Nepal makes progress in diplomacy

 Kathmandu, Dec. 29

The first year of the current government witnessed multiple upheavals in foreign affairs and diplomacy including rescuing Nepalis from Israel and Ukraine, repatriation of the mortal remains of Nepali nationals killed in the HAMAS attack in Israel, and various high-level bilateral and multilateral visits and engagements.

Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) implemented programmes for economic diplomacy, and services to Nepali citizens in foreign countries, implemented multilateral diplomacy, organised and attended meetings of bilateral mechanisms formed with the friendly nations.

Briefing the Central Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress on Friday, Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, said that Nepal successfully brought back Nepali citizens who were at risk due to the war between Israel and Palestinian rebel group HAMAS, repatriated the bodies of 10 Nepalis killed in the attack while a search is going on to find the missing Nepali student, Bipin Joshi.

Likewise, 31 Nepalis stranded in Sudan due to political crisis there were also rescued with the efforts of the MoFA, and the missions in Cairo, Riyad and Jeddah. India, China and Saudi Arabia also extended their support to Nepal in the rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry introduced the pre-enrollment form for passports allowing the service seekers to fix their appointment a month before. It also increased the quota for the forms for passports to district and area administration offices. "We have a stock of passports that will meet the demands for the next two years while the tender process has been initiated to procure additional passports," said FM Saud.

Likewise, the Department of Consular Services has started to approve the character certificate online which has contributed to the decreased time and money of the people and crowd at the office.

Nepal organised a high-level investment summit in London on the occasion of the centenary of the Friendship Treaty 2023 signed between Nepal and the United Kingdom. The summit was successful in drawing the investors' attention to renewable energy, information technology and education.

The MoFA also organised various programmes related to economic diplomacy in and out of the country and mobilised Nepali missions abroad to promote Nepal's trade, tourism and investment. The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border between Nepal and China was opened within a couple of days of FM Saud's appointment to the post. Likewise, the Hilsa-Purang border is also opened for one-way trade.

The opening of these border points will promote the bilateral trade between Nepal and China, said FM Saud.

PM Prachanda's visits

In the past one year, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' completed the official visits of neighbouring countries India and China. During his visit to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, various seven agreements were signed and five projects were inaugurated or initiated.

 Likewise, during his visit to China, PM Prachanda participated in the inauguration ceremony of the 19^th Asian Games and signed various memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements during the meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The MoUs were signed for the Hilsa-Simkot Road Project, Nepal China Power Grid Interconnection, cooperation in education, science and technology, and agriculture, development cooperation between the two countries, green development, and cooperation in the digital economy, disaster management and training.

Foreign Minister's visits

Similarly, FM Saud visited the United States of America at the invitation of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. During the visit, FM Saud also held meetings with the CEO of US International Development Finance Corporation, Scott Nathan, Administrator of the USAID, Samantha Power, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Alice Albright, and other high-ranking officials, and discussed strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and future cooperation.

FM Saud also participated in the coronation ceremony of the King Charles III of the UK, and attended the 6^th Indian Ocean Conference.

Likewise, Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, visited Nepal in October-November this year and held meetings with President Ramchandra Paudel, PM Prachanda, FM Saud and discussed Nepal's peace process, climate change and poverty alleviation as well as appreciated Nepal's contribution to the peacekeeping missions.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra visited Nepal earlier this year to discuss about enhancing interconnectivity, energy trade, and cooperation in agriculture, health and other areas between the two countries.

Similarly, UK Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr. Andrew Morrison, UK Minister of State in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, USAID's Administrator, Samantha Power, and China, Xizang Autonomous Region's Party Secretary, Wang Junzheng visited Nepal in the past one year.

Meetings of bilateral mechanisms with China, France, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Belgium, South Korea and Japan were held during the past year. The meetings discussed the high-level visits, economic cooperation, trade, investment and tourism promotion, development cooperation, and cooperation in agriculture, climate change mitigation, human rights, education and culture as well as people-to-people relations.

Meanwhile, Nepal participated in the meetings of BIMSTEC and Asia Cooperation Dialogue. The country also raised its voice on the impact of climate change at the 28^th Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai in November.

Meanwhile, Nepal has got the leadership of the Global Coordination Bureau of the group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), elected member of the Economic and Social Council of the UN, and a member of the Peacebuilding Commission of the UN. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2023.  

Healthy growth of banking sector required for growth of other sectors

 Kathmandu, Dec. 29

Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha has said that a strong banking industry can contribute to the development and growth of the other business sectors.

Speaking at the third annual general meeting of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions of Nepal (CBFIN) in Kathmandu on Friday, he said, "The government is aware of this fact and is paying attention to the healthy growth of the banking sector."

"So far, about Rs. 6 trillion deposits are in the banking sector, and about Rs. 5 trillion is being invested. That investment could not increase production and employment as expected," said Dr. Shrestha, "If this sector contributes to the increment of production and employment, it will also be the first beneficiary of that development."

According to him, among the various sectors of the country, the banking and financial sector is the sector running with international standards.

Dr. Shrestha said that the production in the country decreased and the ever-increasing imports have aggravated the challenges in the economy. "There is a situation that when we try to resolve the problem in one sector, a problem props up in another sector."

Member of the NPC Dr. Ramesh Chandra Paudel said that unless the manufacturing sector was freed from financial problems, production and productivity would not increase and the youth would not get employment. For that, he said, an environment should be created in which up to 20 per cent of the loan amount could be invested in the manufacturing sector.

He said that the interest rates on loans given to the manufacturing sector should be less than that of the service sector.

President of CBFIN Pawan Kumar Golyan urged the NPC to give priority to the financial sector and the private sector in the 16^th Plan that would be implemented for the next five years from the Fiscal Year 2024/25. He said that banks and financial institutions are ready to contribute to fulfilling the quantitative targets taken by the NPC.

He also urged the Commission to take the bank and financial sector together in the upliftment and growth of the industry, energy and service sectors along with the agricultural sector to lead the country on the path of development.

