NRNA regrets its decision to buy Lalita Niwas land for its global secretariate

Kathmandu, Feb. 18

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has expressed regrets over the confusion and controversy on its decision to invest in buying land at the Lalita Niwas and constructing its global secretariat there.

"We regret that such a big and sensitive investment decision of the NRNA could not be free from confusion and controversy. The association is committed to resolving the confusion and inconvenience caused to all donors and members," it said in a statement on Sunday.

The NRNA had spent about Rs. 290 million in purchasing the land, existing buildings and construction of the secretariat. The funds were the social investment from all the members, well-wishers, national coordinating councils and central officials from all over the world.

The NRNA had purchased 3 ropanis (48 aanas) of land about eight years ago at the rate of Rs. 2.65 million per aana along with a building from Shovakanta Dhakal, Ramkumar Subedi, Sandip Dhakal, Uma Kumari Dhakal and Madhavi Subedi.

It informed that the payment was made in a cheque via bank.

In its recent decision, the Special Court had given its verdict to nationalise about 284 ropanis of land including the NRNA's office building in Lalita Niwas.

Since the NRNA purchased the land as per the Cabinet decision and got a discount in land registration, we were clear about the legality of the land, it said while expressing sorrow at the news that the land had been confiscated.

Likewise, the Association said that it would appeal against the decision of the Special Court and its effect to the Supreme Court for final resolution.

Until the Supreme Court issues its verdict, the right of use and ownership of the land shall remain with the NRNA, it claimed.

"During the construction of the current central secretariat building built with the Association's investment, approval was obtained from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the construction of the building was completed by the decision of the Supreme Court," it said.

According to the NRNA, if the Supreme Court decides otherwise, it has the right to file a case in District Court Kathmandu against the sellers of the land to claim compensation. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2024.        

Democracy Day Messages

 Kathmandu, Feb. 19

President Ramchandra Paudel and Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav have extended their best wishes to all Nepali people on the occasion of National Democracy Day 2080 by issuing separate statements on Monday.

"Paying tribute to all the known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives in various struggles for the establishment of democracy, I express my respect and reverence to the elders who led the movement for the establishment of democracy in the country," President Paudel said in his message.

I wish that Democracy Day will help in achieving the national goals of sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity while showing respect to all those who have contributed to the various movements for Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, self-respect and democracy, he added.

Nepal celebrates Democracy Day on Falgun 7 of Nepali calendar every year as a way of remembering and honouring the historical achievement made in human rights and political freedom as a result of the successful revolution of 2007 BS (February 19, 1951) and the sacrificial struggle against the autocracy.

President also said that this day is marked as a proud and unforgettable day in the history of Nepal because the belief that the sovereignty of the country should be vested in people was established on this day through the struggle and sacrifice of martyrs. "We must not forget that the revolution of 2007 BS was an important foundation for the establishment of the federal democratic republic achieved through long struggle and sacrifice and the creation of the current constitution made by the people themselves," said President Poudel.

He also added that the Federal Democratic Republic is an important achievement made by us Nepalis after a long struggle of more than seven decades. Democracy further strengthens the overall national unity including social justice, equality, social harmony and prosperity.

The President said in the message that the democracy has established the belief that the people are the entire source of state power. The Constitution of Nepal aims to build a socialist-oriented economy based on justice and equality by adopting a federal democratic republican system.

"I believe that this day will inspire all people's representative organisations, political parties and all parts of the state to move forward in the direction of meeting people's expectations by adopting democratic values and norms," he said.

Likewise, Vice President Yadav said that Loktantra is the best governance system in the world.

Stating that only Loktantra could be an alternative to Loktantra, Vice President Yadav said that commitment not only from the government but also from all political parties, civil society, private sector  and the media was required to make Loktantra more effect

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2024.        

Construction business amid unprecedented downturn

Kathmandu, Feb. 17

The construction industry in Nepal has been facing an unprecedented crisis which entrepreneurs call an 'existential' one. Overall, the construction business in the last year has been whittled down to a third of the total activities.

While it is the primary stakeholder in mobilising the government's capital allocation (which is Rs. 302 billion for the current Fiscal Year 2023/24), it creates a market for construction materials, and other items like pipes and fittings, paints and electric products.

However, in the past more than one year's period, both the public and private construction business has been slowed down.

This distress in the construction industry has its spillover effects on the business of construction materials like cement, iron bars, paints, pipes and fittings, electric goods, furniture and decorative items.

For example, the business of pipes and fittings has gone down by 40-50 per cent. "Business has decreased significantly. People are not building private houses, only medium and large industries and a couple of housing projects have continued with construction and maintenance works," said Dipendra Poudel, Managing Director of Kamakhya Trade Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu.

A study by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has found that the manufacturing sector in the country was running on an average of 42 per cent in the first half of the last Fiscal Year 2022/23. Likewise, approval for the map of house construction was down by 37.5 per cent during the same period. The situation has further deteriorated in the following months, said Er. Dhruba Thapa, President of the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA).

While the installed capacity of cement industries has crossed the total domestic demand and the manufacturers have been urging the government to find alternatives like building concrete roads instead of asphalt to increase the demand, the recent recession in construction and development has intensified the crisis in the industries.

Iron bar industries are also experiencing the same crisis. Pashupati Murarka, former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) who heads Murarka Organization that also operates an iron and steel industry, said that the steel industry is running below 40 per cent of its capacity. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industries were running at about 90 per cent.

"The market has gone down as there are less construction works, increased number of steel industries, government's failure to spend the budget and liquidity on the part of common people," said Murarka.

Meanwhile, iron industries that relied on MS Billet to produce rods have been on the verge of collapse as the government two years ago abolished the customs duty on sponge iron but continued a 5 per cent import duty and Rs. 2.5 per kg excise duty on MS Billets, another raw material for iron bars.

