Investment environment has been improving: White

Kathmandu, Mar. 30: Australian ambassador to Nepal Glenn White Thursday said that the investment environment had been improving in the country.

In a meeting with Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi at Singha Durbar, he stated that the investment climate was better now due to various policy reforms initiated by the ministry.

White said that the Australian support to Nepal’s development efforts would continue.

“Organic honey produced in Darchula district of Nepal has a very good market in the international market. Therefore, the government should establish a facility to process the honey produced there,” he said.

Minister Joshi appreciated Australia for its support for the Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP).

The MEDEP, supported by the Australian Aid and United Nations Development Programme, has created more than 70,000 micro-entrepreneurs in the rural areas of the country.

“Various acts and rules needed to create business-friendly environment in the country have been developed and implemented, and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act is in the final process,” said Joshi.

He stated that the government had formed four high-level committees to follow up with the investors that expressed their intent to invest in various projects in Nepal during the Nepal Investment Summit earlier this month.

“Furthermore, the services and processes at the departments and offices under the Ministry of Industry have been simplified, made more transparent and smart,” he said.

Minister Joshi urged the envoy to support Nepal in enhancing the market of Nepalese goods in Australia. 

Chinese investment in Damak Industrial Park

By Modnath Dhakal

Kathmandu, Mar. 29: Chinese investors are investing in a modern industrial area, Clean Industrial Park, in Damak municipality of Jhapa district in south-east Nepal.

The Chinese investment is being channelised through the 'One Belt One Road (OBOR)' initiative.

"The detailed project report (DPR) of the park is in the final stage, and the land acquisition process is underway, said Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar of OBOR International Trade Platform Nepal Committee, an international non-government organisation established here as a national coordinating agency to collaborate with similar organisations from other countries in the OBOR network.

“Most of the industries in the park will be established with Chinese investment," he added.

According to him, the DPR will be completed in a couple of months.

However, he said that it was too early to announce the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) that would come to the park.

About 700 bigahas of land have been acquired for the industrial park with support from the municipality office.

Rajkarnikar appreciated the effective coordination shown by the municipality office in acquiring the land and said that the park would be expanded to 2,200 bighas.

Although the nature of the industries to be set up in the park has not yet been finalised, most of the industries will be of a manufacturing nature and export-oriented.

The DPR of the park was initiated a couple of months after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries in Chengdu during the visit of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China in 2016.

The agreement was signed by Rajkarnikar, who is also advisor to the Park, and executive director of OBOR Jong Chaohui.

Former Prime Minister Oli, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel and Minister for Commerce Deepak Bohara as well as Chinese ministers and high ranking officials had been present at the MoU signing ceremony.

Rajkarnikar said that the industries in the park would follow international standards in that they would be eco-friendly in set up and operation.

The Ministry of Industry confirmed the development of the park.

More than 22,000 Chinese manufacturers are connected with the OBOR network through 100 centres in China.

"OBOR had helped us during the Nepal Investment Summit earlier this month. It has also pledged to support us in establishing a business platform in Nepal and displaying Nepalese products online and offline in China," said Rajkarnikar.

Sagar comes up with 'Sagar'

Kathmandu, Mar. 29: Lyricist Sagar Gnawali has come up with first solo album of modern songs, Sagar.

CPN-UML secretary Pradip Gyawali and former dean of the Institute of Engineering of Tribhuvan University Prof. Dr. Bharat Raj Pahari jointly unveiled the album amidst a programme here Wednesday.

Gyawali said that the songs of the album were melodious and heart-touching. 

The album has six songs penned by Gnawali that include 'Birse ki ta', 'Aama', 'Ali badhi ramro banos', 'Bhagwan', 'Gum Pakum Gum' and 'Desh'.

All songs are composed by renowned arranger Gaire Suresh.

The music album has a collection of vocals of Manoj Raj, Sworup Raj Acharya, Deepak Limbu and Santosh Lama while 'Desh' is sung jointly by Raj Sigdel, Gobinda Panthi and Nisha Deshar.

Born in Khadgakot of Gulmi district, Gnawali is an electrical engineer and currently works at the Nepal Electricity Authority. 

Govt soon to implement digital signature

Kathmandu, Mar. 28: The government has been finalising the arrangements required to implement digital signature and online payment gateway.

According to the Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi, there will be a major breakthrough in implementing digital signature and online payment within a couple of months.

"There have been a series of discussions between the ministry and the central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank. We are sorting out the issues related to both the policy and technology," said the Minister while addressing a symposium on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nepal Saturday evening.

A digital signature is a mathematical code attached to the document or digital messages transmitted electronically which enables the receiver to verify the content and identity of the sender.

Likewise, according to Wikipedia, a payment gateway is a merchant service provided by an e-commerce application service provider that authorizes credit card or direct payment processing for e-business online retailer and other service providers.

Once these two services are implemented, business transactions, including putting an order or making payments can be made online without any party being physically present.

It is believed that it will improve doing business environment in the country and discourages corruption.

Similarly, Minister Joshi also said that all the duplicate processes in registering a company were being removed.

"Now, you should submit your documents one of the two registration offices – Department of Industry or Office of the Company Registrar. When an investor submits the required paper at one of the offices, the other will automatically get it from the former," he said.

