Nepal will ascend to 80th ranking in Doing Business Index 2020:FM

Kathmandu, Oct. 25

Happy with the 16-position climb in the global Doing Business Index 2020, Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, announced on Friday that the government had set 80 as the target for the next year's ranking.


"Nepal has entered in the first half of the countries to have good business environment. With reforms that the government is making this year, we hope to ascend to 80^th position next year," he said while speaking at a 'Conference on Doing Business Reforms' jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank Group (WBG).


He said that in any situation the country would go up at least 90^th position the following year.

According to the minister, the government had executed various reforms, including the online-system for the social security provisions and enactment of business-friendly laws in May this year which will support the country to make further improvement in its position.


The Doing Business Report includes the reforms and data till May end every year.


Minister  Dr. Khatiwada said that the digitisation process that is underway at multiple fronts of the business and government services would remove many problems and facilitate the investors and businesspersons.


"We want to reduce the cost of business by implementing the digital signature through the reforms in the existing Information Technology laws or enacting a new one," he said.


He also pointed out poor transportation and logistics infrastructure as the major obstacles in doing business and said that poor roads and syndicate have contributed to the increased cost of doing business in Nepal.

Dr. Khatiwada shared that the last year's Doing Business position – 110^th – had frustrated him and the policy makers.


"If a hard-working student doesn't get good marks in the exam, it frustrates him/her. We were in the same position. Scoring and evaluation are critical in your career path. Improved result this year has encouraged us," he said.


He promised to address the over-taxation and double-taxation issues at the earliest and simplify the insolvency law as well.


Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Shishir Kumar Dhungana commented that the country was on the right track.


He said that a new Business Advisory Council was formed at the PMO, chaired by the Prime Minister, which will work to coordinate with the private sector and the World Bank to make further reforms.


"We have formulated action plan for next three years to improve the doing business climate in the country. The PMO will extend required support to all stakeholder ministries and departments working in the sector," said Dhungana.


Vice-President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha said that the improved Doing Business ranking would be a new tool of confidence for the foreign investors in investing in Nepal.


"Nepal desperately needs Foreign Direct Investment since our own capital is not enough to meet the economic growth target. Therefore, we need to focus on reducing the cost of doing business.

He appreciated the improved labour relations stating that it was perhaps at the best in the last 10 years and hoping that the new Labour Act might make it better.


However, he suggested addressing the practical challenges in implementing the Social Security Act.

According to Golchha, unavailability of financing for the Small and Medium Enterprises and banks’ hesitation to mobilise loans to the sector, and shortage of skilled human resources for all kinds of industries were the major challenges to the private sector.


He also suggested addressing the problems in acquiring land for business and industries.

Reforms are not possible overnight, but we have got a direction. Improvements should be continued, he said.


Country Manager of the World Bank Group for Nepal Faris H. Hadad Zervos commented that the journey had just begun, and the things had moved forward.


"Over the past few months, the amount of works that has been done by the government is commendable," he said.


President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Satish Kumar More said that the biggest hindrance in creating business environment in the country was the mind-set of the people in the government and the private sector which should be changed to make the country an attractive destination of foreign investment.


Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply Baikuntha Aryal said that the government was working to improve trade relations with the major trade partners to attract more investment in manufacturing industries.


Under Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Mahesh Bhattarai said that the reforms such as introduction of one-stop service centre, digital payment system, digitisation of land administration, electronic court administration system and establishment and functioning of Electricity Regulatory Commission will help Nepal to move ahead in the ranking next year.


According to him, merger of similar types of taxes, introduction of new act for Credit Information Bureau, safe loan facility and establishment of dedicated commercial court or commercial benches in district courts and independent and dedicated authority to look after complaints against land management are the major reforms the country needs now.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 October 2019. 

Nepal climbs 16 position up in doing business

Kathmandu, Oct. 24

Nepal has made a significant stride in the doing business reforms in the country and climbed 16 positions up in the global ranking. 


Nepal ascended to 94 positions among 190 economies in the world from its last year’s ranking of 110, according to the World Bank’s flagship publication Doing Business 2020 report published on Thursday. 


While the country had implemented zero reforms last year, this year it made four reforms to be the third best reformer in the South Asian region. India and Pakistan were the top improvers for this year in terms of doing business with four and six reforms respectively. 


Nepal scored 63.2 score in 100 against last year’s 59.7. 


“Nepal reduced the time and cost to export and import by opening the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Birgunj at the Nepal-India border,” read the report. “The time to import border compliance was reduced from 58 to 11 hours, while time to export border compliance was cut from 30 to 11 hours.”