Kiran Sakha, Managing Director of Sakha Steel, said that the government has been highly apathetic to their problems. Half of the 32 steel industries are in crisis due to the government's decision to exempt duty on sponge iron, implemented through the budget announced by then Finance Minister Janardan Sharma.

 

This many-sided recession in construction and manufacturing has resulted in the loss of jobs of about 1.5 million people, with about a million losing their jobs in the construction sector alone.

According to Rabi Singh, President of the Federation of Contractors Associations of Nepal (FCAN), the construction industry was providing direct employment to 2 to 2.5 million people. This job loss is seen across various sectors of manufacturing, and supporting activities like transportation, house wiring, painting and furniture.

FCAN said that about 1,800 projects of about Rs. 400 billion are awaiting deadline extension from the government. Likewise, the government has a liability to clear Rs. 40 billion to the contractors. Furthermore, the contractors have not been paid about Rs. 10 billion for the ongoing projects.

The FCAN also said that the construction of about 800 projects is pending as the government couldn't clear the land, assure the budget and provide appropriate design. It is pressing the government for the extension of deadlines for the projects that suffered a backlog of about 9 months to 1 year due to the government restrictions on crusher industries that resulted in a shortage of stones, sand and gravel, and construction couldn't be continued.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in January 2023 had decided to close all crusher industries and quarry works operating illegally. A large number of crusher industries fell in the illegal category due to the provision of a 2-kilometre distance from villages, educational institutions, religious and cultural areas, forests and security establishments, and 500-metre far from river banks and highways. Most of the crusher industries are near rivers, forests, human settlements or highways.

 

Number of contractors in Nepal by 2023

Categories	Numbers	% in Total	Project Size (Rs.)
Class A	341	1	>200 million
Class B	273	1	6 million-300 million
Class C	1072	5	2 million-100million
Class D	22,152	93	< 3 million

Source: FCAN

 

Loans to private sector

Statistics on loan mobilisation are not encouraging either. Domestic credit increased 2.6 per cent in the first half of this FY 2023/24 compared to an increase of 2.8 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector credit from BFIs increased by Rs. 192.64 billion (4.0 per cent) in the six months of this year compared to an increment of Rs. 137.33 billion (3.0 per cent) last year. Two years ago, the private sector credit from BFIs in the first half saw an increase of Rs. 492.63 billion (12.1 per cent).

Meanwhile, the lending rate of banks has also been moderated and commercial banks' weighted interest rate has come down to 11.38 per cent in mid-January this year from 12.79 per cent a year earlier. Such rates in development banks and finance companies is 13.14 per cent and 14.09 per cent. However, this is still about two per cent higher compared to the average interest rate of 9.44 per cent in mid-January 2022.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat have been repeatedly assuring the private sector to keep the interest rate to a single digit.

However, a banker said that the leaders should stop making any promises or claims against the market practice as the interest rates of the bank are determined by the demand and supply in the financial system. Governor of the NRB, Maha Prasad Adhikari has also been voicing the same concern.

 

Facilitating construction business

The earlier boom in the construction of private houses in Nepal was backed by an inflated profit margin in the real estate business, a booming share market and low-interest loans by the banks. These opportunities were lost as the real estate and share market crashed with the share market index going below the 1,900 mark from above 3,100 and real estate transactions discouraged by high-interest rates, a ban on splitting land pieces and crisis in the cooperative sector where more than Rs. 75 billion of lower-middle and middle-class people is stuck significant part of which is not likely to be recovered.

A ray of hope is exhibited by the increased remittance inflow which witnessed an upward trend of 25.3 per cent to Rs. 733.22 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year. However, this amount is scattered among millions of households across the country and a large chunk of it is used in financing daily essential goods and paying utility and education bills.

Poudel said that people don't have money to build their houses or even carry any minor construction works like building boundary walls and other maintenance. Meanwhile, the price of house construction has increased to Rs. 4,200 per square foot now from Rs. 3,500 a year earlier.

"There are no symptoms of early improvement in the situation. This is a cross-cutting issue and multiple stakeholders should intensify efforts to weed out the problems and facilitate the business. But in the case of Nepal such cooperation is not forthcoming," said Singh.

Likewise, Thapa of CMA said that the government should devise a better strategy to promote development and construction. There should be an environment to run construction work throughout the year contrary to the current practice of doing it in the second half of the year, he said. He also suggested the government secure domestic or international borrowing to finance development work and offer much-needed impetus to the construction and related industries.

Similarly, according to Murarka, housing loans should be promoted and the NRB directive that bars banks and financial institutions to mobilise loans to a second house of the same person should be revised.

More than 40 per cent of the capital allocation should be utilised in the first half of the fiscal year if the country wants to stimulate rapid development and economic growth. Since the country is in dire need of quality physical infrastructure, public facilities and construction, the government and private sector should find a way to promote sustainable growth in this sector.

Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Department of Industry and Investment Board of Nepal at the federal level and provincial infrastructure and industry ministries as well as local bodies should play a proactive role for better mobilisation of the capital budget.

 

Need for better coordination

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, said that the current crisis is a cumulative impact of multiple decisions and problems such as a temporary ban on crusher industries, restriction on land-splitting and poor development expenditure.

"This is not an issue that the Infrastructure Ministry can address single-handedly. Development ministries like MoUD, MoEWRI, and MoICS also spend a large amount of capital budget," he said. "However, we are extending facilitation in resolving the issues in the critical projects like Narayangadh-Butwal Road Expansion."

Minister Jwala said that there have been multiple rounds of discussions with the contractors and other development stakeholders in facilitating the payment and construction. However, these efforts have yet to bear any fruits.