Golyan suggested increasing the capital expenditure to improve the overall economy. The CBFIN suggested that the policy arrangements for using domestic products should be implemented compulsorily, preferential interest rates should be maintained for productive, exporting and employment sectors, innovation, development of self-entrepreneurship and improvement and upgrading of domestic, small and medium entrepreneurs and industries should be prioritised.

Addressing the programme, Rajendra Malla, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that the economic indicators have turned negative from all sides and single-digit interest rates should be maintained to keep the economy running.

He said that the economy will not be accelerated as long as there is a double-digit interest rate. "The government's economic policy should match the five-year plan. Without that, the economic sector will not be viable," said Malla.

Likewise, Vice-President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Amit More said that the rule of law should be established in the country, and the arrears would be paid when evidence was found in the dispute with the Nepal Electricity Authority regarding the payments of the dues for dedicated electricity supplied several years ago.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2023.  

Regional forums will be helpful to project national interests: FM Saud

Kathmandu, Dec. 28

Meaningful affiliation with the regional organisations will be helpful for Nepal to face the challenges it is facing as a landlocked and an underdeveloped country, said Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Policy Research Institute (PRI) on the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) on Thursday in Kathmandu, he stated that Nepal's foreign policy is to promote national interests through the regional forums.

The PRI organised the programme upon the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Accordingly, Nepal has been active in enhancing mutual cooperation in the economic, social and cultural fields by means of organisations in the Asia region such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BIMSTEC and Asian Cooperation Dialogue," said FM Saud, adding that Nepal has been giving importance to the BIMSTEC region which connects the countries of South Asia and South East Asia.

It's been 26 years since the establishment of the BIMSTEC. During the initial stage, the forum was used as a movement of cooperation in the areas of mutual interest of the member countries, said FM Saud.

The legal, institutional and policy structures are in the process of being prepared after the discussions held during the fourth summit of BIMSTEC held in Kathmandu in 2018.

The areas of BIMSTEC cooperation have been restructured into seven sectors of cooperation, with each member country taking a leading role in one area. Out of the restructured areas like trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, climate change, security, science and technology, people-to-people relations, Nepal is leading the people-to-people relations sector.

FM Saud said that he participated in the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministerial Retreat held in Bangkok, Thailand in July this year. On that occasion, the foreign ministers of the seven BIMSTEC member countries collectively expressed their commitment to develop BIMSTEC as a strong organisation.

"In order to further strengthen and institutionalize BIMSTEC, an Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) of nine eminent persons has been formed to offer suggestions regarding the course of action to be taken by the BIMSTEC in the future to make cooperation and collaboration more effective," he said.

The suggestions of the EPG are expected to make BIMSTEC more dynamic, result-oriented and effective. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2023.  

Industry Ministry instructed to prioritise startup venture

 Kathmandu, Dec. 28

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has instructed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) to give high priority to startup businesses for the youth.

Speaking at a discussion with the officials of the MoICS on Thursday at the Singha Durbar, he directed the Ministry to promote entrepreneurship among young people with innovative thinking and passion, and make preparations to conduct a business promotion campaign focused on seven provinces through the Business Incubation Centre.

"Prepare a special plan to connect the latest ideas of at least 20,000 youths to the production of goods and services by mobilising the startup fund and arrange a 'Jobmeter' to measure the jobs created by self-employed, startups and various businesses," he asked the MoICS.

Emphasising that the diplomatic bodies of the Government of Nepal should focus on the promotion of industry and commerce, PM Prachanda instructed them to go ahead by making necessary plans, mechanisms and programmes for that.

The Prime Minister directed the ministry to prepare a solid framework for sectoral coordination and cooperation to implement the commercial policy, national action plan on trade deficit reduction and National Trade Integration Strategy to implement the basic foundation of "Production and trade: Sustainable basis of all sectoral development".

Likewise, PM Prachanda directed to establish an Industrial Infrastructure Development Facilitation Desk in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and ensure coordination of all sectoral bodies.

To make market monitoring regular and more effective, there is a need to establish and operate an integrated and specialised market monitoring directorate with representation from all relevant bodies, he said while expressing hopes that the ministry would carry out necessary studies on this matter.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ramesh Rizal stated that the small amount allocated for the promotion of industry and commerce hindered the implementation of the scheduled programmes and said that an integrated solution should be sought from the government.

Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal Dr. Baikuntha Aryal said that to make an action plan and implement the issues covered in the Prime Minister's address to the nation was necessary. He also directed the secretaries to prioritise the work of the areas declared as industrial zones.

Likewise, Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, Secretary at the MoICS, presented the status of the ministry, progress, challenges and upcoming programmes.

He said that consistency between new policies, plans, programmes and budgets was necessary, and as inter-agency coordination was not effective, policies and programmes were scattered.

According to him, the Ministry has given priority to the promotion of entrepreneurship, upgrading of micro, cottage and small industries, development of industrial and business infrastructure, capacity building of employees and innovation-oriented programmes.

Emphasising the need to lobby for the promotion of Nepal's industry and commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums, Secretary Duwadi said that the concept of start-up business should be put forward for the youth, deadlines should be set for environmental impact assessment, and programmes run with the Prime Minister's name should be integrated.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2023.  

Nabil Bank to distribute 11% cash dividend to shareholders

Kathmandu, Dec. 28

The 39^th Annual General Meeting of Nabil Bank Limited held on Thursday in Kathmandu approved 11 per cent cash dividend to its shareholders.

"The AGM has passed the proposal of the bank's Board of Directors to distribute 11 per cent cash dividend from the profit of the last Fiscal Year 2022/23," the bank said in a statement. It earned Rs. 6.4 billion in profits last year.

Chairman of the bank, Upendra Paudyal, said that considering the latest scenarios of the country's economy, Nabil Bank has played a supportive role in modernising Nepal's banking sector, providing dynamism to the country's commercial and industrial activities, and creating employment opportunities in the country.

He said that the bank has given top priority to corporate governance and customer satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the bank has been running the Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship Programme for the development of entrepreneurship in various sectors.

This programme was started to solve long-term social problems through entrepreneurship in society and promote economic and social transformation by promoting enterprises based on innovative thinking, read the statement.