According to the report, the country improved an online e-submission platform for construction permits and enhanced the quality of land administration by publishing official service standards for delivering updated cadastral maps. 


“The authorities improved the commercial judicial system by introducing time standards for key court events,” it said. 


However, the report said that Nepal made starting a business more difficult by introducing an online employee registration with in-person follow-up for social security. It has also raised property transfer registration fees. 


Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan all reformed in one or more areas in starting a business, dealing with construction permits and trading across borders. 


But Nepal missed the chance to become the top ten most improved economies while India and Pakistan both earned spots among the best improved countries. 


India tops the rank in South Asia with its 63^rd position followed by Bhutan 89, Nepal 94, Sri Lanka 99, Pakistan 108, the Maldives 147, Bangladesh 168 and Afghanistan 173. 


The report mentions that India made the progress of obtaining a building permit more efficient, enhanced building quality control in New Delhi by strengthening professional certification requirements while importing and exporting also became easier for companies with the creation of a single electronic platform for stakeholders, upgrades to port infrastructure and improvements to electronic submission of documents. 


Pakistan carried out the most reforms in the region with six improvements, including safer construction, streamlined construction permit approval, online portal allowing companies to remotely request an electrical connection and service delivery timeframes, and more transparent electricity charges. 


Similarly, Bangladesh abolished the fee for certifying digital certificates which reduced the cost of starting company from 21.2 per cent to 8.7 per cent, and facilitated access to credit information by expanding the coverage of the credit bureau. 


“It is encouraging to see steady implementation of reforms in South Asia. Continued and sustained progressare key to improving the domestic business climate and enabling private enterprise,” said Rita Ramalho, Senior Manager of the WB’s Global Indicators Group. 


In the global scenario the best ten countries in terms of doing business are New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Denmark, South Korea, the United States of America, Georgia, United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden.

Similarly, the worst economies are Somalia, Eritrea, Venezuela, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Congo, Chad and Timor-Leste.

Nepal’s good

Dealing with construction permits: the country made dealing with construction permits easier and less costly by reducing fees for building permits and improving the online e-submissions platform.

Getting credit: It improved access to credit information by expanding the coverage of the credit bureau.

Trading across borders: Nepal reduced the time and cost to export and import by opening the ICP in Birgunj at Nepal-India border.

Enforcing contracts: the country made enforcing contracts easier by adopting a new code of civil procedure that introduces time standards for key court events.

Land administration: Nepal improved the quality of land administration system by publishing official service standards for delivering updated cadastral maps.

Nepal’s bad

Starting a business: Nepal made starting a business more difficult by requiring in-person follow-up for employee registration for social security.

Registering property: It made property registration more expensive by increasing the property transfer registration fee.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 October 2019. 

Mahindra opens its showroom in Butwal

Kathmandu, Oct. 24

Agni Energy Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Agni Group and the authorized distributor of Mahindra electric vehicles (EVs), has opened its new showroom of Mahindra Electric vehicles (EVs) at Tillotama, Jogikuti, Butwal.

IT is the first Mahindra Electric vehicles (EVs) showroom outside the Kathmandu Valley.

The showroom was inaugurated by Sita Devi Baudel, Member of State-5 Assembly, along with Cabinet Shrestha, Managing Director of Agni Group, and Pramod Bhandari, Senior Executive Manager, of Agni Energy.

The company said that the new showroom would provide customers of the Butwal and its surrounding areas added benefits by making it more convenient and economical for them to get access to the company and all its services.

According to Ajaya Kumar Khati Chhetri, Managing Director of Green Drive Group, Butwal-Dealer of Agni Energy, the showroom will provide servicing and spare parts for Mahindra's electric cars such as Mahindra e2o and eVerito.

He further said that since more consumers were gravitating towards electric vehicles (EVs) due to overall cost savings compared to vehicles powered by fossil fuel, the showroom would meet their expectation in facilitating such vehicle in their own native place.

The company said that electric vehicles (EV) had lots of benefit for the people and the environment. 

Even the government is more concerned about its usage for which to priorities electric vehicles (EVs), the government is gearing up to set up EV charging stations in various part of the country, it said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 October 2019. 

Nepali painting exhibition in Beijing

Kathmandu, Oct. 24
Photography exhibition entitled ‘Beautiful Nepal’ was held at the Wenchang Gallery of Summer Palace in Beijing on Thursday.  

The photographs on display depict diverse aspects of Nepal’s natural, cultural and historical resources and heritage, and aim to promote Nepal’s tourism resources in preparation of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the exhibition will run until November 7.

Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Sushil K Lamsal highlighted the deepening people-to-people relations between Nepal and China, and expressed the hope that the exhibition would help the Chinese people to better appreciate Nepal’s tourism attractions.

He invited the Chinese tourists to visit Nepal on the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

In his remarks, Su Bensheng, Vice-President of Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), expressed happiness over co-hosting the exhibition and hoped that the event would enhance greater understanding about Nepal among the Chinese people.

The exhibition was jointly organised by the embassy and Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, with the support of Beijing Park Management Centre and the Summer Palace.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 October 2019. 

Retrofitting of Singhadurbar's western face begins

Kathmandu, Oct. 22

Retrofitting of the western face of the historic Singhadurbar is started.


The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) said that the retrofitting would maintain the archaeological and historical importance and identity of the building.


“Some heritage experts have recommended preserving the historic building even as a heritage with retrofitting. But we are making it strong and safe to use it as the office and other important programmes of the country,” said Sushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the NRA. “Preparation to make it safe has delayed the retrofitting work.” 


Central Project Implementation Unit (Housing) of the NRA has signed a contract with the Sharma-Gauri Parbati-New Technical JV a week ago. 


The contractor will retrofit the building, constructed by Rana Prime Minister Chandra Sumsher in 1908, at the cost of Rs. 417.9 million excluding the Value Added Tax. 


About 70 per cent retrofitting of the North, East and South face of the Singhadurbar is completed. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 October 2019. 

Foreign trade shows encouraging signs

Kathmandu, Oct. 23

The foreign trade situation of the country has shown encouraging signs in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2019/20 with a significant increase in merchandise export and decline in import.

In two months, merchandise exports increased by 25.9 per cent to Rs.18.5 billion compared to an increase of 8 per cent a year ago, showed the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report published by the Nepal Rastra Bank on Wednesday.

Similarly, merchandise imports decreased by 1.2 per cent to Rs.229.50 billion against an increase of 38.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

Destination-wise, exports to India increased by 46 per cent whereas exports to China decreased by 17.4 per cent.

Mainly exports of palm oil, cardamom, jute goods, yarn (polyester and other) and textiles, among others, increased whereas exports of zinc sheet, juice, wire, readymade garment, and pashmina, among others, decreased in the first two months.

Likewise, imports from China increased by 39.2 per cent whereas imports from India, and other countries decreased by 2 per cent and 19.8 per cent respectively.

Import of readymade garments, crude palm oil, other machinery and parts, hot rolled sheet, chemical fertiliser, among others, increased whereas imports of aircraft spare parts, M.S. billet, gold, petroleum product and cement, among others, decreased.

Total trade deficit narrowed by 3.1 per cent to Rs. 211 billion in the first two months this fiscal year.  However, the export-import ratio increased to 8.1 per cent from 6.3 per cent last year.

Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs.8.83 billion in the review period compared to a deficit of Rs.25.45 billion the previous year.

Remittance inflow decreased

Remittance inflows decreased 0.3 per cent to Rs.153.7 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal while it was increased by 33.4 per cent the previous year. The country is experiencing the decline in remittance inflow for the first time in the last four years.

In the US Dollar term, such inflows decreased by 1.3 per cent this year compared to 22.3 per cent increase in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Likewise, number of Nepalese workers migrated for foreign employment increased by 0.2 per cent in the review period. It had decreased by 39.0 per cent last year.

In the first two months of the FY 2019/20, capital transfer and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal amounted to Rs.2.96 billion and Rs.1.98 billion respectively.

In the same period of previous year, capital transfer and FDI amounted to Rs.2.80 billion and Rs.1.23 billion respectively.

Net services income remained at a deficit of Rs.5.06 billion in the review period compared to a deficit of Rs.11.02 billion a year ago. Likewise, under the service account, travel income increased by 24.4 per cent to Rs.11.39 billion in the review period. Such income was Rs.9.16 billion in the same period of the previous year.

Similarly, under the service account, travel payments decreased by 21.9 per cent to Rs.14.85 billion, including Rs.7.71 billion for education. Such travel payment was Rs.19.01 billion in the same period the previous year.

Inflation rate almost doubled

The NRB said that inflation rate has almost doubled in September compared to the last year.

The year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 6.16 per cent in mid-September 2019 compared to 3.86 per cent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 6.51 per cent whereas non-food and service inflation stood at 5.89 per cent in the review month.

The Kathmandu Valley witnessed 7.9 per cent inflation followed by 5.69 per cent in the Terai, 5.09 per cent in the hill and 5.02 per cent in the mountain. These regions had witnessed 2.98 per cent, 3.68 per cent, 5.0 per cent and 3.35 per cent inflation respectively a year ago.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 October 2019. 