The MoPIT is also struggling to address the demands of the contractors as the latter have asked to provide a blanket solution to the problem which the Ministry is hesitating to accept. It said that only appropriate demands should be addressed. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 February 2024.        

Keep microfinance free from politics: Dr. Mahat

Kathmandu, Feb. 17

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that microfinance has enhanced people’s access to finance in remote areas.

Speaking at the fourth National Microfinance Members Conference that kicked off in Kathmandu on Saturday, he said, "The microfinance sector has supported the underprivileged, poor and women of Nepal and also played an important role in livelihood enhancement.”

However, he said that the recent problems in the microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been a matter of concern for everyone. "It has been seen that interest groups are trying to mislead people by showing some problems. We will never allow those who try to politicize a good business sector like microfinance to succeed," FM Dr. Mahat said.

According to him, it is a dangerous tendency to incite people for the non-payment of debts. The government will not remain silent, and all stakeholders, including the companies and members, should collaborate to defeat such forces.

FM Dr. Mahat also urged common debtors not to be under the illusion that they need not pay their debts. "The loan taken from the depositors' savings is never waived. Instead, the government is ready to facilitate in the repayment process. Debt must be paid," he said.

He also urged that microfinance should not be taken as a profit-making tool but should focus on rural development, small enterprise promotion and self-employment.

Likewise, Acting Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina praised the role played by microfinance in a country where about 21 per cent of the population is out of the access to formal financing options.

According to her, even though the government has brought various programmes for inclusive development, desired success has not been achieved, and it was the microfinance that supported in the drive.

Expressing concerns over the recent problems in the MFIs, Dhungana suggested that everyone should work responsibly to prevent the situation from worsening. Problem has aggravated with the current 6 per cent non-performing loans.

In the programme, the chairman of the organizing committee, Shankar Man Shrestha, said that the recent problems in microfinance are the weaknesses of the MFIs. They began to act like a profit making company and try to increase profits to distribute dividend. As a result, this sector was flooded with profit-seeking investors, Shrestha said and added that it was a big mistake not to make members of microfinance as shareholders.

"There was negligence even while disbursing the loan, the government opened license anew and there was even more distortion and deviation along with unhealthy competition. Companies were competing in luring the investors and interest rates were treated as a tool for profit.”

Ram Bahadur Yadav, President of Nepal Microfinance Backers Association, complained that the government has neglected the microfinance sector which is promoting investment and enterprise along with financial awareness in the villages through nearly 6 million members.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 February 2024.       

It might take additional 32 years to achieve SDGs: ESCAP

Kathmandu, Feb. 15

Progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains uneven and inadequate across various segments of the population and within the five subregions of Asia and the Pacific. According to a new report published by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Thursday, gender and location remain key factors in determining levels of poverty and inequality in the region.

The report noted that at its current pace, the region will not achieve all 17 SDGs before 2062 – marking a significant 32-year delay. While positive steps have been taken toward eliminating poverty (Goal 1) and bolstering sustainable industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9) in the region, progress in other critical areas has been more modest. Efforts towards mitigating hunger (Goal 2), enhancing health and well-being (Goal 3), ensuring the availability of clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), expanding affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and building sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) have been less pronounced and require heightened attention.

According to the report, Nepal's progress up to now is below the target in most of the goals.

Nepal has seen some progress in areas such as sustainable urban expansion and spatial data generation. However, there are areas where Nepal is experiencing slow progress and regression, particularly in achieving food security and combating undernourishment (Goal 2) and reducing inequalities within and among countries (Goal 10).

The report underscores the importance of addressing these challenges and customising strategies to address specific issues in Nepal. Despite improvements in data collection, significant data gaps still exist, concludes the report.

Gender equality (Goal 5) and peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16) continue to have the least available data. This report assesses Nepal’s SDG progress at the global level indicators; and we should be careful interpreting this report in relation to the SDG Report of the Government of Nepal that uses nationalized indicators to assess the SDG progress.

The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 takes a closer look at groups that may be disadvantaged, focusing on how sex, urbanisation, education level, age and income contribute to existing disparities and sometimes exacerbate them.

Despite overall progress in school enrolment rates, women and girls in the region continue to face considerable challenges when it comes to accessing education and employment opportunities. They have lower enrolment rates and struggle with literacy. Young women also encounter difficulties accessing labour markets, leading to higher rates of youth unemployment. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by men tend to be related to their health or personal safety. They suffer from higher rates of suicide, chronic diseases and road traffic deaths.

 “While additional efforts are required across the board, granular data emphasises the urgency of addressing inequalities that impact marginalised groups, including women, girls, rural populations and the urban poor, who continue to find themselves locked out of education and employment opportunities,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

She added that the sustained progress gap revealed between countries in special situations, especially Pacific Small Island Developing States, and the rest of the region demands a concerted response from international, regional and national partners.

"People living in rural areas face pronounced disadvantages, such as limited access to basic drinking water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, the lower availability of clean cooking fuels in these areas contributes to serious respiratory diseases," read the report. In general, urban areas exhibit better conditions, yet paradoxically, within these areas, the poorest boys and girls face significant hurdles in completing upper secondary education.

On a more encouraging note, the report shares several laudable national success stories in supporting at-risk population groups. In the Philippines, dedicated research and analysis aimed at estimating the cost of supporting children living with a disability played a pivotal role in influencing recent legislation to provide a disability allowance, extending support to children with disabilities.

Nationwide digital training programmes in Viet Nam have underscored the value of public-private partnerships in accelerating digital transformation and bridging the skills and employment gap for youth and migrant workers. Meanwhile, in North and Central Asia, national statistical systems in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been upgraded to better support stateless populations.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 February 2024.       