Earlier, the investors had to spend about 2 to 4 months just to fulfill the duplicate registration requirements.

"I wonder that both the government offices are doing the same things. It was just to add woe to the worry of the investors," remarked Joshi.

He urged the foreign investors to come to Nepal as the government was looking for the ways to serve the investors in a better way by initiating second phase of economic reforms with major reforms in policy and process.

"Investing in Nepal means investors will have the opportunity of markets in India and China. Joint venture companies are making good profits in Nepal," he said.

However, he urged them not to expect the government to remove all the obstacles overnight as the government had been gradually working for the changes.

Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Investment Board of Nepal Maha Prasad Adhikari said that by 2020 about 30 per cent of the investment committed through letter of intent at the Nepal Investment Summit would be realized, and projects of about Rs. 1.8 trillion would be initiated.

Investors from various countries expressed their intent to invest about Rs. 1.4 trillion in infrastructure, agriculture, hospitality and other projects in the country.

"Success of the Investment Summit earlier this month has inspired us. It is very encouraging that most of the investment interests are expressed on infrastructure projects which the country desperately needs," he said.

However, according to Adhikari, challenges still remain in creating conducive environment and making the intent realize.

Newly appointed Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri reiterated that India was committed to completing the projects like Arun III hydropower project and cross-border railways.

He urged the country to learn from the experience of India which has become one of the major FDI destinations in the world.

Managing director of Surya Nepal Abhimanyu Poddar said that the multinational had given a positive message to the foreign investors by diversifying its businesses in Nepal.

He urged the government to activate the one-window system.

"Process to repatriation is cumbersome which needs to be reformed," he said.

CEO of the SJVN Arun III Hydroelectricity Project Suresh Chandra Agrawal said that the company was very close to initiate the project and urged the government to facilitate the company in importing about 6,000 tons of explosives needed for the project. 

Om opens 32nd branch

Kathmandu, Mar. 28: Om Development Bank has opened its 32^nd branch at Boudda of Kathmandu.

Deputy governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank Chinta Mani Siwakoti inaugurated the branch amidst a ceremony by felicitating microbus lady driver Rita Thapa Magar.

According to a press statement issued by the bank, it felicitated Magar with an aim to promote women entrepreneurship.

The bank has been serving 125,000 customers through its network.

Chairman of the bank Sushil Kumar Goshali and chief executive officer Bishwo Mohan Adhikari informed about the various activities of the bank and said that the bank was going to merge with the Manaslu Development Bank.

India to exchange only INR 4,500 per Nepali

Kathmandu, Mar. 26: India Sunday said that it would only accept the exchange of 4,500 Indian Rupees per Nepalese citizen against the demand of Nepal Rastra Bank, 25,000 INR.

During a bilateral meeting with the central bank officials at Baluwatar, representatives of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed that the Indian monetary regulatory had decided to exchange only 4,500 INR per person in Nepal.

As the central bank stuck to its earlier demand that the southern neighbour should accept up to Rs. 25,000 per individual, the meeting ended without any conclusion.

According to the NRB officials, they urged the Indian delegates to raise the ceiling of the money to be exchanged in Nepal.

The meeting will continue on Monday morning.

Narendra Modi's government had demonetized bank notes of INR 1,000 and 500 denominations on November 9, 2016, apparently to curb money laundering and black money.

Following the decision of the Indian government, the NRB had stopped accepting the demonetized Indian currency from November 10 last year.

According to the central bank, there is INR 33.6 million cash in the Nepalese banks and financial institutions. However, it is estimated that there is billions of Indian rupees with the common people and businessmen in Nepal.

SA envoy to encourage FDI in Nepal

Kathmandu, Mar. 26: South Africa's ambassador to Nepal, resident in Colombo of Sri Lanka, R. P. Marks, presented her credentials to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday at the Presidential Palace here Sunday.

She stated that as a woman it was an honour to have handed over her credentials to Nepal's first female head of state.

Marks is High Commissioner of South Africa for Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.

According to a press statement issued by the South African High Commissioner at Colombo,  ambassador Marks is keen to enhance trade relations, encourage foreign direct investment (FDI), scientific and technology exchanges with all four countries she is accredited.

"She is keen on increasing economic interaction, and specifically trade, between Nepal and South Africa," read the statement. "South Africa looks forward to providing on-going support to Nepal for reconciliation, nation building, and transitional justice and in sharing the South African experience. In this regard a number of delegations visited South Africa, including from the Nepalese Constitutional Court, and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs."

Similarly, South African delegations, such as from the South African Department of Justice, had visited Nepal.

The relations between Nepal and the Republic of South Africa were established on on 28 July 1994.

"The bilateral relations have been marked by growing mutual trust, cooperation and deeper understanding. Nepal, as Vice-Chair of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, significantly contributed to the anti-apartheid movement and thereby to the process of elimination of apartheid in South Africa," read the statement.

Marks holds a BA Honours degree in Sociology from the University of Western Cape, South Africa. She also holds a Master’s degree in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex, UK as well as an Advanced Diploma in Institutional Development from the University of Manchester, UK.