GIBL partners with Bank of Albilad of SA

Kathmandu, Oct. 23

Global IME Bank has partnered with the Bank Albilad of Saudi Arabia for providing remittance service. The remittance service was formally inaugurated on Wednesday amidst a special function organised at the headquarters of Bank Albilad, Saudi Arabia.

With the formal inauguration of the remittance service, the customers can easily send money from Bank Albilad, Saudi Arabia, to Nepal at the best rate, said the GIBL.

Similarly, the money can be collected from all Global IME Bank branches, and more than 15,000 agent networks of IME and GME all over Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, Nepali Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Prof. Dr. Mahendra Prasad Singh Rajput said that the partnership between two large banks of Nepal and Saudi Arabia would help channelise the remittance through banking channel and also help bring Saudi investment in Nepal.

Stating that there was favourable investment climate in Nepal, Singh said that the partnership of the two banks would also help promote Saudi investment in different sectors in Nepal.

Global IME Bank's Chairman Chandra Prasad Dhakal said that the partnership between the two large banks would ease the remittance service and also bring in the remittance through formal banking channel.

Earlier on May 27, an agreement was signed between the two banks. Mahesh Sharma Dhakal, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Global IME Bank and Omar Al-Hussain, General Manager of Bank Albilad Enjaz Division had signed on the agreement for their respective companies.

Global IME Bank has already partnered with different financial institutions in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia, India, UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Jordan

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 October 2019. 

Preparation of Power Summit in the final stage

Kathmandu, Oct. 23

Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has said that the preparation of the Power Summit 2019 was in the final stage and it was receiving overwhelming response from national and international participants.

The summit being organised on November 21 and 22 in Kathmandu, with the theme 'Powering the Asian Century', will take stock of the present situation and to look ahead to future possibilities of export and regional integration, said IPPAN.

This year the summit will focus on cross border electricity trading, energy markets, regional electricity market regulation, financing, inclusive and sustainable development of power projects, governing and facilitating energy projects, attracting investments, and will also feature project showcase to highlight current activities in the sector within and outside the nation.  

IPPAN is partnering with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Nepal Electricity Authority to organise the seventh edition of the summit. National Planning Commission and Hydroelectric Investment and Development Company are also supporting the event.

"As neighboring countries are key to regional energy connectivity and export, the seventh edition of the summit is being organised in association with the Embassy of India Kathmandu and Embassy of Bangladesh Kathmandu and will have participation from the two countries in numbers including China, Bhutan, Norway, Korea, Canada, Netherland, United Kingdom, USA, and Japan," said the organisers.

More than 700 participants are expected to take part in the event.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate the summit. Government ministers, vice-chairman of the NPC and heads of other respective departments including Investment Board of Nepal and NEA and many national and international organisations will participate in the summit.

Director General-Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Director-Indian Energy Exchange Limited, India, and Asian ESG Advisory Regional Lead-International Finance Corporation will also participate in the summit.

"Besides, we have prominent speakers from PTC India Limited, Satlaj Jalvidyut Nigam Limited, NHPC India, Bangladesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, Bangladesh Power Development Board, GMR, and The Norwegian Energy Regulatory Authority," said IPPAN.

Besides the technical session, this year the organisers have planned the summit to facilitate business to business meeting which will allow different parties to engage business promotion.

It is expected that more than half a dozen agreements on power trade, environment and social best practices, and women in energy will be signed during the summit, said IPPAN.

Another major attraction of the event is customised visit to hydropower project site so that the interested participants get a real feel of energy development that is going on in the country.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 October 2019. 

Nutrition conference to be held from 4-7 November

Kathmandu, Oct. 23

Nepal is hosting the fifth Global Gathering of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement for the first time in Asia from 4-7 November in Kathmandu.

The conference that will carry the theme 'Nourishing planet and people together' will be inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

 It will witness the participation of head of the states or governments or senior representatives of about 80 countries.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent invitation to all the governments of the members of SUN Movement and other countries," said Dr. Usha Jha, Member of the National Planning Commission. "High-government officials of the federal and provincial governments, heads of various government departments, chiefs of local governments, chief of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, academician, development partners and private sector representatives will participate from Nepal."

"We hope that the conference will provide a good platform to exchange experiences and good examples in nutrition and development from around the world. It will also be an opportunity to forge cooperation among the governments, assess the past achievements and formulate new strategy to meet the national and global target," said Brenda Killen, Director of SUN Movement.

The gathering will also obtain commitment from the member countries in reducing the malnutrition and create collaboration to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on nutrition.