Nepal needs financial support to deal with climate crisis: PM

Kathmandu, Feb. 16

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that although Nepal contributes almost zero to global emissions, it is experiencing the direct, unequal and harmful effects of climate change.

Addressing the conference on climate change and the role of parliamentarians in sustainable development here on Friday, PM Prachanda said that climate change was a big challenge for socio-economic and environmental welfare.

Mentioning that climate change is emerging as a global threat and will create a serious opportunity for development possibilities, he said that the least developed countries are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

"Our people have been badly affected by climatic disasters such as landslides, floods, forest fires, ice landslides and droughts," he said. "People of such countries who are at risk need financial and technical support, and the world should pay attention to that."

Pointing out the serious financial and technical gaps in the efforts to implement plans to reduce the effects of climate change, Prime Minister Prachanda said that there was a need to gather more resources to make the people flexible with the ecosystem and climate change and to plan and implement climate adaptation at the local level.

According to him, there is a need for dialogue between parliamentarians and policymakers around the world to advocate for climate justice and protect the sustainable future of the ecosystem, people and the earth. The damage and loss fund should be implemented smoothly, he said.

Prime Minister Prachanda said, "I want the developed countries to fulfil the climate finance obligation of US$ 100 billion, speed up climate actions through the Green Climate Fund and expand access to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and emphasise its implementation."

As the president of an LDC, PM Prachanda also urged developed economies and the international community to help countries that are at risk of climate change.

He said that Nepal is fully committed to securing clean energy and maintaining 45 per cent of the land covered by forests. "Nepal is fully committed to the Paris Agreement. We are committed to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045,” he said. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 February 2024.       

Lumbini govt is ready for promotion of women entrepreneurship: CM Chaudhary

Kathmandu, Feb. 16

The first 'National Women Entrepreneurs Conference-2080' involving women entrepreneurs from across the country kicked off in Bhairahawa on Friday.

The two-day conference is organised by the Women Entrepreneurs Development Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in coordination with the FNCCI's Lumbini Provincial chapter and Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Speaking at the conference, women entrepreneurs drew the attention of the government and concerned agencies to the existing challenges of procedural requirements, training, capital, technology, skilled manpower and marketing.

According to them, there is a possibility of great economic progress from women entrepreneurs especially the micro, cottage and small enterprises, as these businesses can be operated by mobilising locally available resources with a little capital investment.

Speaking at the conference, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, said that the village enterprises should be connected with the city. He informed that Lumbini Province had prepared an entrepreneurship programme to assure that the women could earn at least Rs. 30,000 or above per month.

CM Chaudhary said that Lumbini was ready to raise the necessary financial resources for the promotion of women entrepreneurship.

Home Minister of Lumbini, Santosh Pandey, said that the provincial government was ready to take up the responsibility of supporting women entrepreneurs. He said that the Lumbini government has taken initiatives to connect women entrepreneurship to the economy in addition to assisting in market promotion, branding and marketing of local products.

Likewise, Senior Vice-president of the FNCCI, Anjan Shrestha, stated that the government should create an environment for sustainable business along with the promotion of small entrepreneurs, the empowerment of women entrepreneurs and the promotion of economic prosperity.

Shrestha said that the FNCCI has repeatedly drawn the attention of the stakeholders regarding the need for providing financial access to women entrepreneurs and for that, facilities such as project mortgage loans, subsidised loans and refinancing should be made easy and effective.

President of FNCCI Lumbini, Krishna Prasad Sharma said that the conference was organised to listen to the problems of women entrepreneurs from across the country and get support for entrepreneurship development. He said that the conference would help in the development of entrepreneurship even outside the federal capital.

Similarly, Kamala Shrestha, Chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Development Committee, informed that the conference was organised with the aim of bringing the three levels of government and financial sector together to discuss the situation of women entrepreneurs, existing policy arrangements, practical challenges and solutions.

According to her, the recent increase in the activity of women in entrepreneurship and the increase in the participation of women in the labour force was a matter of happiness. "From 1971 to 2021, the percentage of economically active women over the age of 10 has increased from 29.2 per cent to 60.4 per cent," Shrestha said. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 February 2024.      

EU, Nepal celebrate 50 years of relations

EIB likely to invest in large infra projects in Nepal

 

Kathmandu, Feb. 15

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo has said that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is likely to invest in a couple of large infrastructure projects in Nepal

Discussions are underway and we can hope for some good news by the end of this year, she said while speaking at an interaction with the journalists organised on the occasion of the 50 years of the establishment of political and economic relations between the EU and Nepal.

The EU and Nepal established political and economic relations in 1974 and signed a Cooperation Agreement on 1 June 1996. This year, they are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations with the slogan 'Growing Stronger Together'.

Stating that there has been a shift in the approach to the cooperation between the two friends, Lorenzo said that the Delegation of the EU in Nepal was working to attract funding from the member countries in Europe, development funding institutions and private sector investors.

She also said that her office in Kathmandu was closely working with the Government of Nepal for the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit, slated for April 21-22, 2024.

"We coordinate and encourage European chambers of commerce and industries to come to Nepal and invest here. However, it is on the part of the government here to make a conducive environment that would attract investors," stated Ambassador Lorenzo.

Likewise, she said that to discourage the anti-democratic forces and activities, the government should make constant and effective delivery of services. The EU will continue to support the government as per the current programmes and policies of both parties.

According to the Delegation of the EU in Kathmandu, both partners have undergone important changes over the past 50 years. Nepal has become a Federal Democracy, whilst the European Economic Community became the European Union in 1993 and developed its common foreign and security policy in 2010, with the creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Over this time, the two partners have expanded their democratic and economic space and strengthened their shared interests. Today, the EU and Nepal share the commitment to protect and promote a rule-based international order, peace and prosperity, human rights and democracy.