A former political detainee under the then Internal Security Act 29 during the Anti-Apartheid struggle, Marks served in senior management as Chief Director at the Department of Foreign Affairs. 

KOICA builds Tikapur Hospital building

Kathmandu, Mar. 26: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA) has constructed maternity building and 26 bedded hospital building at Tikapur Hospital, Kailali.

Country director of KOICA Nepal Office Dr. Hyungkyoo Kim and regional health director of Ministry of Health Dr. Sushil Nath Pyakuryal jointly inaugurated the newly constructed infrastructure amidst a programme Sunday.

According to a press statement issued by the KOICA, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the hospital building project was signed between Korea and Nepal on December 9, 2011 for grant aid of 5.5 million USD.

The Tikapur Hospital has now been upgraded to 51-bed. 

KOICA has also established 6 health posts in Tikapur area and supported medical equipment as well as organised capacity building programme for the medical human resources in Nepal.

The inauguration ceremony was accompanied by members of the Hospital Committee, KOICA officials and local stakeholders.

"KOICA is also supporting the government of Nepal through National Health Insurance Support Program (NHISP) since 2013. Recently, KOICA handed over USD 200,000 worth of medical equipments to 4 Primacy Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Tikapur area on March 23," read the statement.

KOICA has been supporting Nepal in the area of health, education and agriculture and capacity building of human resources since 1991.

Govt slow in identifying quake victims

Kathmandu, Mar. 18: The government has been slow in identifying the quake victims and distributing the house reconstruction grant.

It’s been almost two years since the first jolt hit the country, and the government has so far distributed the house reconstruction grant to 533,361 families who lost their houses in the devastating earthquake of 2015.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD), 85 per cent of the 626,695 households in the 14 severely hit districts, including the Kathmandu Valley, eligible for the housing grant have received the first installment of the grant, that is, Rs. 50,000.

These households will receive a grant of Rs. 300,000 and concessional loans as well.

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has said that those households affected by the quake will receive the second installment of Rs. 150,000 only after completing their house construction up to the plinth level, and money will be deposited into their bank accounts following the inspection of the house by the engineers.

The tremors killed about 9,000 people and damaged about 900,000 households in 31 districts in the hills and mountains.

But the government has signed the grant agreement with only 554,614 households so far while it is still surveying the quake victims in 17 districts that were moderately hit by the earthquake.

Spokesperson of the NRA Yam Lal Bhoosal said that the survey in those 17 districts would be concluded within a week from now.

The reconstruction body in November last year had announced that every household that had lost a house in the quake would receive the grant money within a couple of months, and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had directed the NRA to distribute the first installment of the grant within 45 days.

As per MoFALD’s statistics, the highest number of beneficiaries comes from Sindhupalchowk.

Approximately 74,912 households in Sindhupalchowk have received the first installment of the grant money.

Likewise, 62,894 in Dhading, 61,575 in Nuwakot, 59,751 in Kavrepalanchowk, 52,675 in Gorkha and 47,079 in Dolakha have received the grant money.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 families have registered complaints at various government agencies demanding that they be included in the list of beneficiaries. 

Nepal should accept OBOR proposal: Dr. Thapa

Boosts trade and business exchanges, says Rajkarnikar

Kathmandu, Mar. 24: Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, coordinator of Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations has said that Nepal should accept the proposals sent by China on the 'One Belt One Road (OBOR)' initiative at the earliest.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, the seasoned diplomat remarked that including the country in the international network like the OBOR would enhance connectivity within and beyond the region which would ultimately contribute to infrastructure, market and economic development.

"No one should be worried about Nepal being involved in the initiative. Although it is proposed by China, it would connect the entire region and European countries. As long as Nepal exercises balanced neighbourhood policy, our southern neighbour will have no grievances," he said.

According to Dr.Thapa, China has advanced technology and better financial capacity and Nepal should have better plan to transfer the latest technology and channelize financial support in infrastructure development and other industrial setup.

"But, Nepal lacks enthusiasm to be part of such a big project. We need better connectivity with China. We are unable to operate more than one border point, Rasuwagadhi, to the north whereas although we have better connection with India, it is all thorough traditional channel and infrastructure. Nepal should be expediting the process to modernize the border points and constructing infrastructure," he said.

Due to difficult  topography, Nepal need a huge budget to develop infrastructure like roads, railways, custom points, dry ports at the northern border, in which China has pledged support.

However, Nepal hasn't endorsed the OBOR Agreemo even after more than six months the northern neighbour sent to the government.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) sources said that Foreign Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat had cold response to the Agreemo.

"It is pathetic that while Nepal should have taken initiatives for enhanced connectivity between the two countries, it has been missing the opportunity to include itself in the helm of international connectivity and development," remarked Dr. Thapa.

The OBOR initiative will provide Nepal the opportunity to access to about 70 countries in and around the network, and open new avenues of trade and investment.

OBOR International Trade Platform Nepal Committee president Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said that the government had no idea about the scale of economic activities that the initiative would bring to the country.

"The northern neighbour has every technology that we want here for business to infrastructure development like hydroelectricity. They are interested in investing in tourism, agriculture and infrastructure projects," he said.

