with a reputed Indian company. We are now hopeful of making an impact in the domestic market as well as the regional market in the near future,&rdquo; said Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Bhattarai claimed that Saurya Airlines has become the first airline company in Nepal to acquire foreign business partner. Kuber Group invests in real estate and tobacco business in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to MD Bhattarai, Saurya Airlines will be providing its services through three aircraft for the time being while it is planning to procure a new ATR aircraft soon. He says that the operation of ATR is cost effective in Nepal and the plane is also suitable for Nepal considering its geography.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In total, Saurya Airlines is planning to add five more aircraft to its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;The airline company has already procured a 50-seater Canadian Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the company has received permission to operate 10 flights per day, Saurya Airlines is planning to operate one flight each with its three aircraft per day for the time being, informed the company&rsquo;s spokesperson Mukesh 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Khanal, two of their three aircraft are currently being repaired.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Saurya Airlines, which came into operation in 2014, was sold by the establishment faction to new owners within four years of operation due to financial crisis. The new operators have collaborated with the Indian company for effective 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines are the three major companies operating flights along the trunk route in Nepal. With the revival of Saurya Airlines, the domestic airline market of Nepal is expected to become more competitive.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12622',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 3500 Bank Employees Test Positive for Covid-19 ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.&nbsp;As the number of infected employees is increasing day by day, banks have not been able to provide services from all of the branches at the same time.</span></span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the data from Nepal Rastra Bank, around 3,500 employees of commercial banks have been infected with coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Compared to the employees of commercial banks, the number of infected employees in development banks, finance companies and microfinance companies is less.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Development Bankers Association, 485 employees of 20 development banks have been infected as October 18.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of these, 176 have already recovered from the disease while 309 employees are still infected. Similarly, a total of 183 family members of the infected employees have also tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, about 200 employees of 21 &ldquo;C&rdquo; class finance companies have been infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the bankers, the banking services have been affected as employees from the cashier sitting at the bank&#39;s counter to high-level ones have been infected with the virus.&nbsp;Most of the companies have therefore not been able to operate all of the branches lately due to the increase in cases of infection.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Some finance companies have opened branch offices alternately, while others have reduced the service period from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Most of the offices of the 84 microfinance institutions currently in operation are located outside the capital, ie in the rural areas. So, only a few employees of such companies have been infected.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Basanta Raj Lamsal, the president of the Nepal Microfinance Bankers&#39; Association, only 2 percent of the total employees of all microfinance companies are infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">He added that even though only a few employees were infected with coronavirus, the current situation doesn&rsquo;t allow the employees to go to the field to collect interest from the customers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Even though areas like Dailekh and West Nawalparasi are not very crowded, the virus has still spread by coming in contact with people coming from India. The services have been affected despite the fact that only a small number of employees have been infected,&quot; he told New Business Age. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, the financial statements of the first quarter of the current fiscal year will be affected due to this.&nbsp;Arjun Khaniya, head of the public relations department of NIC Asia Bank, says that all the services have been affected as more employees are becoming infected day by day.&nbsp;According to him, about 150 employees of all branches of NIC Asia Bank have been infected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank, Bodhraj Devkota, said that the process of infection and recovery will keep on continuing as the employees are working under high risk.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '12636',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government to get new BYD Buses within a Month ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project head of the company Sahil Shrestha informed that the company will provide the electric buses to the government after completing the due processes within a month as per the agreement reached with the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stating that they are the mediator between Chinese manufacturer BYD and the Government of Nepal, he further informed that the vehicles have already reached Kolkata port. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Five big electric buses including 14 small ones have already arrived in Kolkata,&rdquo; &nbsp;Shrestha said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although Cimex Inc had promised to provide new buses within April, they were not able to do so due to coronavirus. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism Kamal Prasad Bhattarai said that the buses will be operated in Lumbini after they have been tested.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The company has said that the buses have already arrived but technical tests are yet to be done. After doing the necessary tests, we will carry out the necessary processes to acquire the vehicles according to the agreement.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The buses were procured by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to operate electric buses from Gautam Buddha International Airport to Lumbini. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry had purchased those buses for Lumbini Development Trust from the Chinese company BYD. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of Rs 290 million provided by the ADB, five buses were purchased for Rs 87.5 million. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '12383',
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			'id' => '12635',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Finance Minister Reviewing Status of Budget Implementation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel, who was appointed as finance minister in mid-October, has started reviewing the progress with officials of various ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, Finance Minister has held discussions regarding the implementation of budget &ndash; especially the capital expenditure &ndash; with the officials of the Ministry of Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed Yamlal Bhusal, joint secretary at finance ministry.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Several ministries have not been able to perform their works in accordance to the target citing the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, Finance Minister Poudel has reportedly instructed the line ministries not to delay the implementation of budget on the pretext of Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He has also directed the ministries to complete their work in order to meet the target as per the work plan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During Monday&rsquo;s meeting with authorities of the two ministries, Finance Minister Poudel instructed them to effectively implement the policies and programmes announced in the budget for the prevention coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, secretaries of the two ministries requested the finance minister to facilitate in implementing the current budget instead of bringing new policies and programmes. They also stressed on the need to implement small and petty programmes through the provincial governments and the local units instead of the federal ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, the government has been able to spend only Rs 201 billion out of the total budget of Rs 1474 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The government&rsquo;s expenditure is just 13.63 percent of the total budget. The government had set a target to spend 20 percent of the total budget in the first quarter.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The current expenditure of the government during the review period is Rs 182 billion while the capital expenditure is just Rs 15.4 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12634',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Import of Coal Up Despite Current Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up. Coal is used as a raw material for preparing clinker, which is a vital component of cement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data maintained by the Birgunj Customs Office shows that the import of coal has increased by 42 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the customs office, 141,528 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.88 billion was imported into the country during the review period. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 99,381 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.42 billion was imported through Birgunj customs during the corresponding period of last fiscal year, according to Information Officer at the customs office Bimal Sah. Out of the country&rsquo;s total import of coal, 50 percent of coal enters the country through Birgunj.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say that some industries have imported huge quantity of coal right now because the price of coal has dropped in the Indian market. One of the importers told New Business Age that although there isn&rsquo;t much demand for cement in the market, they decided to import coal in large quantity to take advantage of the decline in its price.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Madhav Rajpal, an importer of coal, claimed that the import of the product was increasing even during the lockdown period because the cement industry of Nepal has been expanding in recent years with more investment in the sector. He said that 70 percent of the imported coal will be used to make clinker while the remaining 30 percent is utilized by brick kilns.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank to Auction Development Bonds worth Rs 20 Billion on Nov 4',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank is all set to sell development bonds worth Rs 20 billion on November 4. The development bonds will have a maturity period of ten years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB decided to issue the bonds to assist the government&rsquo;s target of raising internal loans of Rs 225 billion in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The National Debt Management Department of NRB will be issuing the Development Bond 2087 &lsquo;D&rsquo; on behalf of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The interest rate of the development bond will be decided through bidding process. The development bonds, which will be issued in an auction, can be used as collateral to receive loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Non-banking institutes as well as finance companies, insurance companies, formal sector organisations and Nepali citizens can purchase the development bond.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB Spokesperson Dr Gunakar Bhatta expects banks and financial institutes to purchase most of the development bonds this time due to Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank had issued Treasury Bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on October 3 to raise internal loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '12380',