“This year we celebrate 50 years of steadfast partnership, which grows stronger every year with our unwavering commitments to work together for peace and prosperity,” Ambassador Lorenzo said.

She added, “As Nepal advances towards graduating from LDC status by 2026, the EU and its Member States, our 'Team Europe', will continue to support Nepal in three areas key for its development: Inclusive Green Growth,  Human Capital Development and Good Governance. As we move forward, the EU Global Gateway, our new comprehensive approach to investing in development, will support renewable energy, where Nepal has a massive potential.”

Ambassador Lorenzo presented the highlights of the year-long celebrations, including the Nepal European Union Film Festival (NEUFF) – beginning on March 20, Europe Day, on May 9, the EU-Nepal Business Forum and Fair, on May 15 and 16, a Photo Competition - and its exhibition in August, as well as the Erasmus Road Show – throughout September in all seven provinces of Nepal, and culminating with the 'Study in Europe' Fair.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 February 2024.      

Milky Way Project brings smiles in Sindhuli farmers’ face

First purebred Holstein calf handed over to a farmer

Sindhulimadhi, Feb. 15

With the first purebred Holstein calf last week, Kamalamai Municipality in Sindhuli district has inched a step forward in developing itself as a model dairy village and national nucleus for the new methods of cow rearing.

The cow kept by Guna Kumari Ghimire, a member of Gaiya Devi Women Entrepreneurs Self-help Group in Kamalamai-5, Gaiyatar, gave the first purebred calf of the Korean-breed Holstein for the first time in the country. It was possible with the collaboration among the municipality, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Heifer International in Nepal and Korea, Sindhuli Integrated Development Services (SIDS), and local communities.

Ghimire handed over the newly-born calf to Uma Subedi, a young woman who is also a member of the Group, at a programme organised in her shed in the presence of Livestock Secretary of the MoALD, Dr. Rewati Raman Poudel, South Korea's Ambassador to Nepal, Park Tae-Young, Mayor of Kamalamai Upendra Kumar Pokharel and officials of the Department of Livestock and other agencies.

However, the calf will remain with its mother for the next seven months before formally leaving for a new shed.

"I have taken this moment as an opportunity. I am very excited now as I was while welcoming the new Korean cow into my newly built shed a year earlier," said Ghimire.

In response, Subedi said that she too was excited. "I feel lucky to get it. I think it will open more economic opportunity for us," she said.

As per the project rules, the farmers, who received the new breed of Korean cow in a grant and financial support to upgrade sheds, should give away the first calf to another member of their community. This practice will make sure that a significant number of farmers here will have a Holstein cow within the next few years.

Under the Milky Way Project, the stakeholders collaborated to bring 100 Holstein cows that will produce 10,000 litres of milk over each milking period and eight high-fertility bulls from South Korea last year.

Of these cows, 80 were distributed to 50 farmer families in two communities in Kamalamai. The remaining cows and bulls were sent to National Livestock Birthing Office in Pokhara and Lahan, Cattle Genetic Resource Centre in Jiri, National Livestock Birthing and Genetic Reserch Centre in Lalitpur and National Cow Research Programme in Chitwan.

The project aims to develop a model dairy village in Kamalamai and to demonstrate the modern methods of cow rearing to other farmers' communities.

The cow kept by Ghimire is producing 28-30 litres of milk in a day which is expected to increase up to 40 litres in a day within a month or two. "This is something that we never expected. Local cows produce only 2-3 litres of milk in a day while a cross of Jersey cow produces 10 litres a day," said Bhola Adhikari, a local.

The cow needs about 5 kg of feed, 15 kg of green grass and 7 kg of dry grass in a day. According to farmers they have spent about Rs. 175,000 in the past 13 months to rear a cow. However, the cost could be recovered in the next  four or five months. 

Mayor Pokharel said that the milk production in the municipality next year is expected to reach 250,000 litres a month.

The municipality is working on a plan to create a value chain, diversify milk products and make it self-reliant in this sector. Of about 5,500 families here, 3,000 to 4,000 are involved in agriculture.

"We are in discourse with the Dairy Development Corporation and Sujal Dairy to manage the market for the milk produced here and other milk products," said Pokharel.

Meanwhile, farmers are expecting to earn about Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 a month from a single cow.  It will make some visible impacts on the local economy, livestock development and farmers' lifestyle. They will have more economic resources at their disposal and can further expand their farm and farming.

Secretary Dr. Poudel praised the progress of the Milky Way Project and said that the MoFALD felt a need for this programme should be replicated in many other areas across the country.

"A mechanism should be created to address the problems of farmers in animal husbandry, and MoALD is ready to support in financing, marketing and entrepreneurship development," he said, "We can learn more from the Korean practice and progress in this sector."

Likewise, Ambassador Tae-Young termed the calf handover a historic moment.

"This event happened while Nepal and South Korea are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," he said.

He also stated that this is the first case to walk with Nepali farmers and Korean experts and Korea expected to make this relationship a sustained one. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 February 2024.      

Minister Saud holds talks with New Zealand DPM

 Kathmandu, Feb. 14

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Narayan Prakash Saud, on Wednesday held bilateral meeting with Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of New Zealand in Wellington.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the areas of mutual interests, Embassy of Nepal in Canberra of Australia (which is also accredited to New Zealand) informed in a statement on Wednesday.

In the afternoon, FM Saud visited the Parliament of New Zealand and observed the 'Question Time' in the Parliament. His presence in the Parliament was acknowledged by Gerry Brownlee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand.

The Nepali Society in Wellington together with the Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand organised an interaction programme with the Minister and the visiting delegation.

They talked about the matters relating to providing passport and consular services to the Nepali community in New Zealand more conveniently and utilising the knowledge, expertise and skills of Nepalis residing in New Zealand for the benefit of the country.