He said that the Nepal secretariat of the OBOR was expanding the initiative to the district and municipality levels in order to find our business and investment projects where Nepal and China could collaborate.

"We should expedite the process without fearing of any country or international network, if it is in the national interest, and the OBOR will prove beneficial to the country in multiple ways. It will connects us with the global value chain," said Rajkarnikar.

Few districts and municipal chambers of comer and industry in Nepal had already signed Memorandum of Understanding with the OBOR International Trade Platform.

The OBOR is a strategy to develop transportation infrastructure connecting Europe and Asia, about 65 countries responsible for 70 per cent of the world's population, with its primary focus on connectivity and cooperation among the countries in the network.

It connects the countries which lie on the ancient Silk Route in Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe. It also includes Oceania and East Africa.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Xinping in 2013, it is also known as Belt and Road, Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road Economic Belt or the 21^st-century Maritime Silk Road.

Nepali version of Hagen's book hits market

Kathmandu, Mar. 25: The Nepali version of Toni Hagen's book 'Decentralization and Development: The Role of Democratic Principles' has hit the market with the title of 'Bikendrikaran ra Bikas: Prajatantrik Sidhantako Bhumika'.

Hagen was a Swiss citizen who is known as a geologist and a humanitarian activist. He is popular figure in Nepal for his humanitarian and other works in the Himalayan nation.

The book is a kind of conclusion that he drew from his experiences while working for development in various countries including Nepal.

While most of the development workers of his time believed development a technical process, Hagen always linked it to the political structure of the society.

He is known as a true proponent of the Swiss Development Model. In the book, he has presented in-depth analysis of the development process and political transition, which is still relevant for the countries like Nepal that are still putting efforts to become a developing country.

According to Hagen, democracy should be well-grounded in the society, it can't flourish in the centralised political structure.

Citing example of Switzerland, he argues in his book that Switzerland is now a developed country with deep-rooted democratic practices because of decentralisation.

He suggests that decentralisation is the only way for Nepal's development. "Decentralisation is the only way to bring the state closer to the people and to develop ownership in the part of citizens," he writes.

Nepal needs long term planning: Nepal

Kathmandu, Mar. 25: Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday said that country needed long term planning for sustainable development, and any obstacles that come in the way of development should be discouraged.

"There is conspiracy in not approving large-scale projects while some forces are always trying not to let large scale projects and investment come to Nepal," he said while addressing a workshop on 'Development and Prosperity' organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the CPN-UML at Kathmandu School of Law, Bhaktapur.

He leads the Department of Foreign Affairs of the party.

According to Nepal, in order to take the country on the path of development, major laws and policies should be amended to create conducive environment for large-scale projects. "Failing to do so means the development will be like a chimera."

"Development planning should be far-sighted. I saw a single-lane bridge on the way while I was travelling to Jajarkot a couple of days ago. Such myopic development plan should be corrected," he said.

Sharing his experience as the Prime Minister, Nepal criticized the bureaucracy for being sluggish.

"Bureaucracy is not development-oriented, and sometimes the court had also halted the development works. When our government had planned to expand the road from Maitighar to Bhaktapur about two decades ago, the Everest Hotel filed a case at the court and the latter issued a stay order. The trend is ever growing," he said.

Former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey presented a paper on the Development model for Nepal.

President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Suraj Vaidya, economist Dr. Bijaya Poudel, sociologists Hari Sharma and Dr. Suresh Dhakal, and lawyer Yuba Raj Sangraula commented on the work-paper.

Former minister Keshav Badal, former member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Bhim Neupane, lawmaker Lalbabu Yadav, former parliamentarians Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal, Hari Bairagi Dahal, governance expert Dr. Khim Lal Devkota and other experts also expressed their views on the topic.

Similarly, in the second session of the programme, former vice-chairman of the NPC and governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada presented a paper on 'Nepal's economic development: challenges and opportunities'.

The session was chaired by vice-chairman of UML Bhim Rawal.

Technology expert Mahabir Pun, agriculture expert Dr. Durga Dutta Dhakal, tourism expert Prachanda Man Shrestha, water resources expert Surya Nath Upadhyaya and banker Chandra Dhakal commented on the paper. 

Keshav comes with 'Samriddi Ko bato'

Kathmandu, Mar. 25:

Keshav Shrestha has come up with his new book 'Samriddi Ko Bato'.

The writer, former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey, economist Dr. Chandra Mani Adhikari, President of Society of Economic – Journalists (SEJON) president Gokarna Awasthi and past vice-president of SEJON Kuvera Chalise jointly unveiled the book amidst a programme here.

The book is a collection of 20 articles in which the writer has poured out his experiences, opinion and emotions, and all of them are related with the economy and development.

All the articles have been written in narrative style, are easy and interesting to read and are full of different flavor and tastes.

He has described his failures in poultry farming and carpet business, which can be useful for the youths willing to be entrepreneurs or can be useful in deciding what is good and what is not while undertaking their own business endeavours.

In the article entitled 'Janaiko Sancho', he urges students, guardians and teachers to do something in their own country, support the youths in becoming an entrepreneur and dedicate themselves in producing goods and become capable citizen respectively. 