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			'id' => '12632',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Roads Damaged during Monsoon have Become Operational: DoR',
			'sub_title' => 'Department of Roads estimates Budget Requirement of Rs 3 Billion to Fully Repair the Roads',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Roads (DoR), altogether 253 sections of roads and highways were damaged by floods and landslides this year. Among them, 139 sections have been fully repaired while the remaining 112 areas have been partially reopened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, two areas along the Sanfebagar-Martadi road section that was damaged on August 10 have not become operational yet. The Department of Roads informed that this road section sustained major damage in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Arniko Highway, which was worst affected by floods and landslides this year, has become partially operational with one-way traffic in some areas. More than 25 areas along the highway have been partially opened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the initial estimates of DoR, it will cost more than Rs 3 billion to fully repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides. Arniko Highway alone will require Rs 1.5 billion for repair works, informed Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Beni-Jomsom road also sustained major damages due to flood this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, floods swept away large chunks of road as well as Bailey bridges and under-construction bridges during monsoon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Many areas of Siddhartha Highway, Pritivi Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Koshi Highway, Trishuli-Syafrubesi road section among others are still operating with one-way traffic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has requested for budget from the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in order to repair the roads. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although roads get damaged by floods and landslides every year, the government does not allocate budget specifically for this purpose. The budget for the repair works of roads is released from the additional expenses of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Infrastructure experts point out the need to identify the vulnerable spots and repair them during winter to minimize damages during the monsoon season.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12631',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sailung Enterprises unlikely to Import Fertilizer within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sailung Enterprises, which was awarded the contract to import 30,000 metric tons of urea, has not been able to bring the fertilizer even as the deadline of contract is about to expire. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The deadline for Sailung Enterprises was extended for the second time to import 30,000 metric tons of urea even though it failed not bring 25,000 metric tons of urea within the initial deadline. Due to the inordinate delay, the farmers could not get chemical fertilizers during the wheat cultivation season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Only a week is left for the contract agreement expire. However, the company has not brought the fertilizers yet. Sailung Enterprises was awarded the contract to import the fertilizers on July 2. Even after 110 days of getting the contract, the company has not been able to bring fertilizers yet. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Bishnu Pokharel of Agriculture Inputs Company Limited informed that the company should bring the fertilizers within the extended deadline.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">But he added that the possibility of Sailung Enterprises bringing the fertilizers is extremely low this time as well. He said that the contract was given to the wrong company for the purchase of fertilizers. Pokharel added that they were unaware about as the weaknesses of the company before. It is widely believed that an inexperienced company was given the responsibility of importing fertilizer due to political pressure. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal, Israel Prepare Protocol for Migrant Workers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: A ‘protocol’ to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: A &lsquo;protocol&rsquo; to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">High-ranking officials of the two countries prepared the protocol after almost a month of negotiations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and&nbsp; restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, as per the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal, who represented the Nepali side during negotiations with Israel, says that the two countries prepared the protocol on the basis of the labour pact.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, Dahal informed that the two countries are yet to endorse the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Representatives of the two countries will endorse the protocol immediately after Tihar. The process of sending workers to Israel will begin soon after endorsing it,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Dahal, 500 Nepali workers will be sent to Israel in the first phase. The Department of Foreign Employment is finalizing a separate work procedure for it, informed Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We are finalizing a work procedure to implement the labour agreement and the protocol. It will be ready soon,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal had also signed a labour pact with Israel in 2015. Back then, very few Nepalis had gone to Israel for work. Israel had agreed to take nurses and care givers having three months of training but the agreement could not be implemented for a long time.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12629',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'High-Profile Visits for Mountaineering Give Silver Lining to the ailing Tourism Industry ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Government officials and entrepreneurs believe that the arrival of high-profile foreign delegates for climbing mountains has given a positive message to the tourism sector of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1604362035.23.jpg" style="height:237px; width:320px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah</span></span></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah has already reached the base camp of Mt Ama Dablam to scale the 6,814-meter peak. A 14-member team of Prince Abdullah reached the base camp on Sunday (November 1). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism informed that the expedition team of Prince Abdullah includes six climbers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a six-member Nepali team has also scaled Baruntse amid coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, two other expedition teams have received permission to scale 6151-meter high Gyalzen Peal and 7126-meter high Himlung.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Recently, the Royal Force team of Baharain&rsquo;s prince Nasir Bin Hamid Al Khalifa successfully scaled 8163-meter high Manaslu.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Tourism, the government has granted permission to five expedition teams to climb mountain amid coronavirus crisis. The department informed that two out of the five teams have already completed their missions. The department has collected royalties of Rs 2.3 million for granting permission for the expedition teams to climb mountains.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai informed that the arrival of high-profile teams for scaling mountains amid coronavirus pandemic has given a message that Nepal is a safe destination for tourism.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The visits of princes of Qatar and Baharain for mountain expeditions have given a clear message that Nepal is safe for visit during coronavirus crisis. Now, the government is preparing to open other sectors associated with the tourism industry,&rdquo; said Minister Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association Kul Bahadur Gurung believes that the arrival of tourists for climbing mountains at a time when tourists visiting Nepal has been almost nil gives a positive message.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to make arrangements for PCR tests for the tourists at the airport arguing that the provision for 6-day hotel quarantine for the visitors will only lead to a decline in number of tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12628',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Loans Worth Rs 191 billion Disbursed to the Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '5.85 percent of the total credit disbursed to agriculture so far this year',