Earlier in the morning, the second edition of the Nepal-New Zealand Foreign Ministry Consultation (FMC) was held between the senior officials of both Ministries. Rita Dhital, Joint Secretary, of South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Division and Joanna Kempkers, Divisional Manager of South Asia and South East Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand led their respective delegations.

The members of the Nepali delegation consisted of Kailash Raj Pokharel, Ambassador of Nepal and Komal Baral, Section Officer, SEAP Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal while from the New Zealand side, Mary Thurston, Unit Manager and April Kwak, Nepal Desk Officer of the South and South East Asia Division were the members of the delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation through enhancing economic and cultural engagements between the two countries, read the statement.

Minister Saud reached Wellington on Tuesday and was welcomed at the airport by officials of MFAT of New Zealand, Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand Dinesh Khadka, and the representatives of the Nepali community. The Nepali delegation is scheduled to return to Kathmandu, after concluding the visit of Australia and New Zealand, on Thursday. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 February 2024.      

GTC to organise Tourism Hero Awards

Kathmandu, Feb. 14

Global Tourism Council (GTC) is organising Tourism Hero Awards in Nepal for the first time.

The awards will be given in 31 different categories among individuals and organisations which have contributed to the promotion of tourism in Nepal.

According to the GTC, award trophies will be handed over to the winners in a ceremony to be held in Kathmandu on March 19.

It is estimated that more than 500 contestants will compete in 14 hotel categories and 17 other tourism categories.

According to the organisers, anyone can file a nomination for themselves or others with detailed information by visiting the Tourism Hero Awards 2024 official website at TourismHero.org. Among the nominations received, the nominations with complete and official details will be shortlisted and made eligible for voting.

Based on the public vote received, the winner will be announced. This entire process will be web-based and free.

Dharmendra Sapkota, Chairman of the GTC, said that this award is being organised with the aim of encouraging individuals and organisations involved in tourism and its promotion in Nepal.

The award categories include the best in travel agency (holiday/inbound), technology, CEOs, startup, journalism, entrepreneur, women entrepreneurs, branding and marketing, infrastructure, municipality and rural municipality, mayor and Tourism Hero.

Likewise, categories in hotel sector include best five/four/three star hotel, resort, boutique hotel, chain hotel, chef, chain restaurant, eco-friendly etc. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 February 2024.      

PM Prachanda urges for unity for identity and rights

 Kathmandu, Feb. 10

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the political forces and leadership fighting for identity and rights should come together.

Speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar, Prime Minister Prachanda said that with the support of classes, castes and communities that support identity and rights, a qualitative leap can be made by implementing federalism.

"I would like to make a special request from this platform, that you get to know the political forces and leadership that are fighting for identity and rights, and rally around them,” PM Prachanda said, "We will be strong again, the remaining tasks of the movement will be completed."

Recalling that when he was the Prime Minister for the second time, there were important works like determining the 753 local levels, conducting local level elections, and establishing the offices in line with federalism, he clarified that he is working with the implementation of federalism as a top priority during his current third term as the prime minister of the country.

According to him, two meetings of the National Coordinating Council have been completed during this period, and report on work detailing is in the final process of revision.

Prime Minister Prachanda said, "I have attached great importance to the passing of federal laws such as the Federal Civil Services Act, the Federal Education Act, the Federal Police Act and others. The police adjustment process has reached its final stage.”

Stating that tens of thousands of brave warriors sacrificed for the issuance of the constitution that establishes identity and rights, he said, "All of us must be serious that only by strengthening the revolutionary power, party and leadership, the progressive implementation of the constitution and the foundation of more rights can be established."

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2024.      

Julie's Cake launches own online service

Kathmandu, Feb. 11

Julie's Cake and Pastry, which has been in the bakery business for the last two decades, has started an online service to facilitate easy access of its customers to its products.

"Established in September 2003 at Kandevtasthan in Lalitpur, Julie has been embracing the latest technology every time in its two-decade journey, and has now launched its own e-commerce platform," said Julie Pradhanang, one of the founders of the outlet.

Through Julie's online service launched on Sunday, customers can easily order their favorite and premium quality bakery and cake items at home.

This strategic move reflects not only its commitment to customer convenience but also its customization, said Jyoti Nakarmi, another founder of the company.

"Julie's Cakes and Pastries, which we started as a small bakery, has been providing premium quality products and services throughout its journey. Keeping in mind the modern times and the business of our customers, we have started the facility of ordering online. This step will help to makes us more responsible and committed to our customers," said the founders.

The launched website boasts an array of features, from customized shopping experiences for every occasion to seamless order tracking, setting a new benchmark in customer convenience and technology integration within the bakery industry.

Already, Julie has partnered with reputed platforms like Foodmandu, Muncha, Thamel.com, Bhoj and more.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 February 2024.      

Swastima appointed brand ambassador of of Xiaomi

 Kathmandu, Feb. 11

Xiaomi has announced Swastima Khadka, as the brand ambassador for Xiaomi in Nepal.

Swastima is a leading actress in the Nepali movie industry and is renowned for her acting ability and relatability. "She will represent Xiaomi, amplifying the brand's resonance with consumers across the nation," said the company in a statement.

Swastima expressed her happiness on being the brand ambassador of the company, and said, "Xiaomi's dedication to innovation and quality resonates with me, and I am eager to contribute to their journey in Nepal. I hope we grow together exponentially on this journey.”

Manu Manaswi, Country Manager of Xiaomi Nepal, said that Swastima's versatile talent and widespread appeal make her an ideal fit for Xiaomi. "We believe that her association with Xiaomi will bring a new dimension to our brand, connecting with consumers on a deeper level," he said. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 February 2024.      