Addressing the programme, former Finance Minister Pandey said that the land should belong to the state.

"One of the reasons behind our underdevelopment is that the land belongs to individuals. Many development projects have either failed or have been delayed because of land acquisition issue," he said.

He informed that when he was the Finance Minister, he had developed a policy draft to categorise the land in six types. "But, the bill that has been prepared now has categorised 11 types of land," he said. 

Govt forms committees to implement SDGs

Kathmandu, Mar. 23:

The government Thursday formed two High Level Committees and nine Thematic Working groups to rollout and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The apex body for guiding the pursuit of the SDGs will be the National Steering Committee chaired by the Prime Minister and chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) which includes Minister for Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and chief secretary as members,” said the NPC in a press statement.

According to the apex planning body, the second mechanism is the Implementation Coordination and Monitoring Committee chaired by the Vice-Chairman of the NPC with the member in-charge of macro-economic issues as the deputy coordinator.

Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presidents of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries will serve as members of the committee.

“The committees are also mandated to include representatives of civil society and other stakeholders as ‘invited members’. This is the first time that the leaders of the private sector have been formally included in high-level official committees responsible for the implementation of globally-agreed Millennium Development or the Sustainable Development Goals since 2000,” read the statement.

The Economic Management Division of the NPC Secretariat will act as the SDG Secretariat, and will be headed by the joint-secretary of the Division.

The two committees will be supported by nine Thematic Working Groups which will be chaired by NPC members – Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Dr. Chandra Kanta Paudel (Industrial Development), Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha (Urban Development), Dr. Geeta Bhakta Joshi (Social Development), Dr.  Kripa Sindhu Prasad (Employment Management), Dr. Prabhu Budhathoki (Agriculture, Climate and Environment), Prof. Hirendra Man Pradhan (Physical Infrastructure), Dr. Arbind Kumar Mishra (Energy Development) and Secretary of the NPC Secretariat Chandra Kumar Ghimire (Peace, Justice and Inclusive Institutions).

These thematic groups will comprise of members from concerned ministries, private sector, civil society and senior officials of the NPC.

ragi and senior officials of the MoFA.

PM Prachanda is scheduled to return home from Lhasa on 29^th March.

PM Prachanda leaves for China

Kathmandu, Mar. 23: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda left for China on Thursday night to attend the 2017 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province of the northern neighbour.

He will address the Forum’s opening session on the theme ‘Globalization and free trade: Asian perspectives’ on March 25, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press statement.

After addressing the opening session, PM Prachanda will depart for Beijing where he is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders.

However, there won’t be agreement on any significant bilateral issues as the Chinese PM Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi are on a foreign trip.

But, experts have suggested that the PM should at least discuss about One Belt One Road initiative, Nepal-India-China trilateral partnership and Nepal’s readiness to implement the past agreements signed with the northern neighbour.  

PM Prachanda will address scholars, academics, business people and students at Beijing Foreign Studies University on the theme ‘Nepal-China relations: prospects for growth and prosperity’.

The PM will also inaugurate the Centre for Nepali Study in the premises of the University.

He is scheduled to interact with the Chinese Business Community on 27^th March.

On his way back home, PM Prachanda will visit the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and meet with senior leaders there.

He is accompanies by his spouse Sita Dahal, Foreign Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and senior officials of the MoFA.

PM Prachanda is scheduled to return home from Lhasa on 29^th March.

Govt devising action plan to reduce air pollution

Kathmandu, Mar. 22:

The government is formulating an action plan to reduce air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.

“As there is growing concern about the growing dust and smoke pollution in the Valley, the government has planned to conduct a detailed study and prepare a report on the solution by the end of this fiscal year 2016/17,” said Shankar Prasad Poudel, senior divisional chemist at the Department of Environment, while interacting with the journalists at an interaction on ‘Initiatives on air pollution control’ organized by the Nepal Forum for Environment Journalists (NEFEJ).

He also informed that with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) another such action plan would also be devised in order to contain air pollution across the country.

Southern plain, Terai, is more polluted than the capital city. According to the air pollution statistics of January this year, PM 2.5 concentration was 173 per microgram in Lumbini while it was 113 in Sauraha of Chitwan district and 109 in Ratnapark of Kathmandu.

“The situation is worst in Terai as compared to Kathmandu. But, as the capital city has more aware people including journalists and government officials, it has got more attention,” said Poudel.

“Besides the action plans, the DoE is planning to conduct sample pollution study of about 30 brick kiln in the Valley, developing a pollution monitoring mechanism and temporary solution of the dust pollution created due to pipe laying works for the Melamchi Water Supply Project,” said Poudel.

Recently, a task force has recommended 12 actions to address the dust and pollution in the capital. The report has been submitted to the National Planning Commission.

Dr. Arnico K. Panday, senior atmospheric scientist and coordinator of the Atmosphere Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), said that one third of air pollution at Lumbini had been coming from India.

“There are more than 100,000 brick kilns in South Asia and Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have more than 30,000 kiln while the northern provinces of India are being industrialized in the recent years. These are the major contributors of the pollution,” said Dr. Panday.

According to him, the capital city is ranked as the 261^st among the 3,000 cities around the world in terms of air pollution, and there is more pollution during pre-monsoon and winter seasons.

“Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley depends not only how much is emitted, but when. Winter months are most critical and monsoon least. Given observed unhealthy PM 2.5 levels, we must reduce emissions from sources like fires, vehicles, industries and diesel generators,” he said.

Rassu Manandhar of Clean Energy Nepal said that in order to improve the quality of air the country needed a clean air action plan, to improve public transportation, promote non-motorized transport, effective waste mechanism and stringent emission and fuel quality standards.   

Pak Embassy celebrates National Day

Kathmandu, Mar. 23:

On the eve of 77^th National Day of Pakistan, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic organized a flag hoisting ceremony at its premises here.

Charge d’Affairs Javed Ahmed Umrani hoisted Pakistani national flag.

On the occasion, special messages of President and Prime Minister of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain and Nawaz Sharif repectively were also read.

Officials of the Embassy and Pakistani community in Kathmandu and other personalities participated in the ceremony.

Likewise, the embassy organized a reception in the evening where Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun was the chief guest. The reception was attended by diplomats, Nepalese dignitaries, senior government officials, political leaders, academicians, think tank members, businessmen and journalists.

A special music night was also organized in the evening where renowned Pakistani classical and ghazal singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan gave his performances. 

Govt asked to activate Reconstruction Fund

Kathmandu, Mar. 22: The Development Committee under the Legislature-Parliament Wednesday directed the government to activate the Reconstruction Fund within a month.

The Reconstruction Act, 2015 has envisioned a separate fund for post-quake reconstruction, but it has not been implemented even after 14 months of the Act’s promulgation and establishment of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).

Article 15 of the Act states that a separate fund for reconstruction would be established, where money received from the government, the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, organisations, associations or individuals and other sources would be deposited.

Due to the failure in establishing the fund, the reconstruction body has been facing a shortage of budget at various stages, and it has had to make the rounds of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in order to get the budget allocated, authorised and disbursed.

The Rising Nepal had published news last month on the government’s failure to activate the much-needed Reconstruction Fund.  

After the activation of the Fund, all the money dedicated to the reconstruction will come to it, and the reconstruction body will be relieved of making the rounds of the MoF.

Committee chairman Rabindra Adhikari directed the government, MoF and NRA to expedite preparations to bring the fund into operation.

Although a meeting of the NRA Steering Committee earlier had decided to formulate a fund mobilising mechanism under the leadership of the chief secretary, it couldn’t materialise.

Responding to questions of the lawmakers, NRA Chief Executive Officer Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Pokharel said that the progress of the reconstruction body had been slowed down owing to the rigmarole of the bureaucratic processes.

“If you look at the Reconstruction Act, the NRA looks even weaker than a division of the National Planning Commission. It is better to scrap the organisation if it is rendered a toothless tiger,” he said.

He claimed that the work procedure of the reconstruction body was so complicated that it was certain to fail even if it was to be implemented in Europe.

Dr. Pokharel told the meeting that the NRA was amending the working procedure to address the grievances of the people who had failed to be listed eligible for the government reconstruction grant and other facilities.

“We are trying to provide facilities to the quake victims as fast as possible. Grant distribution in the moderately-hit 17 districts will begin in a few days,” he said.

The House panel criticised the NRA for its failure to establish a construction materials bank in the quake-hit areas.

It said that the NRA mechanism was more like a regulating than a facilitating body in reconstruction, and directed the reconstruction body to make the necessary changes in the organisational structure, and MoF to provide sufficient budget required for the reconstruction drive.

Expressing its dissatisfaction, the Committee has decided to call the Prime Minister and representatives of other concerned stakeholders to the panel. 

Hitachi launched its products in Nepal

Kathmandu, Mar. 22:

Hitachi Home Electronics Asia has launched its various home appliances brands in Nepalese markets.

The Japanese multinational has collaborated with the Lucky Group subsidiary company Universal Electrocom to distribute its products in Nepal.

“Hitachi and Lucky Group has forged a collaboration in launching the latest Hitachi intelligent and eco-friendly products,” said general manager of Hitachi Home Electronics AsiaTakeshi Haruki.

Universal will import and distribute Hitachi household appliances and television, energy saving refrigerators, gas tables, auto self clean washing machines, intelligent vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and smart TVs.

“Aesthetically designed with modern living in mind, Hitachi’s range of consumer products combines beauty with brain to offer consumers a greater range of choice, flexibility elegance with stylish room design,” read a press statement by Hitachi.

Universal’s chief executive officer Lalit Mishra said that Hitachi home appliances will fulfill the demand of consumers who are searching quality products.

PM's China visit should focus on trilateral partnership: Experts

Kathmandu, Mar. 21: During his six-day visit to the People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda should focus on implementing the agreements signed between China and Nepal during the visit of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and on the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, experts suggested Tuesday.

PM Prachanda is flying to China on Thursday to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2017, being held in Hainan Province of China.

“This is only a goodwill visit of the PM to China. Therefore, there are less chances of signing any new agreements. However, PM Prachanda should at least reiterate Nepal’s commitment to the past agreements signed with the northern neighbour and urge for the speedy implementation of those accords,” said Tanka Karki, former ambassador to China.