"Nepal has achieved satisfactory results in terms of nutrition and has significantly reduced the number of stunted children over the last three decades. It has created a well-functioning structure in government," said Killen. She suggested the government to focus on gender on nutrition aspects.

She said that the 2019 Gathering will aim at setting ambitions for phase three of the movement (2021-2015), sharing of knowledge, progress and challenges of SUN member countries and ensuring renewed commitments for improving nutrition in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Nutrition for Growth Summit.

The conference will deliberate on political commitment to SUN movement, building food system, undernutrition and obesity, scaling up nutrition resilience, emerging business practices and consumer trends, gender equality, progress in nutrition, better data base, maternal and child nutrition, multi-stakeholder coordination, universal health coverage and other related issues.

"The conference is a huge opportunity for Nepal which is the early riser in the SUN Movement," said Dr. Kiran Rupakhetee, Spokesperson of the NPC.

Nepal has 28.6 per cent multi-dimensional poverty which primarily is the result of the malnutrition and children not getting opportunity to enrol in the school.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 October 2019. 

Nepal-Bangladesh technical committee meeting starts

Kathmandu, Oct. 22

Meeting of Nepal-Bangladesh Technical Committee for the Promotion of Trade between Two Countries started in the Capital on Tuesday.

The fourth meeting of the committee that will run till Wednesday will discuss on about two dozen agenda including energy trade, use of ports, yarn export, visa facilitation for Nepali students, aviation, food and agricultural products and cargo movement.

Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) Nabaraj Dhakal is leading 14-member Nepali delegation, and 7-member Bangladeshi delegation is led by Additional Secretary Sarifa Khan.

According to the MoICS, the meeting is expected to make some major decisions in the bilateral trade promotion between the two countries, and there might be some progress in terms of operating direct flight services.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 October 2019. 

Nepali students win laurels in Russia

 Kathmandu, Oct. 22

A Nepali student has won gold medal at the Young Scientists Conference organised in Russis. He won the award defeating competitors from 23 countries across the globe.

Swaraj Sagar Pradhan of South Western State College won the gold medal for his presentation on ‘Use of micro-satellite for global connectivity, high-speed transmission and data analysis’.

Similarly, Diksha Sanjel and Rishi Kumar Gupta of Asmita School and Kathmandu Model College respectively won the bronze medals.

Nine students from various colleges in Nepal have participated in the conference.

The conference was held in Russia from October 14-19. Nepal Polymer Institute had supported the students to participate in the event.

Nine students were selected, among other many students, during the national-level Fourth Young Scientists Conference organised last month in Kathmandu. The best students were selected to participate in the conference in Russia.

The students returned to Kathmandu on Monday. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 October 2019. 

UNSCO hails heritage reconstruction

Kathmandu, Oct. 22

UNESCO has appreciated the pace of post-quake heritage reconstruction.

The Reactive Monitoring Mission of the United Nations body that concluded its study of the monuments listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and returned on Monday, appreciated the country’s efforts to complete the reconstruction of about 300 historic and cultural monuments damaged in the 2015 earthquake.

It also praised the government and the Department of Archaeology (DoA) for maintaining originality in heritage reconstruction, said Damodar Gautam, Acting Director General of the DoA.

“They expressed their happiness on the pace of heritage reconstruction and fulfilment of liability by the state,” he said.

However, the expert team expressed dissatisfaction over slow and complex bidding process and coordination between the central and local governments.

“They wanted an effective coordination among the government, trustee, local government and other local stakeholders,” said Gautam.

The UNESCO Mission led by Gamini Wijesuriya, International Export at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties, has suggested maintaining the records of the heritage reconstruction as well.

The mission had also met the Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gywali.

In the meeting, Gyawali had informed the visiting delegation that the NRA had given special attention to heritage reconstruction. He said that while the reconstruction of the cultural monuments was going on, the government was also developing a detailed Master Plan to develop them.

He also informed that the work had been expedited to develop three heritage settlements each in the Kathmandu Valley and outside.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress, Catherine Forbes of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMAS), suggested including the progress in the DoA’s report to be sent to the World Heritage Centre in February 2020.

The mission had also recommended strengthening the capacity of the DoA in policy formulation and give more attention to the quality than the speed in heritage reconstruction.

Of the quake-damaged 140 heritages in the valley, 90 have so far been restored.

Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, Hanumandhoka Durbar, Patan Durbar, Bhaktapur Durbar, Changunarayan Temple and Bauddhanath Stupa are the Unesco World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 October 2019. 

NRN pledges to attract Rs. 10 b investment

Kathmandu, Oct. 20

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has announced that it will launch a campaign to attract Rs. 10 billion investment in infrastructure development sector in the country.