			'summary' => 'Commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Although the monetary policy of the current fiscal year has introduced a provision for commercial banks to increase the minimum percentage of the total credit to be disbursed to the agricultural sector from 10 percent to 15 percent, the commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">By the end of Bhadra (mid-September) of the last year, a total credit of Rs 3 trillion 274 billion and 970 million was disbursed from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;Out of the total loan, Rs&nbsp;191.72 billion was been disbursed for the agricultural sector.&nbsp;In the past, 10 percent of credit for the agriculture sector was mandatory. However, the central bank is optimistic about the current credit flow to the agricultural sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank has stated that even amid the pandemic, the agricultural credit has increased by Rs 26.73 billion.&nbsp;According to the Banks and Financial Institutions Regulation Department of the central bank, the total sectoral credit stood at Rs 2 trillion 976 billion and 740 million out of which, Rs&nbsp;164.98 billion was disbursed to the agricultural sector in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The monthly data published by the Department of Banking and Financial Institutions Regulation of NRB classifies credit for agriculture, forestry and fishery as agricultural loans.&nbsp;Namely, &#39;agricultural sector&#39; covers grains, vegetables and other cash crops, tobacco, hemp, fruits and floriculture, poultry and bee keeping, manure and pesticides, cold storage, irrigation, forest, livestock or poultry farming, among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the statistics department of Nepal Rastra Bank informs that the statistics of concessional agricultural loans and priority agricultural loans have not been included in the data of agricultural credit flow. Preferential agricultural loans include pure agricultural loans as well as loans for the purchase of materials for production, tea and coffee production.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank by the end of Bhadra (mid-September), the Agriculture Development Bank has the largest share in the disbursement of agriculture and forestry loans amongst all commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;The Agriculture Development Bank has the highest share of 16.57 percent (Rs 28.655 billion) of the total agricultural loans.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hemlal Poudyal, spokesperson of the bank, said that the bank has emphasized on the flow of agricultural loans without collateral under concessional loans by taking risks. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank has disbursed 9.1 percent (Rs 15.592 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The bank, which has been aggressive in credit flow, has also disbursed agricultural credit well.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank is also the first bank to disburse the most loans in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;Arjun Raj Khaniya, head of public relations at NIC Asia Bank, says that the overall loan investment of the bank has increased due to the increase in the number of branch offices and extension counters across the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Rastriya Banijya Bank has disbursed 7.74 percent (Rs 13.39 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The commercial banks that disburse more agricultural credit are Prime Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Global IME Bank, Sunrise Bank and Nepal Bank respectively.&nbsp;Agricultural credit worth Rs 19.439 billion was disbursed from 19 development banks.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12627',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government yet to Integrate all Customs Facilities in Birgunj despite operation of ICP',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). However, even after three years of operation of the ICP, this objective has not been achieved. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The goal of making the import and export transparent by merging the old customs point at the Birgunj-Raxaul border and the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP has been largely neglected so far. After the closure of the Nepal-India border during the coronavirus pandemic, most of the trade taking place throug the Birgunj-Raxaul-Inarwa transit point has been shifted to the ICP.&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Birgunj Customs Officer Ramesh Sukmani said that most of the customs work has been concentrated in the ICP after March as the border was closed due to coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;Most of the import and export businesses are now being done through the ICP. More than 99 percent of the goods are cleared through the ICP,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, only a small quantity of petroleum products, vegetables, clinker, coal, iron ore and some other goods are imported through Inarwa. The Birgunj Customs had also started construction of infrastructure with scanners to shift the import-export trade to ICP by making Inarwa a passenger transit point. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">It has been almost a year since the decision was taken to shift the dry port to the ICP. However, no progress has been seen in the decision of the Council of Ministers to merge these customs facilities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12626',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Still the First Choice of Foreign Investors Despite Covid-19 Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Despite a ‘wait and watch’ situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Despite a &lsquo;wait and watch&rsquo; situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 89 projects with investment of Rs 19.15 billion have been registered with the Department of Industry in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The registration of such projects registered during the corresponding period of last fiscal year was also similar in number. The number of projects with foreign investment has remained almost similar in the last two years. However, the number is significantly less compared to the registration of foreign-backed projects in FY 2018/19, when a total of 129 projects were registered in the first three months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 2,846 persons will get employment from the projects ranging from agriculture to IT, production, service sector and tourism industry registered in the current FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the review period, tourism and service sectors have attracted more investment this year as well. A total of 58 projects related to tourism industry have been registered in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The total investment for the projects is estimated to be&nbsp; around Rs 13.8 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The second choice for foreign investors is the service sector. During the review period, a total of 25 projects were registered in this sector while the agriculture sector recorded one project and the IT sector drew just three projects. The commitment for investment in the service sector in the review period is Rs 4.5 billion. None of the investors have shown any interest in the energy sector in the first three months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Senior Vice President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah says it is a positive development to see investors interested in the tourism industry but added there has been very little investment in real sense.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have also notice a trend of foreign investors just acquiring license,&rdquo; said Shah, adding, &ldquo;Foreign investors might have been attracted because there is still plenty of opportunities in the provincial capitals and other areas outside the capital.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the number of projects registered in the first three months of FY 2018/19 was significantly more, the investment&nbsp; commitment in that particular year was less than either the current FY year or the last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In FY 2018/19, a total of 129 projects with investment of Rs 7.13 billion were registered with the department. However, investment for 88 projects registered in the last FY 2019/20 was Rs 19.25 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12625',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Gradually Reopen Tourism Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'Tourism Ministry to Present a Proposal to Cabinet Soon',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols. The government has already opened doors for trekking and mountaineering since October 17 and has not decided to take a step further by opening other sectors of tourism industry amid Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation&nbsp; Yogesh Bhattarai said during a Webinar organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association on the occasion of its 47<sup>th</sup> anniversary that there is no alternative to gradually reopening the tourism sector despite the risk of Covid-19 infection. He further said that the government is preparing to open all the sectors associated with the tourism industry by strictly implementing health protocols. Minister Bhattarai added that the proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval soon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the tourists will be allowed to enter Nepal on condition that they abide by health and safety standards. According to the minister, Kuwait&rsquo;s prince is preparing to visit Nepal soon for mountain expedition. The government has already announced on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal in groups provided that they stay in quarantine for seven days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the Webinar, NMA Chairman Santabir Lama said that the employees associated to the mountaineering sector have been struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of Covid-19. He also urged the government to set up a basket fund to support them during the current crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of NMA Kul Bahadur Gurung pointed out to the need of concessional loan and relief to the entrepreneurs involved in the tourism sector. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, President of TAAN Khum Bahadur Subedi said that the government must bring additional relief packages to revitalize the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Stakeholders are preparing to organize a nationwide cycle tour from Mechi to Mahakali from November 2 to promote the tourism industry. Renowned cyclist Pushkar Shah will be leading the tour, informed Nepal Tourism Board.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180513122353_tourism%281%29.jpg" style="height:311px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12624',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Potatoes up by 100 Percent in Wholesale Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market. According to the records kept by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, the price of potato has increased by 100 percent this year compared to the corresponding period of last year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the available data, the price of potato was very less during last year than this year. Currently, the price of red potatoes imported from India is Rs 68 per kilogram, which is 100 percent more than the price of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data kept by the committee show that the price of red potatoes from India was Rs 34 per kg on November 2 last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of red potatoes grown in Nepal is Rs 91 per kilogram at present. The current price is 45 percent more than last year&rsquo;s price of home-grown red potatoes, when the cost of such local potatoes was Rs 63 per kg.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Information officer at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, Binaya Shrestha, informed that there is no additional demand for potatoes in the market but the price is still high because it will take some time for the locally produced potatoes to be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that the price of potatoes has increased in the Indian market as well, which has also affected the price in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India is the main supplier of potatoes to Nepal during this season. As the price has increased in India, it is obvious that the price will increase in Nepal,&rdquo; said Shrestha, adding that the price of potatoes will go down from mid-November onwards when adequate amount of locally produced potatoes will be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, consumers complain that the retailers have been fixing the prices of potatoes arbitrarily as the wholesale price itself is exorbitantly high. It has been found that the retail stores in Kirtiour, Balkhu and Kalanki have been selling potatoes at a price which is Rs 40 more per kg than the wholesale price.