During Oli’s visit to China last year, the two neighbours agreed to conclude a commercial deal on petroleum supply.  

The two countries agreed on opening the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway, establish border cooperation zones, developing protocol for a Transit Transport Agreement, starting joint feasibility study of China-Nepal Free Trade Agreement, supporting tourism promotion activities and opening branches of Chinese funded banks in Nepal.

Karki said that although Chinese Premier Li Keqiang would be on a foreign trip during PM Dahal’s visit, the latter could put forth Nepal’s views on those matters.

Former Nepalese ambassador to Russia Hiranya Lal Shrestha said that the visit should concentrate on taking the bilateral relations between the two countries to a new height, and the PM should at least discuss the issues of OBOR and Transit and Transport Protocol.

Nepal is a founder member of the Boao Forum.

Government leaders, businessmen and academia from Asia and other continents attend the Forum to share their vision on pressing issues in the region and the world.

Former ambassador to India Suresh Raj Chalise suggested that the PM should talk about trilateral partnership during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He said that China might raise the agenda of OBOR, which Nepal should support.

OBOR is a strategy to develop transportation infrastructure connecting Europe and Asia, with its primary focus on connectivity and cooperation among the countries in the region.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Xinping in 2013, it is also known as Belt and Road, Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road Economic Belt or the 21^st-century Maritime Silk Road.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also has been promoting the idea in Europe and Asia during his state visits.

OBOR will connect about 60 countries which lie on the ancient silk route in Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe. It also includes Oceania and East Africa.

“But in my view, the most important issue is the militarisation of the region. China, the United States, Japan and India all are raising military expenditure, which is a matter of serious concerns for countries like Nepal. Therefore, Nepal should stress on demilitarising the region,” said Chalise.

Red signal to cellphone owners

Citing the latest verdict of the Supreme Court, that asked the police to seek approval of the court before tapping the phone of any individual, Nepal Police has given a red signal to searching the lost cell phones. The Police has stopped to register the case of mobile theft of lost while in the valley, it accepts the case but does nothing to find out the mobile sets which can be traced with the help of the telecommunication operators through the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, a unique numeric name given to each handsets. 

Internationally, cell phones are considered the individual property and duly recognized so by the law of International Telecommunication Union (ITU). But, doing nothing with an excuse of the court verdict is serious negligence in the part of the Police. The security agency seems to have been avoiding the lengthy process of getting approval from the court but it must exhibit its responsibility to the citizens by helping in finding their phone sets. 

(Published in The Rising Nepal)

Enable local bodies before election: House Panel

Kathmandu, Mar. 21: The Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament Tuesday directed the government to conduct the organization and management survey at the local level in order to make decision regarding the required number and nature of the human resources at the newly created local units.

“To make the local governance effective and people-friendly, the government needs a concrete statistics about the population, geographical situation and area of the local units of the rural municipalities and municipalities. Therefore, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) should conduct detail studies in this regard,” said Rabindra Adhikari, chairman of the Committee.

According to the report on the restructuring of the local bodies submitted to the government by the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC), the country has been divided into 4 municipalities, 13 sub-metropolis, 246 municipalities and 481 rural municipalities.

As the local units should be in managed form to hold the local election slated for May 14 this year, required infrastructure and human resources should be installed at the earliest.

“But, due to the election code of conduct, the government couldn’t appoint the much needed technical manpower at the local level. Therefore, this committee draws attention of the Election Commission to the situation,” Adhikari read the decision.

Many local units are running without proper infrastructure even the office space, and they are yet to manage letter pad, forms for various purposes, budget modality and other issues.

The House Panel asked the government to organize orientation training on integrating the works and processes of the local units to the employees deployed at the local level within 15 days.

The committee has directed the MoFALD to install the Citizen Charter at every local body mentioning the services of their jurisdiction within a month, and run communication campaign to inform the people about the services which they are entitled to receive from their ward, rural municipality and municipality. 

NBI to provide training to economic journalists

Kathmandu, Mar. 21: National Banking Institute (NBI) and Society of Economic Journalists – Nepal (SEJON) Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build the capacity of economic journalists.

According to the MoU, NBI will provide training to 25 journalists on anti-money laundering every year, and will organize training and workshops as per the curriculum developed by the SEJON.

One month-long online training on anti-money laundering will be certified after an internet-based examination.

Chief executive officer of the NBI Sanjiv Subba and SEJON president Gokarna Awasthi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. 

Pandeya vies for FNCCI, VP

Kathmandu, Mar. 19: Incumbent chairman of the Bank, Finance and Insurance Committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Shankar Prasad Pandeya has announced his candidacy for the post of vice-president (Commodity) for upcoming executive committee of the largest private sector business association in the country.

At a programme organised by the Nepal Pasmina Industry Association (NPIA) Saturday evening, Pandeya announced that he was fighting the election from the Kishor Pradhan panel.

Kishor Pradhan is vying for the post of the senior vice-president.

As the Special AGM of the FNCCI held in January made decision that the senior vice-president would automatically succeed the outgoing president and there would be election only to choose the senior VP, incumbent senior VP Bhawani Rana will be the next president of the business body.

