“Nepal-India Friendship Drive 2011” organised by the Association of Nepal Beetle Users Group (ANBUG) concluded successfully on September 13. The closing ceremony was held on 27 September in which the visual show of the trip was highlighted. Gopal Sunder Lal Kakshapati, Founder President of ANBUG said, “We created history as a motor rally that originated in Nepal crossed Nepal’s international border for the first time.” ‘Nepal-India Friendship Drive 2011’ was flagged off at Kathmandu by Jayanta Prasad, Indian Ambassador to Nepal on 6 September and reached Gangtok, the capital of Indian state of Sikkim via Kakarvitta border point in Jhapa district.

 

Lamichhane New NRNA Prez

The fifth global convention of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) unanimously elected Jiba Lamicchane to its apex post. The erstwhile Vice President was elected unopposed to the post of President after contender Dev Man Hirachan withdrew his candidacy at the elevent hour. For 20 posts, 34 had filed candidacy while six of them were elected unanimously. Capt Hitman Gurung and Rameshwar Shah were elected to the post of Vice President. Similarly, Tenzi Sherpa, Tek Bahadur Karki, Bhaban Bhatta and Hem Raj Sharma were elected to the posts of General Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and Spokesperson respectively.

 

SAARC Business Leaders’ Conclave

The 4th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC) held in Kathmandu during 20-22 September with the theme of “Peace and Prosperity through Regional Connectivity” concluded by adopting a 9-point Kathmandu Declaration. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the three-day conclave jointly organised by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). The conclave was attended by over 500 participants including business and political leaders, academia and experts from eight SAARC nations. The participants of the conclave stressed on the need for enhanced regional connectivity to achieve peace and prosperity in the region as envisioned in the doctrine of Regional Connectivity 2010-2020. Private sectors, experts and business leaders agreed to urge the governments in the region to harmonise customs procedures.

They also stressed on the mutual recognition of standards and certifications, implementation of Regional Motor Vehicle Transport Agreement and Open Sky Policy linking major cities in the region and implementation of a common SAARC Energy Policy. The Kathmandu Declaration proposed the implementation of SAARC Transit Agreement, Shipment Agreement, Logistics Agreements, and ICT Agreement to make SAFTA a workable mechanism which will lead to Customs Union. Anisul Haq, President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce, recognised water, energy, climate change, food security, tourism, and investment as common priority concerns.

He urged for more connectivity in the region by resolving conflicts among member states. Pradip Kumar Shrestha, Vice-President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce, underscored that the future of the entire South-Asian region is in the hands of young entrepreneurs. “Young entrepreneurs are growing in South Asia, the business leaders should support them to take the lead,” said Shrestha. The conclave vowed urgent implementation of Regional Environment Treaty, activation of SAARC Food Bank and proposed to set up a SAARC Disaster Management Institute to mitigate the impacts of natural calamities and climate change. The business community of the region also recommended signing of a Regional Investment Treaty.

 

Ambuja, Dugar Invest in Dang Cement

India’s Ambuja Cement Ltd and Nepal’s HC Dugar Group have bought Dang Cement Industries Pvt Ltd (DCIPL). Ambuja is now the majority shareholder of DCIPL with 80 per cent ownership. Dugar Group makes up for the remaining 20 per cent. DCIPL obtained the license for producing one million tons of cement per annum in 2003 but could not begin production for various reasons. “The construction of the physical infrastructures of the company will begin soon after the Tihar to become the largest cement factory of Nepal in terms of production capacity,” said DCIPL Chairman Bijay Dugar. According to sources, Ambuja and Dugar jointly bought DCIPL for Rs 300 million in April this year. It is learnt that Ambuja is planning to invest billions of rupees in the company that has an authorised capital of Rs six billion at present. “Currently, the cement companies with half the production capacity of DCIPL have an investment of three to four billion rupees. So, there is no doubt that DCIPL will have an investment of much more,” added Dugar. Ambuja Cement’s 50 per cent shares are owned by Swiss company HOLCIM, a global leader in cement production and supply. DCIPL was incorporated on May 27, 2003 by lawmaker and industrialist Surya Bahadur KC and others with the objective to produce Portland and other types of cement. As that group could not set up the plant, it was taken over by the new investors. Dugar said that DCIPL will mine limestone on its own to produce clinker. He also informed that technicians and top officials from HOLCIM and Ambuja will visit the industry site before Tihar. “The construction will begin soon after their inspection visit,” informed Dugar.