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12623',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Saurya Airlines gets India’s Kuber Group as new Business Partner',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India’s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India&rsquo;s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive. After acquiring a new business partner, the airline company has also received permission to operate flights effective from October 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Indian company owns 49 percent share of Saurya Airlines while the remaining 51 percent stake belongs to the Nepali shareholders.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the existing laws of the country, foreign companies cannot own majority shares of any company operating in Nepal. Therefore, Saurya Airlines has kept majority share of 51 percent while making the Indian company its business partner, informed Gopal Bhattarai, managing director of Saurya Airlines. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We were facing problem to implement new plans due to financial crisis. So we signed a partnership deal with a reputed Indian company. We are now hopeful of making an impact in the domestic market as well as the regional market in the near future,&rdquo; said Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Bhattarai claimed that Saurya Airlines has become the first airline company in Nepal to acquire foreign business partner. Kuber Group invests in real estate and tobacco business in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to MD Bhattarai, Saurya Airlines will be providing its services through three aircraft for the time being while it is planning to procure a new ATR aircraft soon. He says that the operation of ATR is cost effective in Nepal and the plane is also suitable for Nepal considering its geography.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In total, Saurya Airlines is planning to add five more aircraft to its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;The airline company has already procured a 50-seater Canadian Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the company has received permission to operate 10 flights per day, Saurya Airlines is planning to operate one flight each with its three aircraft per day for the time being, informed the company&rsquo;s spokesperson Mukesh 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Khanal, two of their three aircraft are currently being repaired.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Saurya Airlines, which came into operation in 2014, was sold by the establishment faction to new owners within four years of operation due to financial crisis. The new operators have collaborated with the Indian company for effective 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines are the three major companies operating flights along the trunk route in Nepal. With the revival of Saurya Airlines, the domestic airline market of Nepal is expected to become more competitive.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12622',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 3500 Bank Employees Test Positive for Covid-19 ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.&nbsp;As the number of infected employees is increasing day by day, banks have not been able to provide services from all of the branches at the same time.</span></span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the data from Nepal Rastra Bank, around 3,500 employees of commercial banks have been infected with coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Compared to the employees of commercial banks, the number of infected employees in development banks, finance companies and microfinance companies is less.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Development Bankers Association, 485 employees of 20 development banks have been infected as October 18.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of these, 176 have already recovered from the disease while 309 employees are still infected. Similarly, a total of 183 family members of the infected employees have also tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, about 200 employees of 21 &ldquo;C&rdquo; class finance companies have been infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the bankers, the banking services have been affected as employees from the cashier sitting at the bank&#39;s counter to high-level ones have been infected with the virus.&nbsp;Most of the companies have therefore not been able to operate all of the branches lately due to the increase in cases of infection.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Some finance companies have opened branch offices alternately, while others have reduced the service period from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Most of the offices of the 84 microfinance institutions currently in operation are located outside the capital, ie in the rural areas. So, only a few employees of such companies have been infected.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Basanta Raj Lamsal, the president of the Nepal Microfinance Bankers&#39; Association, only 2 percent of the total employees of all microfinance companies are infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">He added that even though only a few employees were infected with coronavirus, the current situation doesn&rsquo;t allow the employees to go to the field to collect interest from the customers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Even though areas like Dailekh and West Nawalparasi are not very crowded, the virus has still spread by coming in contact with people coming from India. The services have been affected despite the fact that only a small number of employees have been infected,&quot; he told New Business Age. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, the financial statements of the first quarter of the current fiscal year will be affected due to this.&nbsp;Arjun Khaniya, head of the public relations department of NIC Asia Bank, says that all the services have been affected as more employees are becoming infected day by day.&nbsp;According to him, about 150 employees of all branches of NIC Asia Bank have been infected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank, Bodhraj Devkota, said that the process of infection and recovery will keep on continuing as the employees are working under high risk.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12636',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government to get new BYD Buses within a Month ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 4: Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd, a supplier that was in dispute for importing substandard electric buses, is now providing new electric buses to the government after two years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project head of the company Sahil Shrestha informed that the company will provide the electric buses to the government after completing the due processes within a month as per the agreement reached with the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stating that they are the mediator between Chinese manufacturer BYD and the Government of Nepal, he further informed that the vehicles have already reached Kolkata port. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Five big electric buses including 14 small ones have already arrived in Kolkata,&rdquo; &nbsp;Shrestha said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although Cimex Inc had promised to provide new buses within April, they were not able to do so due to coronavirus. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism Kamal Prasad Bhattarai said that the buses will be operated in Lumbini after they have been tested.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The company has said that the buses have already arrived but technical tests are yet to be done. After doing the necessary tests, we will carry out the necessary processes to acquire the vehicles according to the agreement.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The buses were procured by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to operate electric buses from Gautam Buddha International Airport to Lumbini. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry had purchased those buses for Lumbini Development Trust from the Chinese company BYD. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of Rs 290 million provided by the ADB, five buses were purchased for Rs 87.5 million. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12635',
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			'title' => 'Finance Minister Reviewing Status of Budget Implementation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has started reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel, who was appointed as finance minister in mid-October, has started reviewing the progress with officials of various ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, Finance Minister has held discussions regarding the implementation of budget &ndash; especially the capital expenditure &ndash; with the officials of the Ministry of Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed Yamlal Bhusal, joint secretary at finance ministry.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Several ministries have not been able to perform their works in accordance to the target citing the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, Finance Minister Poudel has reportedly instructed the line ministries not to delay the implementation of budget on the pretext of Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He has also directed the ministries to complete their work in order to meet the target as per the work plan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During Monday&rsquo;s meeting with authorities of the two ministries, Finance Minister Poudel instructed them to effectively implement the policies and programmes announced in the budget for the prevention coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the meeting, secretaries of the two ministries requested the finance minister to facilitate in implementing the current budget instead of bringing new policies and programmes. They also stressed on the need to implement small and petty programmes through the provincial governments and the local units instead of the federal ministries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, the government has been able to spend only Rs 201 billion out of the total budget of Rs 1474 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The government&rsquo;s expenditure is just 13.63 percent of the total budget. The government had set a target to spend 20 percent of the total budget in the first quarter.