According to it, 335 students have participated in this programme so far, 52 enterprises have been created, and 872 people have been employed.

Paudyal informed that the bank is expanding its business by focusing on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while also advancing corporate social responsibility programmes based on various goals such as poverty alleviation, education and health.

Nabil has been providing services through its 22 extension counters and 313 ATMs within a network of 266 branches across the country. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 December 2023.  

Himalaya Airlines begins Kathmandu-Lhasa flights

Kathmandu, Dec. 28

Himalaya Airlines started Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu flight service from Thursday, December 28.

The first outbound flight, H9 774, departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 08:40 am  (local time) and reached Lhasa Gonggar Airport, at  noon (local time), with a flight duration of one hour and twenty minutes. A total of 136 passengers boarded the first flight, said the company in a statement.

The service will schedule flights every Monday effective from January 01, 2024. This signifies the fifth direct connection Himalaya Airlines has between China and Nepal.  The Airlines  has been operating flights to Beijing, Chongqing, Qingdao and Shanghai.

"This will mark a significant milestone in Himalaya Airlines' commitment to enhancing connectivity and promoting bilateral ties between Nepal and China," it said in a statement. Himalaya Airlines is a joint venture company with Nepali and Chinese investments.

It said that the Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu route will offer passengers seamless travel options between the capital city of Nepal with the historically rich and picturesque city of Lhasa.

Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region in China, is a cultural and spiritual hub in the Himalayas. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and ancient monasteries, Lhasa holds deep significance as the centre of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture.

The inaugural flight event was boarded by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, and Wang Xin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of China in Kathmandu along with other dignitaries.

Minister Kirati said that the newly established route represents a significant advancement in the transportation network linking Nepal and China.

This enhancement in transportation infrastructure not only promotes increased accessibility but also signifies a broader and more diverse network for trade, tourism, and overall bilateral relations between Nepal and China, he said. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 December 2023.  

8th Real Estate Expo kicks off

Kathmandu, Dec. 27

Nepal Land and Housing Developers Association (NLHDA) is organising the 8^th Real Estate Expo from Wednesday at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Centre in Kathmandu.

The expo will run till  December 31.

It is expected that the fair will contribute to the development and expansion of this business by providing proper information about the current situation of the real estate business and its problems and solutions to future opportunities, the NLHDA said at a press conference held in the Capital on Wednesday.

"The expo will bring together businesses and consumers who are contributing significantly to scientific, orderly and safe land development and urbanisation," said the organiser, "We are confident that the businesses will bring their latest products to the consumers and the consumers will be able to get information about the reality and real situation of Nepali real estate business."

Local and foreign exhibitors will showcase their services and products at the Expo. Earthquake-resistant houses and apartments, land planning and development, manufacturers and sellers of construction materials, engineering and architecture consultants, as well as banks and insurance companies, will participate in the fair.

Likewise, business-like electrical goods, furniture, pipes, sanitary wire fitting, paints, vehicles, decorative goods and insurance, banking and architecture will display their products and also provide related consultancy services. In addition, if the interested participants want to launch their products and services during the fair period, that will also be arranged, said Bidur Dhamala, President of the NLHDA and Coordinator of the Expo Organising Committee.

According to him, stakeholders and spectators involved in the purchase and sale of houses and apartments developed in a planned manner will be able to get detailed information about the facility, price and other aspects.

"We believe that this fair will become a common platform for businesses, investors, consumers, construction material sellers and service providers involved in housing and apartment projects. We expect that at least 65,000 visitors will visit the fair which will feature more than 60 stalls," said Dhamala. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 December 2023.  

PM Prachanda determined to complete pace process by consensus.

 Kathmandu, Dec. 26

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that he is determined to complete the rest of the pace process by consensus.  

Terming Nepal's peace process 'unique and exemplary for the world', he stated that it has gained recognition at the international stage. "However, some tasks of the process are yet to be completed. Now, I am determined to complete the rest of the peace process by consensus," he said in his address to the nation on Tuesday.

Addressing the nation on the occasion of the completion of a year in the rule, PM Prachanda said that during his foreign visits as the Prime Minister, he clearly stated the priorities, interests and issues mutual cooperation of Nepal with the concerned countries.

"A strong and balanced relationship has been maintained with India and China. The cooperation and support of these neighbouring countries has increased in Nepal's development efforts. At the World Food Conference held in Rome, Italy, Nepal's presentation on food security and solving the problems of underdeveloped countries has drawn the world's attention," he said.

Likewise, the content presented by Nepal in the General Assembly of the United Nations and its other meetings has received international attention. According to him, the United Nations Secretary General's visit to Nepal at his invitation and Nepal's presentation at the Climate Change Conference held in Dubai last month, 'Cop-28', were effective.

Similarly, Tatopani-Khasa, Rasuwa-Kerung, Hilsa-Purang and Korla border point of Mustang, which have been closed for a long time, have been opened for bilateral trade. "I raised the issue of tri-national connectivity for the second time when I was the Prime Minister and announced the road corridor to connect China and India. Now the work of the Mahakali Corridor is progressing at a fast pace. The budget has been assured for the Dipayal-Khutia road connecting Taklakot in Tibet," said PM Prachanda.

Meanwhile, he also expressed his commitment to prove wrong the interpretation that the water of Melamchi will not come to Kathmandu, and said that he is working with a compact plan of 28 days with the target of delivering 170 million litre water a day to the water treatment plants at Sundarijal within a month.

PM Prachanda also said that the minimum wage of workers in the country has been increased to Rs. 17, 350. More than 950,000 people who have gone to foreign employment or are self-employed abroad, are in the informal sector and are self-employed within the country have been included in the contribution-based social security scheme.

Similarly, PM Prachanda said that the government's diligence in search and rescue operations in the aftermath of the Jajarkot earthquake has increased the trust of the people towards the state. The government has decided to provide Rs. 50,000 per family for the construction of temporary housing for the families whose houses have been damaged in the earthquake and are not fit for habitation. Rs. 2.26 billion for the same has been disbursed. The temporary reconstruction work will be completed within a month, said the Prime Minister.