The first meeting of the newly elected NRNA's International Coordination Council on Sunday formed a committee led by its President Kumar Pant to work on the idea. The committee has a mandate to submit the action plan for the same within a month.

The meeting has also formed another committee led by its immediate past President Bhaban Bhatta to cooperate with the government in the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.

Likewise, the members of the NRNA working committee have expressed their commitment to providing Rs. 10.6 million to the Labour Welfare Fund established to support the Nepali migrant workers and their families in hard times. They have accepted the proposal of President Pant to offer support to the fund. The NRNA has been mobilising support to the victims of foreign employment through this fund.

The first meeting of the new working committee has moved ahead with the idea of allowing every member of the association to vote directly through the electronic means. Vice-President Man KC is leading a team to study on the matter, and on providing the membership of the NRNA without any fee. Other members of the team are General Secretary Dr. Hemraj Sharma, Secretary Gauri Raj Joshi and Treasurer Mahesh Shrestha.

A Special Assembly of the organisation will be called soon to take a decision about changing the NRNA's organisational structure and election system.

Meanwhile, the Secretariat of the association in Kathmandu will be strengthened.

The meeting has decided to form five departments – foreign employment, humanitarian, trade and investment, skill, knowledge and innovation, and Nepal promotion - in the organisation led by its five vice-presidents. The departments will have members of the ICC and experts of the respective sectors. All the humanitarian works would be implemented through the NRNA Foundation which is in the process, and all the works would be conducted through the single door.

Similarly, Dr. Shesh Ghale, past-president, has been appointed as the Chief Patron of the organisation. Two former presidents Dev Man Hirachan and Jiba Lamichhane, IPP Bhatta and former Patron Ram Pratap Thapa are patrons.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 October 2019. 

Use of dignified language in media: It's the problem of media, not language

Every civilisation is identified with the use of language. History of human society has witnessed that the power determines the language for the society or the language of the rulers prevails. Nepali language not only has style, accent and taste, it also has the hierarchy. Recently, a debate has been erupted following Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's comment, for the second time, that the media should use the dignified and formal language in their writings. In his comment this week, he said the journalists do not use respectful language even for their father. 

In this backdrop, senior journalists and linguists deliberated on the issue at the 'Gorkhapatra Sambad' – a weekly dialogue. Journalists Dhruba Hari Adhikary and Govinda Adhikari, and Linguist Sharat Chandra Wasti said that the media industry should set its standards for itself and the recent debate is a problem more of the media than the language. Excerpts:

Media is the trendsetter in language use

 Dhruba Hari Adhikary

It is a valid demand by the Prime Minister for the use of dignified language in the media. Mass media is an effective tool of socialisation but as the former editor of Gorkhapatra said once, even though the media has the fundamental duty of educating the masses, it's a guide not the teacher. We are trendsetter in the society in terms of using language.

I think the media should recognise the level of intellectuality, education and awareness of the people whom it serves. Apart from Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tamang, Urdu and much other language has words to show higher respect to people of higher rank in the government and society. However, in principle or practice, the everyday language should be used in the media writing.

 Nepali is a prosperous language and offers much opportunity in the use of language in different contexts.

Nepali is a prosperous language and offers much opportunity in the use of language in different contexts, and we should take a pride in the richness of it instead of feeling inferior against any other international language.

The mode of address also denotes the intimacy, friendliness and other relations in the society. We use the terms that are considered less respectful to the juniors and minors out of affection not because we want to humiliate them. Poets have used the term 'Tan', the least respectful word in Nepali that is equivalent to English word 'thou', even for the God, and they say it doesn't show disrespect to the almighty but expresses affection.

We must be open to the alternatives of the language and must not force the language to shrink. When we talk about the media, it is not only the newspapers but also the electronic media channels including the internet. When we talk about electronic media, they are divided over the use of dignified words to address someone. I have seen some paradox as well - some television channels have the tendency to use dignified language for foreign head of states and governments but not for the Nepali counterparts.

It is not that we don't have any standards of language for Nepali media. I appreciate the Gorkhapatra for its untiring efforts to set standards for the industry in the country. Therefore, it must not forget its role to guide the industry. There are many people who have learnt the language and writing from the Gorkhapatra. It has created a standard for the people and other media.

Language is an element of identity of any country or society. When an individual is elected with the majority vote of people aged above 18 years of age and becomes a minister, he must be respected in every address. This is the trend across the globe. But such language must not be imposed by any entity or authority. Honorific like Mr. is used in the western media as well. The media across the globe try to maintain decency.