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The current expenditure of the government during the review period is Rs 182 billion while the capital expenditure is just Rs 15.4 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Import of Coal Up Despite Current Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 4: At a time when almost all businesses and industries have come to a standstill, the import of coal has surprisingly gone up. Coal is used as a raw material for preparing clinker, which is a vital component of cement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data maintained by the Birgunj Customs Office shows that the import of coal has increased by 42 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the customs office, 141,528 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.88 billion was imported into the country during the review period. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 99,381 metric tons of coal worth Rs 1.42 billion was imported through Birgunj customs during the corresponding period of last fiscal year, according to Information Officer at the customs office Bimal Sah. Out of the country&rsquo;s total import of coal, 50 percent of coal enters the country through Birgunj.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say that some industries have imported huge quantity of coal right now because the price of coal has dropped in the Indian market. One of the importers told New Business Age that although there isn&rsquo;t much demand for cement in the market, they decided to import coal in large quantity to take advantage of the decline in its price.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Madhav Rajpal, an importer of coal, claimed that the import of the product was increasing even during the lockdown period because the cement industry of Nepal has been expanding in recent years with more investment in the sector. He said that 70 percent of the imported coal will be used to make clinker while the remaining 30 percent is utilized by brick kilns.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12633',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank to Auction Development Bonds worth Rs 20 Billion on Nov 4',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to auction development bonds with maturity period of one decade as per its schedule to raise internal loans in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank is all set to sell development bonds worth Rs 20 billion on November 4. The development bonds will have a maturity period of ten years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB decided to issue the bonds to assist the government&rsquo;s target of raising internal loans of Rs 225 billion in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The National Debt Management Department of NRB will be issuing the Development Bond 2087 &lsquo;D&rsquo; on behalf of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The interest rate of the development bond will be decided through bidding process. The development bonds, which will be issued in an auction, can be used as collateral to receive loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Non-banking institutes as well as finance companies, insurance companies, formal sector organisations and Nepali citizens can purchase the development bond.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">NRB Spokesperson Dr Gunakar Bhatta expects banks and financial institutes to purchase most of the development bonds this time due to Covid-19 crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank had issued Treasury Bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on October 3 to raise internal loan.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-11-03',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12632',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Roads Damaged during Monsoon have Become Operational: DoR',
			'sub_title' => 'Department of Roads estimates Budget Requirement of Rs 3 Billion to Fully Repair the Roads',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Roads (DoR), altogether 253 sections of roads and highways were damaged by floods and landslides this year. Among them, 139 sections have been fully repaired while the remaining 112 areas have been partially reopened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, two areas along the Sanfebagar-Martadi road section that was damaged on August 10 have not become operational yet. The Department of Roads informed that this road section sustained major damage in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Arniko Highway, which was worst affected by floods and landslides this year, has become partially operational with one-way traffic in some areas. More than 25 areas along the highway have been partially opened.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the initial estimates of DoR, it will cost more than Rs 3 billion to fully repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides. Arniko Highway alone will require Rs 1.5 billion for repair works, informed Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Beni-Jomsom road also sustained major damages due to flood this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the department, floods swept away large chunks of road as well as Bailey bridges and under-construction bridges during monsoon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Many areas of Siddhartha Highway, Pritivi Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Koshi Highway, Trishuli-Syafrubesi road section among others are still operating with one-way traffic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has requested for budget from the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in order to repair the roads. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although roads get damaged by floods and landslides every year, the government does not allocate budget specifically for this purpose. The budget for the repair works of roads is released from the additional expenses of the government.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Infrastructure experts point out the need to identify the vulnerable spots and repair them during winter to minimize damages during the monsoon season.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12631',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sailung Enterprises unlikely to Import Fertilizer within Extended Deadline',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 3: The government is unlikely to get chemical fertilizers even within the extended deadline because it awarded the contract to import fertilizers to a company that had not prior experience in importing fertilizers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sailung Enterprises, which was awarded the contract to import 30,000 metric tons of urea, has not been able to bring the fertilizer even as the deadline of contract is about to expire. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The deadline for Sailung Enterprises was extended for the second time to import 30,000 metric tons of urea even though it failed not bring 25,000 metric tons of urea within the initial deadline. Due to the inordinate delay, the farmers could not get chemical fertilizers during the wheat cultivation season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Only a week is left for the contract agreement expire. However, the company has not brought the fertilizers yet. Sailung Enterprises was awarded the contract to import the fertilizers on July 2. Even after 110 days of getting the contract, the company has not been able to bring fertilizers yet. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Bishnu Pokharel of Agriculture Inputs Company Limited informed that the company should bring the fertilizers within the extended deadline.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">But he added that the possibility of Sailung Enterprises bringing the fertilizers is extremely low this time as well. He said that the contract was given to the wrong company for the purchase of fertilizers. Pokharel added that they were unaware about as the weaknesses of the company before. It is widely believed that an inexperienced company was given the responsibility of importing fertilizer due to political pressure. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12630',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal, Israel Prepare Protocol for Migrant Workers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: A ‘protocol’ to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: A &lsquo;protocol&rsquo; to send Nepali workers to Israel has been finalized as per the agreement signed between the two countries about a month ago.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">High-ranking officials of the two countries prepared the protocol after almost a month of negotiations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol mentions about issues like the process of sending workers to Israel, their qualification, perks and benefits in accordance to the labour agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The protocol focuses on sending Nepali workers to the health sector of Israel and has specified food and accommodation for them.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Besides the health sector, the Nepali workers will also get opportunities to work in hotels and&nbsp; restaurants, agriculture sector, construction works among others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali workers willing to go to Israel for work will have to pay the visa fee, medical test fee as well as orientation charge and a certain amount to the welfare fund themselves, as per the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal, who represented the Nepali side during negotiations with Israel, says that the two countries prepared the protocol on the basis of the labour pact.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, Dahal informed that the two countries are yet to endorse the protocol.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Representatives of the two countries will endorse the protocol immediately after Tihar. The process of sending workers to Israel will begin soon after endorsing it,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Dahal, 500 Nepali workers will be sent to Israel in the first phase. The Department of Foreign Employment is finalizing a separate work procedure for it, informed Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We are finalizing a work procedure to implement the labour agreement and the protocol. It will be ready soon,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal had also signed a labour pact with Israel in 2015. Back then, very few Nepalis had gone to Israel for work. Israel had agreed to take nurses and care givers having three months of training but the agreement could not be implemented for a long time.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12629',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'High-Profile Visits for Mountaineering Give Silver Lining to the ailing Tourism Industry ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 3: Mountaineering and expedition have to some extent revitalized the tourism industry, which has been reeling under the effects of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Government officials and entrepreneurs believe that the arrival of high-profile foreign delegates for climbing mountains has given a positive message to the tourism sector of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/1604362035.23.jpg" style="height:237px; width:320px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah</span></span></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Qatar&rsquo;s prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah has already reached the base camp of Mt Ama Dablam to scale the 6,814-meter peak. A 14-member team of Prince Abdullah reached the base camp on Sunday (November 1). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Tourism informed that the expedition team of Prince Abdullah includes six climbers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, a six-member Nepali team has also scaled Baruntse amid coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, two other expedition teams have received permission to scale 6151-meter high Gyalzen Peal and 7126-meter high Himlung.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Recently, the Royal Force team of Baharain&rsquo;s prince Nasir Bin Hamid Al Khalifa successfully scaled 8163-meter high Manaslu.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Tourism, the government has granted permission to five expedition teams to climb mountain amid coronavirus crisis. The department informed that two out of the five teams have already completed their missions. The department has collected royalties of Rs 2.3 million for granting permission for the expedition teams to climb mountains.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai informed that the arrival of high-profile teams for scaling mountains amid coronavirus pandemic has given a message that Nepal is a safe destination for tourism.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The visits of princes of Qatar and Baharain for mountain expeditions have given a clear message that Nepal is safe for visit during coronavirus crisis. Now, the government is preparing to open other sectors associated with the tourism industry,&rdquo; said Minister Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association Kul Bahadur Gurung believes that the arrival of tourists for climbing mountains at a time when tourists visiting Nepal has been almost nil gives a positive message.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to make arrangements for PCR tests for the tourists at the airport arguing that the provision for 6-day hotel quarantine for the visitors will only lead to a decline in number of tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12628',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Loans Worth Rs 191 billion Disbursed to the Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '5.85 percent of the total credit disbursed to agriculture so far this year',
			'summary' => 'Commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Although the monetary policy of the current fiscal year has introduced a provision for commercial banks to increase the minimum percentage of the total credit to be disbursed to the agricultural sector from 10 percent to 15 percent, the commercial banks have only been able to flow 5.85 percent of their total credit to the agricultural sector in the first two months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">By the end of Bhadra (mid-September) of the last year, a total credit of Rs 3 trillion 274 billion and 970 million was disbursed from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;Out of the total loan, Rs&nbsp;191.72 billion was been disbursed for the agricultural sector.&nbsp;In the past, 10 percent of credit for the agriculture sector was mandatory. However, the central bank is optimistic about the current credit flow to the agricultural sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank has stated that even amid the pandemic, the agricultural credit has increased by Rs 26.73 billion.&nbsp;According to the Banks and Financial Institutions Regulation Department of the central bank, the total sectoral credit stood at Rs 2 trillion 976 billion and 740 million out of which, Rs&nbsp;164.98 billion was disbursed to the agricultural sector in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The monthly data published by the Department of Banking and Financial Institutions Regulation of NRB classifies credit for agriculture, forestry and fishery as agricultural loans.&nbsp;Namely, &#39;agricultural sector&#39; covers grains, vegetables and other cash crops, tobacco, hemp, fruits and floriculture, poultry and bee keeping, manure and pesticides, cold storage, irrigation, forest, livestock or poultry farming, among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the statistics department of Nepal Rastra Bank informs that the statistics of concessional agricultural loans and priority agricultural loans have not been included in the data of agricultural credit flow. Preferential agricultural loans include pure agricultural loans as well as loans for the purchase of materials for production, tea and coffee production.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank by the end of Bhadra (mid-September), the Agriculture Development Bank has the largest share in the disbursement of agriculture and forestry loans amongst all commercial banks, development banks and finance companies.&nbsp;The Agriculture Development Bank has the highest share of 16.57 percent (Rs 28.655 billion) of the total agricultural loans.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hemlal Poudyal, spokesperson of the bank, said that the bank has emphasized on the flow of agricultural loans without collateral under concessional loans by taking risks. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank has disbursed 9.1 percent (Rs 15.592 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The bank, which has been aggressive in credit flow, has also disbursed agricultural credit well.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">NIC Asia Bank is also the first bank to disburse the most loans in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;Arjun Raj Khaniya, head of public relations at NIC Asia Bank, says that the overall loan investment of the bank has increased due to the increase in the number of branch offices and extension counters across the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Rastriya Banijya Bank has disbursed 7.74 percent (Rs 13.39 billion) of the total agricultural credit.&nbsp;The commercial banks that disburse more agricultural credit are Prime Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Global IME Bank, Sunrise Bank and Nepal Bank respectively.&nbsp;Agricultural credit worth Rs 19.439 billion was disbursed from 19 development banks.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12627',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government yet to Integrate all Customs Facilities in Birgunj despite operation of ICP',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">November 2: Government authorities were planning to channelize the import and export of all goods from Birgunj through the Integrated Check Post (ICP). However, even after three years of operation of the ICP, this objective has not been achieved. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The goal of making the import and export transparent by merging the old customs point at the Birgunj-Raxaul border and the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP has been largely neglected so far. After the closure of the Nepal-India border during the coronavirus pandemic, most of the trade taking place throug the Birgunj-Raxaul-Inarwa transit point has been shifted to the ICP.&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Birgunj Customs Officer Ramesh Sukmani said that most of the customs work has been concentrated in the ICP after March as the border was closed due to coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;Most of the import and export businesses are now being done through the ICP. More than 99 percent of the goods are cleared through the ICP,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, only a small quantity of petroleum products, vegetables, clinker, coal, iron ore and some other goods are imported through Inarwa. The Birgunj Customs had also started construction of infrastructure with scanners to shift the import-export trade to ICP by making Inarwa a passenger transit point. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">It has been almost a year since the decision was taken to shift the dry port to the ICP. However, no progress has been seen in the decision of the Council of Ministers to merge these customs facilities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12626',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Still the First Choice of Foreign Investors Despite Covid-19 Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: Despite a ‘wait and watch’ situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Despite a &lsquo;wait and watch&rsquo; situation for investment in Nepal due to Covid-19 crisis, registration of projects with foreign investment this year is almost the same as that of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 89 projects with investment of Rs 19.15 billion have been registered with the Department of Industry in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The registration of such projects registered during the corresponding period of last fiscal year was also similar in number. The number of projects with foreign investment has remained almost similar in the last two years. However, the number is significantly less compared to the registration of foreign-backed projects in FY 2018/19, when a total of 129 projects were registered in the first three months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Altogether 2,846 persons will get employment from the projects ranging from agriculture to IT, production, service sector and tourism industry registered in the current FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the review period, tourism and service sectors have attracted more investment this year as well. A total of 58 projects related to tourism industry have been registered in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The total investment for the projects is estimated to be&nbsp; around Rs 13.8 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The second choice for foreign investors is the service sector. During the review period, a total of 25 projects were registered in this sector while the agriculture sector recorded one project and the IT sector drew just three projects. The commitment for investment in the service sector in the review period is Rs 4.5 billion. None of the investors have shown any interest in the energy sector in the first three months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Senior Vice President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah says it is a positive development to see investors interested in the tourism industry but added there has been very little investment in real sense.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have also notice a trend of foreign investors just acquiring license,&rdquo; said Shah, adding, &ldquo;Foreign investors might have been attracted because there is still plenty of opportunities in the provincial capitals and other areas outside the capital.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the number of projects registered in the first three months of FY 2018/19 was significantly more, the investment&nbsp; commitment in that particular year was less than either the current FY year or the last FY.