"Development cannot be accelerated without democracy being strong, and its benefits cannot be equally distributed among the people. Now some people have resorted to false and misleading propaganda to create resentment towards the system," said PM Prachanda while adding that their comment that the unitary rule was better than now is completely wrong.

"I am firm in favour of strengthening the provinces. Lately, I have heard and understood the dissatisfaction of the chief ministers. I assure them through this speech today, all knots of federalism are being untied very fast," he said, "It was me who convened the first meeting of the National Coordination Council."

Today, I want to bear witness to the people and also tell the ministers that we cannot afford to fail. I am in no condition and mood to forgive anyone for poor performance, stated PM Prachanda.

"If I cannot create positive change and hope in the country, there is no need for me to hold the position," he said.

He also said that he would continue to strive for dialogue and understanding with the main opposition and other political parties for the implementation of the important issues related to the execution of the constitution, and for cooperation on other issues of national importance to complete the remaining work of the peace process.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 December 2023.  

Once successful in Nepal, bio-gas could still be alternative to LP gas

 Kathmandu, Dec. 24:

The 15th Periodic Plan of Nepal implemented in the fiscal year (FY) 2019/20 had envisaged installing 200,000 domestic bio-gas (DBG) plants. 

It also had a plan to replace about 40,000 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) through the installation of 500 large biogas plants.

The second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), 2020 included the same plan with a strategy to install an additional 200,000 household biogas plants and 500 large scale biogas (LBG) plants by 2025.

But the country currently has altogether 419,779 domestic bio-gas plants and 348 large biogas plants. 

Meanwhile, the government as well as international donors’ support to bio-gas, which has been one of the major sources of alternative renewable energy and low-carbon technology, has significantly fallen over the years. 

Increasing migration to cities, rising construction cost and diminishing support from the donors and government have detrimental impacts on the development and growth of bio-gas plants in Nepal. 

Now, the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), the regulatory and implementing agency in the alternative energy sector, has no donors working with it in the bio-gas sector. 

Earlier, institutions like the SNV Netherland Development Organisation, World Bank and TFW Germany were providing financial and technical supports to the AEPC. 

Nepal once witnessed the construction of about 40,000 bio-gas plants in a year, but now the number has fallen to below 10,000. The AEPC has a target to construct 10,000 plants this fiscal year 2023/24, but is not hopeful of meeting the target. 

To meet this target, about Rs. 300 million is needed, but the alternative energy promotion body has the budget of only Rs. 50 million for subsidy. 

A success story 

Bio-gas sector is one of the areas that Nepal excelled and the country exported its GGC 2017 model in bio-gas plant construction to various African countries as well, said Nawa Raj Dhakal, Executive Director of the AEPC. 

About a decade ago, construction of bio-gas plant started revolutionising the rural areas in Nepal by providing clean energy through inexpensive methods. The government provided a good amount of grant covering more than half of the construction cost of the bio-gas plant. 

In 1999/2000, a bio-gas plan would cost about Rs. 15,000 and entire money would be subsidised by the government, said Bishnu Prasad Poudel, who worked at a private-biogas company then. 

According to him, there was a huge attraction to the bio-bas plant as many families in his work area in Nawalparasi (West) used to rear cattle and work in farms. 

But now, the number of families involved in animal husbandry has been significantly reduced, and even in the dairies in villages one can see higher number of people coming to buy milk than to sell it.

Some households in Bardaghat Municipality of Nawalparasi West have abandoned bio-gas plants in their courtyards and LPG cylinder has become a permanent feature of their kitchen. This has been a trend across the country, said Dhakal. 

While the cost of construction materials went up significantly after the 2015 earthquake, the government subsidy began decreasing. The government did not show interest in providing subsidy for the construction of bio-gas plants after the development partners pulled their hands out from the project. 

Need of 70 per cent subsidy 

As per Dhakal, the current government grant covers only 25 to 30 per cent of the total construction cost of the bio-gas plant. 

The AEPC had proposed to raise this subsidy to 50 to 60 per cent to promote bio-gas and attract households to this, but it was not approved. 

President of Nepal Bio-gas Promotion Association (NBPA), Prakash Subedi, said that the subsidy should be increased up to 70 per cent of the total cost of the plant. Currently, it costs about Rs. 80,000 in average for the construction of a bio-gas plant. 

Meanwhile, the bio-gas project of Nepal has been included in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the country is receiving about Rs. 2 billion a year, said Subedi. 

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in the developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.

According to him, there is a potential of 1 million domestic bio-gas plants in Nepal, but the government should increase the subsidy amount and support in the maintenance of the plants. However, past studies had estimated the national potential for biogas plants in Nepal at 1.9 million. They also suggested that the government subsidy was the major factor behind the success of the bio-gas programme. This fact was supported by the AEPC’s statement in 2021 that the demand in bio-gas plant has going down. 

 Biogas versus LP gas

The country is spending a large amount of foreign currency in importing the LP gas. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, LP gas import has increased by over 100 per cent in the last five years. In the Fiscal Year 2017/19, Nepal imported LP gas worth Rs. 27.13 billion while in 2022/23, it imported the gas worth Rs. 58.15 billion, 

The country has imported LPG worth Rs. 15.4 billion the first four months (mid-July to mid-November) of the current fiscal year. Increased use of biogas means reduction in  the imports of petroleum products and saving of the foreign exchange. 

Meanwhile, the latest Census of 2021 revealed that about three-fourth of the households in Nepal still use firewood or bio-fuel to cook their meal which has its repercussions on health and environment. The promotion and use of bio-gas and improved cook stoves had significantly improved the health of women and children in the rural areas.

“Along with the biogas installation, the situation of health and sanitation is being gradually enhanced; deforestation (for the cause of firewood) is being curbed in Nepal. The technology is being concerned on caste and ethnicity, gender etc. issues to make the sector more inclusive, participative, decentralised and balanced,” the AEPC said in one of its report.

A biogas plant can be run with animal dung, human excreta and the natural materials that decay, and the byproduct of the biogas plant is natural fertiliser. According to Subedi of NBPA, bio-gas is a model project of Nepal that uses all Nepali materials in construction, is carbon-neutral, healthy and economically beneficial. 