Pandeya said that he was fighting the election to complete the projects that he has started so far and to further improve the image of the private sector.

He has risen from the cashmere (pashmina) business, and worked as vice-president, acting president and president in the NPIA. His business involvement includes export of pashmina and silk, agro business, banking, and tours and travels

Pandeya has been in the central executive committee of the FNCCI for the last 12 years.

“I will work in the interest of the private sector businesses, and to enhance collaboration and coordination among the businessmen. There are 99 commodity associations affiliated to the FNCCI and many more are yet to join it. I vow to create an environment to facilitate all of them,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that he and his team, if elected, would work as a bridge between the small and medium scale industries and large industries.

He said that the country would only progress when entrepreneurs won respect and got facilitation for their endeavour.

Immediate past president of FNCCI Suraj Vaidya mentioned the achievements of the former presidents and said that the business body had become weak in the recent years.

“We don’t believe in ‘bhagbanda’ (share and divide). But ‘bhagbanda’ culture has taken the FNCCI in its grip. My appeal to all businessmen is to fight against it,” he said.

Former president Kush Kumar Joshi mentioned that Pandeya had played a key role in branding Nepali pashmina products as ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ in the international markets.

President of NPIA Durga Thapa claimed that out of 99 commodity associations 67 had expressed their support to Pandeya.

Former president of FNCCI Binod Bahadur Shrestha, former vice president Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar and president of Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) Santosh Shrestha were also present on the occasion. 

Microfinance Summit 2017 concludes

MFIs vow to be more accountable and transparent

Kathmandu, Mar. 17: The fourth National Microfinance Summit concluded on Friday with a 17-point declaration that includes development of entrepreneurship at the local level, financial literacy, contribution to the national economy and innovation through the microfinance.

The summit applauded the contribution of microfinance institutions in poverty alleviation and expressed commitment to make the sector more accountable, transparent and fair.

Issues like challenges of microfinance, role of government and microfinance institutions (MFIs) in addressing the challenges threatening the industry and policy reforms have got priority in the declaration.

It said that a code of conduct for microfinance banks would be developed, a request would be made to the central bank for a policy provision to distribute the shares among the customers of MFIs, and make a call for more effective regulation of the microfinance banks, cooperatives and financial intermediary non-government organisations (FINGOs).

"A call will be made to the government, central bank and development partners for support to enhance the efficiency of MFIs, reduce the cost, expand services and adopt newer technologies," reads the declaration.

Similarly, the summit declared that collaboration would be forged among all the stakeholders working in the finance sector to expand micro-insurance.

Chairman of the Summit Coordination Committee Pitambar Prasad Acharya issued the declaration at the closing ceremony of the summit.

Chairman of Centre for Microfinance (CMF) and former governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank Ganesh Bahadur Thapa urged the microfinance banks to self-regulate themselves.

No scarcity of resources

The central bank has said that there was no scarcity of resources for the microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Responding to the whining by the microfinance bankers, deputy-governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Shiva Raj Shrestha said that although there was a provision that allowed the MFIs to mobilise resources 30 times more than their total capital, they were able to mobilise only 7.87 per cent of the total resources.

"Currently the MFIs have been mobilising about Rs. 110 billion while they have a capacity for Rs. 350 billion," he said while addressing a session of the Summit.

In order not to let the resources dry up for the MFIs, the central bank has implemented a mandatory provision whereby the commercial banks, development banks and finance companies need to invest in the deprived sector.

Commercial banks must mandatorily lend 5 per cent of their business to the deprived sector, development banks 4.5 per cent and the finance companies 4 per cent. Recently, the NRB has asked the banks to lend 2 per cent of their money directly to the deprived communities.

That money reaches the poor populace in the rural areas through the MFIs.

"According to those provisions, Rs. 130 billion should have been mobilized, but only Rs. 95 billion has been realised," said Shrestha.

However, citing the liquidity crisis that has sent a panic through the banking industry in recent times, microfinance bankers said that the MFIs have had to mobilise the savings to cope with the problem.

Chief Executive Officer of Rural Microfinance Development Centre (RMDC) Jyoti Chandra Ojha said that the MFIs were unable to avail the concessional loan facility of the development partners and urged the government to facilitate in creating an enabling environment for the microfinance in that regard.

Economic uplifting

Meanwhile, stakeholders say that microfinance had contributed to social and economic uplifting of the people and in entrepreneurship development.

Presenting a paper on 'Balancing financial, social and human values' at the summit, microfinance expert Dr. Harihar Acharya said that a study conducted from August 2014 to July 2015 in five districts of the country had shown that the microfinance had contributed in an economic revolution in the society.

Indian expert Abhimanyu Kaul said that microfinance contributed to change in the mindset of the communities.

Likewise, participants of a session on 'Missing middle: graduation from micro to small entrepreneurs' said that it was sad that no agencies, including the government, had statistics about microenterprises.

"Small financial institutions do have enough money to support cottage and small enterprises while the large banks hesitate to mobilise money in that sector, therefore the cottage and small enterprises are the 'missing middle'. They are short of resources to upgrade their enterprises," said Prahlad Man Mali, advisor to Sakchyam – Access to Finance.