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In FY 2018/19, a total of 129 projects with investment of Rs 7.13 billion were registered with the department. However, investment for 88 projects registered in the last FY 2019/20 was Rs 19.25 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12625',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Preparing to Gradually Reopen Tourism Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'Tourism Ministry to Present a Proposal to Cabinet Soon',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The government is preparing to open all sectors associated with the tourism industry by maintaining standard health protocols. The government has already opened doors for trekking and mountaineering since October 17 and has not decided to take a step further by opening other sectors of tourism industry amid Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation&nbsp; Yogesh Bhattarai said during a Webinar organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association on the occasion of its 47<sup>th</sup> anniversary that there is no alternative to gradually reopening the tourism sector despite the risk of Covid-19 infection. He further said that the government is preparing to open all the sectors associated with the tourism industry by strictly implementing health protocols. Minister Bhattarai added that the proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval soon.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He informed that the tourists will be allowed to enter Nepal on condition that they abide by health and safety standards. According to the minister, Kuwait&rsquo;s prince is preparing to visit Nepal soon for mountain expedition. The government has already announced on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal in groups provided that they stay in quarantine for seven days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During the Webinar, NMA Chairman Santabir Lama said that the employees associated to the mountaineering sector have been struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of Covid-19. He also urged the government to set up a basket fund to support them during the current crisis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of NMA Kul Bahadur Gurung pointed out to the need of concessional loan and relief to the entrepreneurs involved in the tourism sector. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, President of TAAN Khum Bahadur Subedi said that the government must bring additional relief packages to revitalize the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Stakeholders are preparing to organize a nationwide cycle tour from Mechi to Mahakali from November 2 to promote the tourism industry. Renowned cyclist Pushkar Shah will be leading the tour, informed Nepal Tourism Board.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180513122353_tourism%281%29.jpg" style="height:311px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12624',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Potatoes up by 100 Percent in Wholesale Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">November 2: The price of potato has increased by 100 percent in the wholesale market. According to the records kept by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, the price of potato has increased by 100 percent this year compared to the corresponding period of last year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the available data, the price of potato was very less during last year than this year. Currently, the price of red potatoes imported from India is Rs 68 per kilogram, which is 100 percent more than the price of last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data kept by the committee show that the price of red potatoes from India was Rs 34 per kg on November 2 last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of red potatoes grown in Nepal is Rs 91 per kilogram at present. The current price is 45 percent more than last year&rsquo;s price of home-grown red potatoes, when the cost of such local potatoes was Rs 63 per kg.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Information officer at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, Binaya Shrestha, informed that there is no additional demand for potatoes in the market but the price is still high because it will take some time for the locally produced potatoes to be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that the price of potatoes has increased in the Indian market as well, which has also affected the price in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India is the main supplier of potatoes to Nepal during this season. As the price has increased in India, it is obvious that the price will increase in Nepal,&rdquo; said Shrestha, adding that the price of potatoes will go down from mid-November onwards when adequate amount of locally produced potatoes will be available in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, consumers complain that the retailers have been fixing the prices of potatoes arbitrarily as the wholesale price itself is exorbitantly high. It has been found that the retail stores in Kirtiour, Balkhu and Kalanki have been selling potatoes at a price which is Rs 40 more per kg than the wholesale price.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12623',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Saurya Airlines gets India’s Kuber Group as new Business Partner',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India’s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">October 21: Saurya Airlines has signed a partnership deal with India&rsquo;s Kuber Group after almost ten months of remaining inactive. After acquiring a new business partner, the airline company has also received permission to operate flights effective from October 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Indian company owns 49 percent share of Saurya Airlines while the remaining 51 percent stake belongs to the Nepali shareholders.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the existing laws of the country, foreign companies cannot own majority shares of any company operating in Nepal. Therefore, Saurya Airlines has kept majority share of 51 percent while making the Indian company its business partner, informed Gopal Bhattarai, managing director of Saurya Airlines. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We were facing problem to implement new plans due to financial crisis. So we signed a partnership deal with a reputed Indian company. We are now hopeful of making an impact in the domestic market as well as the regional market in the near future,&rdquo; said Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Bhattarai claimed that Saurya Airlines has become the first airline company in Nepal to acquire foreign business partner. Kuber Group invests in real estate and tobacco business in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to MD Bhattarai, Saurya Airlines will be providing its services through three aircraft for the time being while it is planning to procure a new ATR aircraft soon. He says that the operation of ATR is cost effective in Nepal and the plane is also suitable for Nepal considering its geography.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In total, Saurya Airlines is planning to add five more aircraft to its fleet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;The airline company has already procured a 50-seater Canadian Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the company has received permission to operate 10 flights per day, Saurya Airlines is planning to operate one flight each with its three aircraft per day for the time being, informed the company&rsquo;s spokesperson Mukesh 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to Khanal, two of their three aircraft are currently being repaired.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Saurya Airlines, which came into operation in 2014, was sold by the establishment faction to new owners within four years of operation due to financial crisis. The new operators have collaborated with the Indian company for effective 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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines are the three major companies operating flights along the trunk route in Nepal. With the revival of Saurya Airlines, the domestic airline market of Nepal is expected to become more competitive.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12622',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 3500 Bank Employees Test Positive for Covid-19 ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.',
			'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">October 21: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have now become the hot-spot for spreading Covid-19 infection due to high mobility of people.&nbsp;As the number of infected employees is increasing day by day, banks have not been able to provide services from all of the branches at the same time.</span></span></span></h1>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the data from Nepal Rastra Bank, around 3,500 employees of commercial banks have been infected with coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Compared to the employees of commercial banks, the number of infected employees in development banks, finance companies and microfinance companies is less.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Development Bankers Association, 485 employees of 20 development banks have been infected as October 18.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of these, 176 have already recovered from the disease while 309 employees are still infected. Similarly, a total of 183 family members of the infected employees have also tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, about 200 employees of 21 &ldquo;C&rdquo; class finance companies have been infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the bankers, the banking services have been affected as employees from the cashier sitting at the bank&#39;s counter to high-level ones have been infected with the virus.&nbsp;Most of the companies have therefore not been able to operate all of the branches lately due to the increase in cases of infection.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Some finance companies have opened branch offices alternately, while others have reduced the service period from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Most of the offices of the 84 microfinance institutions currently in operation are located outside the capital, ie in the rural areas. So, only a few employees of such companies have been infected.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Basanta Raj Lamsal, the president of the Nepal Microfinance Bankers&#39; Association, only 2 percent of the total employees of all microfinance companies are infected with coronavirus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">He added that even though only a few employees were infected with coronavirus, the current situation doesn&rsquo;t allow the employees to go to the field to collect interest from the customers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Even though areas like Dailekh and West Nawalparasi are not very crowded, the virus has still spread by coming in contact with people coming from India. The services have been affected despite the fact that only a small number of employees have been infected,&quot; he told New Business Age. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, the financial statements of the first quarter of the current fiscal year will be affected due to this.&nbsp;Arjun Khaniya, head of the public relations department of NIC Asia Bank, says that all the services have been affected as more employees are becoming infected day by day.&nbsp;According to him, about 150 employees of all branches of NIC Asia Bank have been infected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank, Bodhraj Devkota, said that the process of infection and recovery will keep on continuing as the employees are working under high risk.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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173 People Die in Disaster Incidents since June 10