“You can imagine its contributions to the economy from the fact that it has replaced about 5 million LPG cylinders. But our politicians as well as the bureaucracy seem indifferent to this,” he said. Replacing 5 million cylinders mean saving about Rs. 10 billion. 

The AEPC also said that any development in domestic energy would contribute to the nation development by reducing import, biogas technology is one of the reliable alternative energy sources used for cooking and lighting. Accordingly, national biogas programme has been considered one of the most successful programmes in Nepal.

Tarai features more bio-gas plants

Bio-gas programme is well received in the Tarai region and eight of 10 districts having highest number of plants are in this region. Kailali has the highest number of domestic bio-gas – 30,874 plants, followed by Makwanpur 29,525 and Jhapa 27,358. Humla, Dolpa and Jumla districts have only two, four and six plants respectively while Manang is the only district having no bio-gas plant. 

However, Sunsari is the district that has highest number of large bio-gas plants with 50 projects in operation. Morang, Kaski and Jhapa have 41, 40 and 34 large biogas plants respectively. 

According to the AEPC, at least 40 districts have the large biogas plants. 

There are two types of bio-gas plants – large and domestic. Any bio-gas plant that has the capacity of 2-12 cubic metres is considered domestic and plant above 12.5 cubic metres is large. 

Meanwhile, some municipalities have developed biogas plants above 100-cubic metre capacity. AEPC’s Executive Director Dhakal informed that a bio-gas plant with a capacity 5,500 cubic metres is constructed in Dumkibas of Nawalparasi West. 

Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation or decomposition of organic wastes by the action of methanogenic bacteria, according to AEPC. During digestion about 25-30 per cent of the dry matter of waste is converted into a combustible gas and residue of 70-75 per cent of the total solids content comes out as sludge which is known as slurry. Once dried, this slurry is used as the compost manure.

A new technology

Meanwhile, our Reporter in Hile of Dhankuta district, said that about 100 families in Dhankuta Municipality have replaced LP gas cylinder with an Israeli technology that uses a portable dome with a digester which is easy to install and operate. 

Excited by the success of the new technology and attraction in the rural areas of the municipality, the local government is planning to expand this facility to 5,000 households. The plant is being installed with the municipal subsidy of Rs. 40,000, household’s contribution of Rs. 16,000 and supplier’s contribution of Rs. 20,000. About 5-10 kg of manure is enough to create gas to cook three-time meals for a family. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 December 2023.  

ILO launches Decent Work Country Programme in Nepal

 Kathmandu, Dec. 22: 

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Government of Nepal, the employers’ and the workers’ organisations in Nepal jointly launched the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Nepal, 2023-2027 recently. 

The DWCP for Nepal is built on the pillars of Jobs, Rights, and Partners, outlines a comprehensive plan for the next five years, the ILO informed. 

The programme aims to create employment opportunities, foster sustainable enterprises and enhance social security. 

According to the ILO, it places a strong emphasis on International Labour Standards, focusing on fundamental principles and rights at work, and commits to strengthening government, employers’, and workers’ organisations to facilitate effective social dialogue.

Speaking at a programme organised in the capital to launch the programme on Wednesday, ILO’s Country Director, Numan Özcan, said that the DWCP was a reflection of the shared ambition of ILO, government, workers, and employers. 

“It is a compass guiding us to create opportunities for productive work, ensuring fair income, workplace security and social protection,” he said. 

Speaking on the occasion, UN Resident Coordinator, Hanaa Singer- Hamdy said that if Nepal is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and have a smooth and sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC), all need to work together to effectively create more and better jobs in Nepal. She stressed the need to devise a resilient policy to benefit from the imminent graduation of Nepal from the least developed countries.

Kewal Prasad Bhandari, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, called for a strong commitment from all the partners and stakeholders for the effective and successful implementation of the DWCP as it would help in achieving the 2030 agenda. 

Likewise, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that Nepal was currently facing economic turbulence and that graduation from LDC also comes with potential challenges. 

“The DWCP at this critical point represents both our vision for overcoming existing challenges, and our hope for a better future. The DWCP is a document created through tripartite collaboration and is perhaps unique among country programmes across development agencies,” he said. 

Binod Shrestha, President of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC), stated that the implementation of labour-related laws, regulations, and international labour standards proved to be inadequate, resulting in workers being deprived of their fundamental labour rights. 

Despite the establishment of a contribution-based social security system, a significant number of employers, including contractual employees within government institutions, have yet to implement it. We must take on the responsibility of bringing all workers into the social security system during the upcoming DWCP period, said Shrestha. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 December 2023.  

Programme organised to mark 100 years of Nepal-UK Friendship Treaty

Kathmandu, Dec. 21

A Commemorative Programme was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal to mark the 100 years of Nepal-United Kingdom Friendship Treaty of 1923 at Singhadurbar, State Hall on Thursday.

The Friendship Treaty was signed on 21 December 1923 at the Singhadurbar State Hall one hundred years ago.

On the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud, delivered his remarks highlighting various aspects of age-old relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom, informed the MoFA in a statement.

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Nepal, Rob Fenn, also spoke on the importance of the Treaty on Nepal-UK bilateral ties. 

The programme was attended by national security advisor, chief secretary, secretaries of different ministries, ambassadors, chiefs of security agencies, former foreign secretaries, former ambassadors and academia among others.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 December 2023.  

Nepal, Sri Lanka discuss Lumbini-Colombo air connection

 Kathmandu, Dec. 21

Nepal and Sri Lanka have discussed about the possible air connections between Colombo and Lumbini.

The first meeting of Nepal-Sri Lanka Joint Commission (JC) that began in Kathmandu on Thursday take a note that the start of Kathmandu-Colombo air connection was encouraging and talked about further cooperation in aviation and other sectors, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal.