FM Saud stresses stability in Indian Ocean

Kathmandu, Feb. 10

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud, has stressed the stability and sustainability of the Indian Ocean for landlocked countries like Nepal.

Addressed the seventh Indian Ocean Conference held in Perth, Australia on Saturday, he underscored the importance of the Indian Ocean for Nepal in reaching the international market and highlighted the importance of stability and sustainability there.

Stating that there is an organic link between the Himalayas and the Ocean, FM Saud underlined that ocean and mountain issues should be dealt with in an integrated and holistic manner, informed the Embassy of Nepal in Canberra, Australia. 

Earlier on Friday, he also met with Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council of the United States of America, and discussed matters of mutual interests.

In the morning on Saturday, Komura Masahiro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a courtesy meeting with FM Saud and discussed multiple aspects of Nepal-Japan relations.

Likewise, Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC also had a courtesy meeting with him in the margins of the Conference during which Pandey gave an overview of the status of cooperation in various areas under the BIMSTEC.

While in Perth, Minister Saud interacted with the Nepali community focusing on ensuring their welfare in Australia. Minister Saud also stressed the need to collaborate with the Nepali community residing in Australia for the economic benefit of the country. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2024.      

MAN gets new leadership under Ojha, Awasthi receives Manager of the Year Award

Kathmandu, Feb. 10

Management Association of Nepal (MAN) has got a new working committee led by Mohan Raj Ojha, founder of Growth Sellers Pvt. Ltd.

The 43^rd Annual General Meeting of MAN on Friday evening unanimously elected a 17-member working committee for the next two-year term.

Suman Pokharel of Gobal IME Bank has been elected first Vice-President and Hema Adhikari of Mashreq Bank as the second VP. Similarly, academician Indra Shrestha has elected to the post of the General Secretary and Social Security Fund's Executive Director, Kabi Raj Adhikari has been elected as treasurer.

Members of the new working committee are Dharmananda Awasthi, Anu Joshi Shrestha, Krishna Prasad Acharya, Kishore Dhungana, Madhu Paudel, Jitendra Dhital, Surya Prasad Silwal, Ashok Sherchan, Chunk Chettri, Rajesh Kumar Panda, Ajay Kumar Mishra and Mahesh Swar.

On the occasion, MAN felicitated Gokarna Awasthi, Director General of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Manager of the Year Award. Likewise, Aarati Chataut received Women manager Recognition Award, and Manoj Poudel received Youth Icon Recognition Award while Padma Lal Shrestha was conferred with the Life Time Achievement Award.

Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, felicitated them with the respective award. He also highlighted the importance of good managers in the growth of business, institutions and economy. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2024.      

Yaris Cross Hybrid Electric car launched

Kathmandu, Feb. 10

United Traders Syndicate Pvt. Ltd., the official distributor of Toyota cars in Nepal, has announced the launch of Yaris Cross Hybrid Electric car in Nepal on Friday.

The Rs. 12.2 million new Yaris Cross measures 4310 mm in length, 1770 mm in width and 1615 mm in height. It has a 2620 mm long wheelbase and 18 inch tires.

Toyota has given the new Yaris Cross headlights with automatic high beam, LED DRLs, LED fog lights and connected LED taillights. For the first time, the company has also given multi-colour ambient light in this model.

Being a hybrid powertrain, it comes with an electric motor and a 4.3 ampere hour battery pack. E-CVT gearbox can be found in vehicles with regenerative braking system.

Its displacement is 1500 cc, four cylinder dual VVT-I engine and the ground clearance is 210 mm. It features lithium-ion battery; panoramic glass roof, 10.1-inch infotainment system, 7-inch multi-information display, 6 speakers, and a panoramic 360-degree camera, as well as electric parking brake, auto hold.

Eight-way power electric driver's seat, wireless mobile charger, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and power tailgate with kick sensor can also be found in this model.

For safety, this SUV has modern features like six airbags, vehicle stability control, anti-lock braking system, emergency stop signal, hill start assist control, reverse camera, parking sensors on both front and rear sides.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2024.      

Outstanding Domestic Debt reaches 20.91% of GDP

FM Dr. Mahat projects public debt to reach Rs. 437 bn next year

 

Kathmandu, Feb. 9

The outstanding domestic debt (ODD) of Nepal is at 20.91 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in 2022, which is above any other South Asian peers except for Bhutan.

A study conducted by Chandra Ghimire and Prajol Joshi for the Management Association of Nepal (MAN) reported that the total outstanding domestic loan of Nepal by the end of the Fiscal Year 2022/23 was Rs. 1125.18 billion which is 81.66 per cent of the annual budget of that year.

The size of the GDP of Nepal last year was Rs. 5381.33 billion.

Presenting the findings of the reports at the conference, Ghimire, who is also a former Commerce Secretary of the Government of Nepal, said that the fast-growing size of domestic debt in the fiscal deficit gives an impression that fiscal discipline has become an issue of deep concern.

"Fiscal resources are scarce and, if not employed prudent approaches in their allocation, in addition to wasting the resources, it may risk the economy of inflation and interest rates," he said.

According to the study, the big and fast shift from external debt to domestic debt while utilising the public debt by the government is the manifestation of its choice to an easier option given the fact that the domestic debt is relatively easier to mobilise with the least conditions or covenants to fulfil.

It maintained that the government's capacity of mobilising resources from external sources is waning away day by day. "For these reasons, decision-makers should be opting for domestic debt over the public debt," read the report.

Speaking at the programme, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, said that although Nepal was in a comfortable position, but growing use of public debt is a matter of concern.

According to him, the size of debt began to grow during the Maoist insurgency as the size of security agencies increased and was further fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. During those periods, revenue collection was poor and the government faced resource crises.

"In terms of social security, we are above any other South Asian country except Sri Lanka. The Constitution of the country has opened a very large scope for social security," he said.