The media should develop a capacity to persuade people and institutions in terms of the use of language and other areas of interest. It must change and update its style book on a periodical basis.

Journalism must lead the society

Sharat Chandra Wasti,

I want to thank  Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli for his concerns regarding (Nepali) language used by the media. His concerns on distorting the language by the media are praiseworthy. So, I am always in the line of Prime Minister Oli that media have to use ‘tapain’, a respectful form of address in Nepali in news.


The media should represent the society. So, at a time when the society is using ‘tapain’ to a respected persons, only the media have been using ‘timi’ which has no connection with respect of the person. That is against the expectation of the society. By using ‘tapain’ no media will recognise as respecting autocrats. Likewise, no media will become inferior by using the respectful address.


Journalism must lead the society, but it does not mean that it must do a revolution. So, the use of ‘timi’ by the media is a revolution done by them, but it is not acceptable for the society. The media people think that society accepts the term ‘ timi’ because the people never raise voice against the term used by the media. This is the illusion of the media people. So, the media must be broader and pave a wider way for the society to move forward.


The media think only the issues they raised and said are true and everyone has to accept it. But I think it is only the insensitivity towards language. It is miserable that we could not save richness of our language. We have a mind-set that something spoken in English is good. Due to that the media have been using the term ‘timi’, influenced by the ‘you’ used in English.


Journalists are using the same term to address all people because they are unable to identify what term should be used to respect the people according to their personality. It is like a change of the form of the dictionary word by one who cannot understand the term properly. But in my opinion, journalists must not communicate by using unsuitable address.


I am surprised to see some journalists address a person in face to face conversation with ‘tapain’ and the same journalist addresses the same person with ‘timi’ while writing news.


There are many words that can be used as the second person pronoun by only using ‘timi’, but is the paucity of our language. Not only in Nepal, people across the globe, respect their own language. So, the media persons must know that the language’s richness is our property and it is our responsibility to protect it.

And if we feel the use of ‘timi’ and ‘tapai’ shows varying hierarchy in society, we can set a standard on ‘tapain’. Addressing people with respectful word does show weakness of the media.

I am surprised to see some journalists address a person in face to face conversation with ‘tapain’ and the same journalist addresses the same person with ‘timi’ while writing news.

 

I think, it is not a problem of language itself, but it is the problem the journalists who use it in such a manner.

Some media people think that the government body like Press Council Nepal should issue a guideline regarding the use of word to address a person. But I am totally against this idea. The media must change themselves before such order is issued.

 Media industry can set standards for itself

 Govinda Adhikari

The Prime Minister has his own style of rhetoric, so it is not necessary to make a prolonged debate on the topic. But I am still confused whether the PM had targeted the social media as well.

Nepali media is using both styles of language while addressing the political leaders and other people since the Panchayat day.  Earlier, Shailaja Acharya, Shahana Pradhan were addressed with less-respectful language while their junior male leaders were addressed in a more dignified way. There was also a debate whether the king and royal members should be addressed with the same terms as the common people. Most of the old languages around the globe have the hierarchy in language. But most of them have started using common language for all classes.

It's been two decades since 'Timi' (you) was used in Nepali media. Most of the media channels use it now. High government representatives did not complain about the language in the past. This is the first instance. This raises a question, where are we heading? The society has revived the use of 'Timi' in family even to the parents. It has just begun to reject the regal words being in use for the last couple of decades. And we have rulers that demand to address them in a more dignified way.

I don't know whether it is a wish of the rulers to show themselves different or special than others or above the general society. This raises another question, what are we for – equitable society or hierarchical society? I don't think we need to move to the so called 'dignified' use of language in media.

The media should find a better way itself and it’s the matter of the society whether to accept it or not.

 The media has a type of standards for the language, and it's not difficult to use 'Tapain' instead of 'Timi'  but the people who are seeking 'Tapain' now may demand 'Hajur' (highly respectful address) later.

Nepal Academy, some years ago, had suggested issuing directives for the use of language. Talking about the extremes, the state can control the use of language or words even in the social media. Posts with certain words can be restricted from publication. I don't think we should stick to certain tradition and cultures as I was trained in progressive politics during the Panchayat regime. I may sound odd in this regard.

It is difficult to set a common standard for such a diverse society like Nepal. However, the entire media industry or house can set standards for themselves, it would be more appropriate. 

The media should find a better way itself and it’s the matter of the society whether to accept it or not. The last judge of the media content is the audience so journalists must try to satisfy them.

(Prepared by Modnath Dhakaland Manjima Dhakal. Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 October 2019.)

Student makes siren drone to chase away tuskers

Jhapa, Oct. 19

A student in Jhapa district has developed a siren drone that chases elephants away. 