Nepal is looking for options to bring in Buddhist pilgrims and tourists directly to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, through the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. However, formal discussions are being made with China, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka in the first phase.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, NP Saud and his Sri Lankan counterpart, M. U. M. Ali Sabry are leading the delegation of their country to the meeting that will run untill Friday. The Sri Lankan delegation led by it's Foreign Minister Sabry arrived Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Two Ministers shared about the serious impacts of climate change faced by the respective country. They emphasized the need of climate justice, early operationalization of loss and damage fund, and more international support to combat the impacts of climate change in countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. 

The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka signed and exchanged the MoU at the meeting.

Likewise, the two ministers exchanged thoughts on the possibility of transferring the three Nepali nationals imprisoned in Sri Lanka. They also discussed about the exchanges in culture, tourism and education sectors, regional cooperation including strengthening SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC processes, and cooperation in multilateral forums.

Nepali delegation to the meeting includes Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka Basudev Mishra, and senior officials from ministries of Commerce, Home and Foreign Affairs.

Sri Lanka delegation includes Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Kathmandu Sudarshana Pathirana and senior officials of their Foreign Ministry.

Earlier today, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at his office in Singha Durbar. On the occasion, discussions were held on matters of mutual interest between Nepal and Sri Lanka, the MoFA said in a statement.

During the visit, the Minister Sabry is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President of Nepal, Ramchandra Poudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the MoFA said.

The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka will leave Kathmandu for Colombo on Saturday, December 23. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 December 2023. 

Next 5-year plan will be pragmatic, says NPC

 Kathmandu, Dec. 21

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has said that the next five-year plan will be made more pragmatic to realise the concept of 'building a prosperous country with proper planning and decision'.

Speaking at a press conference organised at the NPC on Thursday to inform about the progress regarding the formulation of the upcoming 16^th National Plan (Fiscal Year 2081/82 to FY 2085/86), Vice-Chairman of the NPC, Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha claimed to make the next five-year plan result-oriented and reality-based, and advance the all-round development of the country in a planned manner.

Stating that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have affected the achievement of the goals of the 15^th five-year plan, he said the weaknesses in planning and executions would be addressed by the upcoming 16^th plan.

According to him, the NPC is continuing various consultations and studies to prepare a five-year plan which will be continued till mid-February 2024.

"As the country will be upgraded to a developing nation from the Least developed country within the period of the 16^th plan, the NPC is making preparations to address the challenges of the upgrading. We need to make the transition to the developing country a smooth one, and for it we have been putting in our efforts," said Dr. Shrestha.

He also claimed that the new plan will include a strategy to prevent youth migration by connecting and promoting employment and production in the country. "We will get a great opportunity to bring in foreign investment when we are upgraded to the status of a developing country. We are developing a strategy to embrace such opportunities and face the challenges," he said.

The NPC informed that it has created a procedure to change the traditional thinking and methods seen in the budgeting process. A member of the NPC, Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, said that an action plan has been prepared to accept the amendments and modifications of the sovereign parliament in the government's policies programmes and budget.

According to him, preparations are being made to submit the action plan to the Cabinet.

The committee formed under the coordination of Dr. Phuyal has already prepared a report. It has recommended that the government's policies and programmes, principles and priorities of the budget and economic surveys should be submitted to the parliament earlier than the current time arrangement. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 December 2023. 

Global IME Bank wins 'Payments Excellence Awards 2023' from VISA

Kathmandu, Dec. 21

Global IME Bank Limited has received the 'Payments Excellence Awards 2023' from VISA, a global leader in digital payment technology. The bank was honoured for its excellence in Debit Cards in 2023.

The award was presented at the 'Leadership Conclave Nepal 2023' conference organised by VISA in Kathmandu.

The bank has recently launched a special digital payment product, 'Scan to Pay,' in collaboration with VISA.

GIBL is the first commercial bank from the private sector to have branches in all 77 nation districts. Additionally, it holds a leading position among banks with the maximum number of outlets worldwide from Nepal.

The bank provides digital financial services across the country through its 355 branches, 379 ATMs, 274 branchless banking units, 65 Extension Counters (including revenue collection counters), and three foreign representative offices, bringing the total number of outlets to more than 1,100. These outlets cater to over 4.5 million customers, offering complete and fully-fledged digital banking services.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 December 2023. 

One more Nepali dies in Russia-Ukraine war

Kathmandu, Dec. 20

Kundan Singh Nagal, a Nepali citizen working in the Russian Army, has died in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement on Wednesday that it received information about the tragic death of Nagal. With this, the number Nepalis deceased in the war has reached six.

The MoFA has urged Russia through its Ambassador in Nepal to send the bodies of the Nepali citizens who died after enlisting in the Russian army to Nepal as soon as possible and to provide compensation to the families of the victims including the injured.

Similarly, it has reiterated its request to the Russian government that Nepali citizens should not be recruited in the Russian Army and that the enlisted Nepali citizens should be immediately repatriated to Nepal.

"We have firmly asked the Russian government to provide the number of Nepali citizens who have joined the Russian Army, the number of injured Nepalis and their condition at the earliest," read the statement.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has requested the Ukrainian government through diplomatic channels to release the Nepalis detained there and send them back to Nepal as soon as possible. Bibek Khatri of Rajapur in Bardiya, Siddartha Dhakal of Mandan Deupur in Kavrepalanchwok, Bikas Rai of Letang in Morang and Pratik Pun of Runtigadhi in Rolpa are in captivity in Ukraine.

Stating that serious attention of the Government of Nepal has been drawn to the detainment of Nepalis in Ukraine, the MoFA informed that diplomatic initiatives are being taken by other means including the International Committee of the Red Cross for their release and return to Nepal.

"Ordinary citizens, except for those involved in government work, scholarships of the Russian government and those involved in professional business, can travel to Russia only with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Consular Service Department under the MoFA," said the Ministry.

It also appealed to everyone to travel to Russia only with an NOC issued by the Nepali Embassies and Consulates General in the respective countries even if they travel through Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

Earlier, the MoFA had warned Nepali citizens not to go to security-related work in war-torn countries.

Under the traditionally existing agreement, Nepali citizens are not allowed to join foreign armies other than the national armies of some friendly countries. The Ministry reiterated that there is no policy of the Government of Nepal to grant permission to its citizens to join the foreign armies.

 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 December 2023. 