FM Dr. Mahat said that reducing capital expenditure is a matter of worry while government debt servicing liability would reach Rs. 437 billion in the next Fiscal Year 2024/25 and Rs. 500 billion in FY 2025/26.

It will have a serious impact on capital expenditure and its size would be reduced in response, he said. However, proper use of loans and assurance of return will have a positive impact on the economy.

However, on the contrary, better budget mobilisation will increase the size of public debt as well as the government need to mobilise more resources to finance development projects and other social initiatives.

Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, former Finance Minister, said that internal loan increase was also fueled by factors like blockade, COVID-19 and economic recession in the post-COVID scenario. Decreased revenue is the root cause of increased public debt, he added, suggesting recurrent expenditure and social security must not be financed by the loans.

 "Attracting Foreign Direct Investment at a significant size could be a solution toward reducing the size of the loan," said Dr. Khatiwada, "We have fiscal space. The average loan size of a developing country is around 60 per cent while Nepal has just 42 per cent against the GDP."

Likewise, Bhuwan Dahal, former President of Nepal Banker Association (NBA), said that the banks and financial institutions lack funds to provide debt to the government as they have already mobilised a significant size of funds to the public sector.

The banks have to recover the outstanding credit from the government to provide further loan support, he said.

Economist Keshav Acharya said that there was no clear explanation of the reason behind the increasing size of domestic loans and their utilisation and contribution to the national economy.

"This is worrisome. Actual capital formation of the development expenditure is going down," he said.

Delay in fulfilling the requirement for the disbursement of the development projects implemented in cooperation with the development partners has also caused the growth in public debt, said Acharya.  

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 February 2024.      

NIS steering committee discusses legal, policy reforms to attract investment

Kathmandu, Feb. 8

A meeting of the Steering Committee of the third Nepal Investment Summit (NIS) has discussed the reports and projects related to policies, laws and structural reforms prepared in view of the summit.

Speaking at the meeting held on Thursday, Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Committee, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, said that international investors are getting interested to invest in Nepal and instructed the concerned authorities to prepare projects seriously.

"There is an unprecedented opportunity for us to attract investment, so the government will leave no stone unturned in legal and policy reforms to attract foreign as well as Nepali investors and non-resident Nepalis," he said.

The main goal of the investment conference is to convey the message that Nepal is an excellent investment destination to the world community.

Ek Narayan Aryal, Coordinator of the Policy, Law and Structural Reform Working Group and Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, presented a report on legal and policy reforms which included the inputs received in the meeting of the Investment Conference Implementation Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary. According to him, a bill to amend some Nepal Acts to facilitate investment would enter the parliamentary process soon.

The task force aims to remove the legal and policy obstacles in industry, business and investment sectors and to remove the difficulties and delays experienced in the implementation of construction projects.

For the same, amendments are proposed in the laws related to national parks and wildlife reserve, land and land acquisition, environment protection, electronic transactions, civil aviation, and foreign investment and technology transfer.

Mukunda Niraula, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Coordinator of the Technical Committee, made a presentation regarding the preparation of the projects to be presented at the NIS 2024. The technical committee has prepared a preliminary list of projects by classifying them in various stages of project study and proceeded with further homework, informed the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN).

Sushil Bhatta, Coordinator of the Investment Conference Secretariat and CEO IBN, made a detailed presentation about the overall preparations for the NIS.

Ministers of various ministries, Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission, Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha, Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, secretaries of various ministries, and private sector representatives were present at the meeting.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 February 2024.      

FNCCI, CNI to collaborate with BVMW to attract investment from Germany

Kathmandu, Feb. 8

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) signed separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the German Association for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMW) on Wednesday to explore the possibility of German companies investing in Nepal or collaborating with Nepali businesses.

The MOUs were signed by FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of CNI, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Christoph Ahlhaus, Executive Chairman of BVMW, on behalf of their respective organizations.

The MOU signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of Germany in Kathmandu in the presence of German Ambassador to Nepal, Dr. Thomas Prinz.

Dhakal said that there needs to be collaboration between FNCCI and BVMW to promote trade relations between Nepal and Germany. He added that both the organisations need to explore ways to increase exports from Nepal to Germany because Germany has been a trusted export destination for Nepal for many decades, according to a statement issued by the FNCCI.

He also mentioned that SMEs will be affected by Nepal's graduation to a developing country status the most as Nepal will lose the facility of duty-free access for exports to Europe. He stressed that SMEs, particularly run by women, need to be supported. He added FNCCI and BVMW should collaborate for the promotion and development of SMEs.

Likewise, CNI informed that Agrawal underscored the potential of the MoU to strengthen ties between the SME sector of Nepal and Germany. He highlighted the promise it holds for Nepal's SMEs, envisioning a future where collaboration between Nepali and German SMEs leads to mutual growth and prosperity.

Ambassador Prinz expressed his optimism about the pivotal role the MoUs will play in facilitating the exchange of business opportunities and investments, particularly in sectors such as AI and IT. He emphasized the significance of this partnership in transcending borders and fostering cooperation between SMEs of both nations.

Shubhashish Thapaliya, Nepal's representative for BVMW, said that the MoU aims to enhance trade relations, attract investments, and explore avenues for joint ventures beneficial to both nations.

The major objectives of the MOU are to enhance cooperation between FNCCI and CNI and BVMW and establish a practical framework to cooperate in investment promotion. The MOU also speaks about strengthening institutional relations and capacity building through mutual cooperation.

As per the MOU, both FNCCI and BVMW will have a regular exchange of information on investment policies, rules, regulations, procedures, incentives and opportunities. There will also be an exchange of general updates on statistics and data related to Nepal and Germany with a view to making them accessible to both organizations. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 February 2024.