Anil Pradhan, a grade 12 student, of Bhadrapur Municipality -1 had built the drone at his home and successfully tested it in chasing elephants. 

"Wild elephants always troubled the villagers in my locality. People were scared of the elephants as many members of the society were killed by the animals in the past," he said. "The events motivated me to study the situation and develop a solution to the trouble."

When Anil found that the elephants were most scared of the bee humming, he installed the sound in the drone. It also features a red light as well. 

According to him, when the drone went near the elephants with the sound of a humming of bees, elephants ran to the jungles making loud and frightened sound. 

As the remote of the drone works as far as five kilometres, the users of the machine can operate it safely from a sizable distance so that the wild animals do not harm them. 

Chief of the Division Forest Office in Jhapa Bishnu Lal Ghimire said that the drone was successfully tested in chasing the wild elephants. "The machine has proved itself as the most effective method in chasing away the elephants without huge cost and damage."

Anil has tested his innovation in presence of the officers of the DFO and local people on Thursday and Friday where the drone chased away seven elephants from Duwagadhi of Mechi Municipality on Thursday night and five elephants from Jalthal of Bhadrapur Municipality on Friday night.

Anil has developed an interest in computer and electronics which was his childhood hoppy as well.

Bhadrapur Municipality has recognized Anil's talent and provided him economic support. The drone carries the name 'Bhadrapur Municipality Siren Drone'. 

The drone was prepared at cost of about Rs. 250,000. 

Jhapa in the eastern Nepal is the district most affected by wild elephants. Although multiple programmes were implemented to reduce the damage, they failed to deliver satisfactory results. 

About 152 km area – from south-east Kachankawal Rural Municipality to east-north Mechi Municipality's Bahundangi – is announced as the Elephant Corridor. About 43 km has been protected with fencing while work is going on at other area. 

Wild elephants have so far killed 39 people in the district.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 October 2019 (Originally written by Tikaram Upreti). 

NEPSE bans 40 companies for conducting transactions

Kathmandu, Oct. 19:

Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) has banned the securities transactions 40 companies listed at the only exchange in the country as they failed to submit the annual renewal fee.


It said that their shares transaction will not be allowed from Sunday, October 20.


However, the shares transaction will be resumed after they pay the renewal fee, said the Nepse.

The companies that are restricted from shares transaction include blue chip companies like Unilever Nepal and Nepal Telecommunication Company.


Listed companies must renew themselves to continue with their shares transaction at the stock exchange. The renewal should be done before the three months after the end of the fiscal year.


The banned companies are from microfinance, trading, hotel, manufacturing and processing, development bank and other groups.


The highest number of companies restricted from shares transaction are from microfinance with 19 companies, followed by 11 manufacturing and processing, 3 each from trading and development bank, and 2 each from hotel and other groups. Some of the companies, like Birat Shoe, Arun Vanaspati and Gorkahkali Rubber, are being restricted for last many years.


The companies restricted from shares transaction:

Microfinance companies:

1.      NMB Microfinance

2.      Civil Microfinance

3.      Janauththan Samudayik Microfinance

4.      Kalika Microfinance

5.      Mahuli Samudayik Microfinance

6.      Naya Nepal Microfinance

7.      Nerude Micrifinance Development Bank

8.      Global IME Microfinance (Reliable)

9.      Sumit Microfiance

10.  Omi Microfinance

11.  Mero Microfinance

12.  RSDC Microfinance

13.  Arambha Microfinance

14.  Nadep Microfinance

15.  Samudayik Microfinance

16.  Asha Microfinance

17.  Nepal Agro Microfinance

18.  Gurans Microfinance

19.  Infinity Microfinance

Trading

1.      Nepal Welfare Company

2.      Bishal Bazar Company

3.      Nepal Trading Limited

4.      Hotel Soaltee Limited

5.      Yak and Yeti Hotel

Manufacturing and Processing

1.      Arun Vanaspati Industry

2.      Birat Shoe Limited

3.      Butwal Spinning Mills

4.      Fleur Himalayan Limited

5.      Gorakhkali Rubber Limited

6.      Hari Siddhi Brick and Tile Factory

7.      Jyoti Spinning Mills

8.      Nepal Bitumin and Barrel Industry

9.      Raghupati Jute Mills

10.  Bhrikuti Paper Limited

11.  Unilever Limited

Other

1.      Nepal Telecommunication Company

2.      Nepal Film Development Company

Development Bank

1.      Bhargav Development Bank

2.      Corporate Development Bank

3.      Excel Development Bank

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 October 2019.