Contractor asked to speed up ICP works

 Kathmandu, Dec. 20

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Anurag Srivastava, has instructed the contractor of the Nepalgunj Integrated Check Post (ICP) to speed up the construction work and complete the remaining works within a month.

Although the ICP was inaugurated virtually on June 1 this year jointly by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the former's India visit, construction of water tank and other structures and installation of CCTV connection, networking and fire-fighting system have not been completed.

It is estimated that it would take a month to complete the remaining work, Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB), an agency under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), informed in a statement on Wednesday.

Ashish Gajurel, Executive Director of the NITDB, said that all preparations have been completed by the NITDB for the operation of the ICP and informed that a request has been made to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu through the MoICS for the transfer of the facility to the NITDB.

A team comprised of MEA of India's Joint Secretary Srivastava, Chief District Officer of Banke, Shrawan Kumar Pokharel, Head of Nepalgunj Customs, Dhruba Raj Bishwakarma, Head of Urban Development and Building Construction Department, Nepalgunj Office, Bijay Keshar Khanal, Superintendents Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepalgunj, and representatives of Land Port Authority of India, ICP Rupaidiha, Rupaidiha Customs, Seema Suraksha Bal of India jointly conducted an inspection of the ICP on Tuesday.

Gajurel said the board has made preparations to bring the facility into operation immediately after it was handed over to NITDB. "We have been coordinating with all concerned agencies and the private sector, so there will not be any problem in bringing the ICP into operation," he said. 

To make Nepal's international trade more simple, orderly and convenient, the governments of Nepal and India agreed in August 2005 to build an ICP on both sides at the four border points (Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj) between Nepal and India.

The construction work of the ICP in Birgunj and Biratnagar has been completed and come into operation but the work to build ICP in Nepalgunj was started in 2020. The facility is spread in 44.6 hectares of land. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 December 2023. 

Reopening Udayapur Cement Factory possible only thru collective efforts: Dr. Mahat

Kathmandu, Dec. 20

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the reopening of the Udayapur Cement Factory could be possible only through the collective efforts of the concerned stakeholders.

While inspecting the mines used by the industry on Wednesday, he said that the subsidy of the government could not be the solution to the sick industries, informed the Ministry of Finance in a statement.

The management of such establishments should be improved, and the workers should understand their responsibility, said Dr. Mahat, adding that evaluation and assessment should be conducted to find out who did not fulfil their responsibilities and the situation that led to the deterioration of the industry.

"Many industries operate in the private sector. There are more than five dozen private sector cement industries. The workers complained that they were facing indifferences from the management and the government," said FM Dr. Mahat, "Private sector buys land, builds industries, buys machines with loans and operates them, and earns profits even after paying all operating expenses."

The Udayapur Cement Factory was established with the support of Rs. 440 million from the Japanese government. The government has invested Rs. 1 billion. However the company has failed to manage the operating expenses despite a good demand for its products. It has a liability of Rs. 750 million.

According to Dr. Mahat, the current condition of the industry is the cumulative result of the government appointing managers who have poor knowledge of the industry, lack professionalism, and workers' poor performance.

Stating that the crisis was not the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it began much before than that, the Finance Minister said that no one can escape from their responsibilities. "We did not have the mindset that we should protect the public property by giving it more importance. This is why the public sector has not been successful in Nepal," he said.

He maintained that although the participation of the government in the industry was not necessary, it invested in the sector to make the private sector competitive and discourage monopoly.

"It is our responsibility to save this industry. After saving it, we can demand more facilities. We must not forget that facilities could be obtained if the industry remains operational, else there will be nowhere to go," he said.

FM Dr. Mahat said that if there was no commitment from the management and trade union, it would be difficult to save the industry. If there is a commitment to save the industry, a lot can be done by using new technology over time, he maintained. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 December 2023. 

Envoy encourages Canadian investment in Nepal

 Kathmandu, Dec. 17

Canadian Ambassador to Nepal, Cameron Dean MacKay, indicated to a possibility to bring in the finance to Nepal from the Canadian Pension Plan to invest in various projects here.

In a courtesy meeting with the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ramesh Rijal, on Sunday at the latter’s office in Singhadurbar, the non-resident ambassador of Canada to Nepal said that there was a great potential to mobilise the funds in the Canadian Pension Plan through the public-private partnership to expand and promote Canadian investment in Nepal.

According to the Ministry, various issues of bilateral relations between Nepal and Canada were discussed between them in the meeting. MacKay is Canada's non-resident ambassador to Nepal and is based in New Delhi, India.

Likewise, Ambassador MacKay said that it was important to continue the concessional market access that Nepal was currently receiving for a few more years even after upgrading from the Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing one.

He also suggested keeping this issue as the main agenda of the next meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism between Nepal and Canada.

Minister Rijal mentioned in the meeting that, despite the concessional market access given to Nepal, the exports to Canada have not witnessed significant growth.

"In order to increase the capacity of Nepali producers and exporters, and to identify and resolve the obstacles in trade between the two countries, cooperation among the governments and private sectors of the two countries is vital," he said.

Reminding that Canada is Nepal's major trade partner, Minister Rijal noted that Canada has been providing concessional market access facilities to the developing and least developed countries, including Nepal, through the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). He said that Nepal expected Canada to extend the period of the facility to help the former in transitioning to the 'developing' country as well as increase Canadian development aid to Nepal.

He also sought support from the Canadian government in expanding Canadian investment in Nepal.

Minister Rijal stated that bilateral diplomatic relations between the two nations have been cordial for the last five decades.

Stating that there are ample investment opportunities and possibilities for Canadian investors in Nepal in the areas such as information technology, hydropower, and agriculture-based industries, Minister Rijal informed that an investment conference will also be held in Nepal in April next year. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 December 2023. 

Asia-Pacific countries may achieve SDGs in 2065: Human Development Report

 Kathmandu, Dec. 19

Climate migration in Asia-Pacific surpasses the global average, with over half of new disaster-induced displacements, concluded the Regional Human Development Report 2024 (Making Our Future: New Directions for Human Development in Asia and the Pacific) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The report published on Tuesday informed that in 2022, about 32.6 million people were internally displaced due to climate-related hazards such as storms and floods, a 41 per cent increase compared to the previous decade's average.