Crusher Federation Urges PM Oli for Industry Renewal

Prime Minister Calls for Enhancing 'Hello Sarkar' Service

Bardiya National Park Sees Increase in Tourist Arrivals

Experts, Manpower Agencies at Odds Over Draft of Labour Migration Policy

Lower Seti Hydropower Project Acquires o500 Ropanis of Land

Government Proposes Formation of New Authority to Regulate Cooperatives

Sugar Prices Surge ahead of Festive Season amid Govt’s Failure to Import Sugar

BFIN to Host Conference in Kathmandu on Wednesday

Price of Gold Reaches All-Time High in Nepal

FOREX

Currency	Unit	Buy	Sell
U.S. Dollar	1	121.23	121.83
European Euro	1	131.65	132.31
UK Pound Sterling	1	142.47	143.18
Swiss Franc	1	124.29	124.90
Australian Dollar	1	71.69	72.05
Canadian Dollar	1	83.90	84.32
Japanese Yen	10	10.94	11.00
Chinese Yuan	1	17.17	17.26
Saudi Arabian Riyal	1	32.27	32.43
UAE Dirham	1	33.01	33.17
Malaysian Ringgit	1	27.36	27.50
South Korean Won	100	9.77	9.82

Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)

Bullion

Fine Gold	1 tola	77000.00
Tejabi Gold	1 tola	76700.00
Silver	1 tola	720.00

Update : 2020-03-25

Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association

Petroleum

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