Likewise, climate change, coupled with the 50 per cent likelihood of another pandemic within the next 25 years, poses significant existential threats, amplified by human-nature interactions and rapid urbanization in a region that is home to six of the world's largest coastal mega-cities.

Speaking at the programme organised to launch the report and interact on the contemporary development issues, Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud urged the international and global bodies to take the climate change impacts on mountain countries seriously.

"When we talk about the menace of climate change, general trend is to think of island countries and coastal areas. However, fact is that mountain countries are equally vulnerable, if not more," he said, "Any upset on mountain ecology has cascading impacts downward. In the recently concluded COP28 as well, this was our key message."

The report revealed that the region is not on track to achieve any of the SDGs by 2030, but by 2065.

While people in the region face multiple existential threats to their security from climate change and pandemics, new patterns in globalisation amidst intense demographic and technological changes are challenging the established drivers of economic growth and job creation across the region.

The report urged the countries here to have their development strategies focused more on improving the lives of both current and future generations in order to catch up on the human development backlog and confront turbulent times that lie ahead.

"Deep-seated inequality remains, with the wealthiest 10 per cent controlling over half of total income, and has been worsening particularly in South Asia. An estimated 185 million people region-wide live in extreme poverty, earning below $2.15 a day, and 1 billion are classified as 'societally poor', living on less than half the median income," read the report.

The region hosts half of the world's multidimensionally deprived, about 500 million, based on the multidimensional poverty index of education, health, and living standards. Likewise, Asia-Pacific struggles with stark gender biases, recently seeing its worst gender equality slump in two decades. Approximately 800 million women are not in the workforce, illustrated by nations like Iran, with a female labor force participation of 14 per cent, and Pakistan with 25 per cent, despite high educational enrollment, compared to Viet Nam's 69 per cent.

About 40 per cent of the region's people are digitally excluded, with notable gender and urban-rural inequities.

The report noted that integrated national social protection systems can provide cash support along with skills training and job opportunities particularly for the 'missing middle' – those in the informal sector or marginally above the poverty line. Nepal has shown how merging cash transfers with livelihood support, and better financial access and health benefits, can help enhance resilience among vulnerable women, it said.

But because of several factors both external and internal, Nepal’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has not been as steady as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "We are still facing significant resource gap. However, our commitment is strong; our efforts sincere," said FM Saud.

According to him, the periodic development plans have consistently emphasised the need for enhancing human capabilities with significant investments in education and health. This is the reason behind Nepal’s relatively better performance in social sectors. The Minister said that the Human Development Index is one of the three criteria for graduation from least developed country and this was the first criteria that Nepal met years back.

Former Foreign Secretary of Nepal and Ambassador Designate for Canada, Bharat Raj Paudyal, stressed on the need of enhancing human capabilities by investing in relevant education.

Stating that every policy requires constant assessment and reforms, he said that capacity to respond disasters and public health emergency should be enhanced in Nepal. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 December 2023. 

Sri Lankan FM Sabry to visit Nepal

 Kathmandu, Dec. 19

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, M. U. M. Ali Sabry, is paying an official visit to Nepal from 20 to 23 December to participate in the first meeting of Nepal-Sri Lanka Joint Commission (JC).

The meeting of the JC is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on 21-22 December 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal informed in a statement on Tuesday.  

Nepal's Foreign Minister, Narayan Prakash Saud, will lead the Nepali delegation consisting of the officials of various ministries of the Government of Nepal to the JC meeting. The two foreign ministers will also hold a separate meeting.

During the visit, the Minister Sabry is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President of Nepal, Ramchandra Poudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the MoFA said.

The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka will leave Kathmandu for Colombo on 23 December. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 December 2023. 

Legacy of trust of Nepal's 1st English language broadsheet

 Kathmandu, Dec. 16

The Rising Nepal, first English broadsheet daily of the country, has turned 59 from Sunday, December 17.

Published by the Gorkhapatra Corporation, the first and state-owned newspaper company of the country, since 16 December 1965 (BS 22 Poush 2022 of Nepali calendar), it was the first full-size English newspaper. However, it was the third English newspaper published from Nepal following 'Motherland' and 'The Commoner'.

The newspaper managed to remain in the publication for the last 58 years to be the longest-running English daily newspaper in the country.  

According to the former editors of The Rising Nepal, this newspaper was the need of the time then as the government wanted it as it had to send all advertisement in English to India for publication which would take many days.

Although the readership for an English newspaper was considerably small then, this dependence on Indian media for the advertisements in English forced the government to launch this publication which was also catering to the foreigners who wanted to know about Nepal.

The newspaper immediately came into the attention of many because of its size and content. Meanwhile, the government then presented The Rising Nepal as a liberal media, making it a bit different from its sister publication – Gorkhapatra Daily, the first newspaper of the country which is in publication for 125 years. As the former editors of this daily said in various occasions in the past, compared to Gorkhapatra daily, it exercised greater editorial freedom.

King's direct rule was ended in Nepal in 1990 with the restoration of democracy which paved the way for the opening of private media including broadsheet dailies, television channels and FM radio stations. The country consequently witnessed the publication of many English print media including the broadsheet dailies which adopted latest technology and design to attract the readers but TRN continued with its traditional design and look.

But a decade-long effort has now resulted in better design, higher readability and attractive features. As a result, the paper has more liberal design and photo presentation. Its content has been diversified with the publication of special pages, editions and pull-outs. It has been trying to address the audience from political and business elite to school kids.

However, it couldn't resume the publication of 12 pages newspaper which had begun before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It had added four colour pages to its publication creating more space for additional and diversified content.

According to Jagadish Pokhrel, then TRN editor, this initiative was taken with the aim to diversify the content of the newspaper to cater to the large variety of audiences.

Currently, TRN features special pages for business, op-ed, international, art and culture, sports. Likewise, it has been regularly publishing an 4-page pull-out, Friday Supplement which includes feature stories, literature, book reviews, and sections for youth and children. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 December 2023.