Tarai unrest impacts cottage, small enterprises

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

The Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) said that cottage and small industries, which largely depend on limited capital, local markets and daily business transactions, are the hardest hit by unrest, shutdowns, vandalism and disruptions to market activities.

Such situations weaken the confidence of entrepreneurs and adversely affect production and supply chains, it said in a statement on Saturday.

It has expressed serious concern over the recent tense situation, social unrest and violent incidents that began in Dewanganj–Kaptanganj of Sunsari district and spread over several other districts across the Tarai.

Paying tribute to those who lost their lives in incidents, it urged all concerned parties to exercise restraint in order to safeguard peace, social harmony and economic activities.

The FNCSI noted that Nepal is a country with a shared identity built on diverse ethnic communities, languages, religions and cultures, and that social harmony, tolerance and mutual trust are the foundations of national stability and economic prosperity.

It warned that such incidents have direct and long-term negative impacts on cottage and small industries, local production, trade, tourism, employment and the overall economy.

It called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint while preserving social and religious harmony.

Through the statement, the FNCSI also urged the Government of Nepal, local authorities and security agencies to ensure effective law and order in the affected areas, guarantee the safety of businesses and the lives and property of the public, and immediately create an environment in which economic activities can continue without disruption.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 2 August 2026. 

NICCI, EEC host AI for Decision Makers

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) and the European Economic Chamber (EEC Nepal), along with Bosch hosted 'AI for Decision Makers – An Executive Workshop for Leaders' on Friday.

“In today’s landscape, access to advanced AI technology is democratised, the differentiator now is strategic execution and leadership," said Guruprasad Mudlapur, President of the Bosch Group in India and Managing Director, Bosch Limited.

According to him, real transformation occurs when organisations look beyond simple automation and combine AI with proprietary domain expertise, human judgment, and deep customer trust. The decisions regional leaders make today in building organizational capabilities will ultimately determine their competitiveness for years to come.

Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, and Udo Eugen Volz, Ambassador of Germany to Nepal attended the event supporting the promotion digital innovation, technology partnerships, and capacity building in Nepal's private sector.

On the occasion, a publication titled from 'Hype to Strategy - AI for Decision Makers,' prepared by Bosch, was also officially launched, the NICCI informed in a statement.

“AI is no longer a future concept; it is a business imperative. The goal of this workshop was to help leaders understand how to adopt AI responsibly and turn it into measurable value for their organizations.” said Sandeep Kamat, Country Head for Bosch in Nepal.

Prof. Dr. Sudan Jha, Member of the National Planning Commission, discussed the evolution of AI, its potential contributions to national development, how Nepal should adopt and integrate AI into its development agenda, and the initiatives the government has already undertaken to incorporate AI into its policies and strategic plans.

The sessions covered enterprise AI trends, high-impact AI opportunities, AI investments, Large Language Models (LLMs), AI governance, and actionable adoption roadmaps. Through interactive strategy exercises, senior executives from diverse sectors gained hands-on insights to seamlessly integrate AI into their long-term business planning.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 2 August 2026. 

Red Cross to have a woman leader every third term

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

The recent amendment of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) statute has ensured that women would reach the top leadership of the organisation. The amended statute has introduced a provision reserving one out of every three leadership terms exclusively for women.

With the implementation of the revised statute, only women will be eligible to contest the presidency of the federal committee during every third term.

The new provisions will come into effect from the upcoming elections at the provincial and local levels, ensuring that women assume the position of chairperson in accordance with the rotation system, said the NRCS on Friday.

Based on the alphabetical order of the provinces' names, four provinces will field only female candidates for the chairperson's post from this year's elections, while the remaining three provinces will have open competition. At the local level, only women will be eligible to contest the chairperson's post in 50 per cent of local units in each district, selected according to alphabetical order, while the remaining local units will hold open contests.

The statute also guarantees that women will make up at least 33 per cent of every organisational structure within the NRCS. According to its President Dr. Bishal Kumar Bhandari, the provision was introduced because women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions at the local, district, provincial and federal levels throughout the organisation's history.

"From the perspective of social transformation and women's participation, the NRCS's statute is historic. It has been redesigned with the aim of increasing women's participation in humanitarian service. Women involved in the Red Cross movement will now have the opportunity to lead the organisation," he said.

The amended statute retains the existing provision that only women may contest the posts of vice-president at the local, provincial and federal levels. It also ensures the participation of young women in every organisational structure.

 

No political involvement for its office-bearers

The NRCS has made a series of governance and electoral reforms to its statute through the 19th amendment, including restrictions on political involvement.

Following the amendment to the Nepal Red Cross Society Statute, 2020 (18th Amendment), individuals holding positions in political parties or their affiliated organisations, as well as elected representatives at any level of government, will be barred from serving on any committee or commission of the society.

The amendments to the statute were approved by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, on Tuesday.

Any office-bearer found supporting or campaigning for a political party while holding a Red Cross position will be suspended immediately.

The amendment has also reduced the size of committees, strengthened accountability and aligned its governance framework with international Red Cross standards.

Likewise, the amendment has introduced a four-year term for elected bodies, in line with the model statute of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Similarly, the 'one person, one post' principle is adopted across all three organisational levels. However, local committee office-bearers and members can continue to serve on coordination committees in line with constitutional provisions.

Dr. Bhandari said that the amendments were made to the statute to implement transformations in the institution and make it more inclusive.

Following the amendment, NRCS bars office-bearers and members who have completed a term at a higher-level committee from contesting positions at the same or lower level.

Committee sizes will also be significantly reduced. A 15-member body will replace the current 35-member federal committee, while provincial and local branch committees will each consist of 13 office-bearers and members.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 2 August 2026. 

Tranquility Spa receives ISO certification

Kathmandu, July 30

Tranquility Spa Pvt. Ltd has received ISO 9001:2015 certification by United Registrar of Systems (URS), a globally recognised certification body accredited under UKAS and IAF.

"The certification recognises the spa's Quality Management System across its full range of wellness and beauty services," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The scope of certification covers therapeutic massage, all forms of beauty therapy, steam, sauna, and jacuzzi facilities, gym, swimming pool, and tennis facilities, affirming that Tranquility Spa's operations, hygiene standards, and customer service protocols meet internationally benchmarked quality standards.

"This ISO 9001:2015 certification is a milestone for Tranquility Spa, but more importantly, it's a promise to every guest who walks through our doors — that they'll receive the same high standard of care, hygiene, and service at every location. As we continue to grow across Nepal and beyond, this is the foundation we intend to build on," CEO of the company Bhuwan Phaiju said.  

With the certification, Tranquility Spa has become the only wellness brand in Nepal to hold ISO certification, reflecting its continued commitment to delivering safe, consistent, and high-quality wellness experiences to its customers, according to the company.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 July 2026.         

'Nepal, Canada entering new phase of national development'

 Kathmandu, July 30

Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nepal Dr. Mark Allen has described the consultations as an important opportunity to renew and elevate bilateral relations at a time when both countries are entering new phases of national development.

Speaking at a meeting with the Ambassadors Club Nepal he said that since governments alone cannot shape the future of international relations, other stakeholders have their role to play in it. "Diplomats, civil society, academia, think tanks, businesses, entrepreneurs, and young leaders all have essential roles to play in building stronger partnerships between nations," said Dr. Allen.

His visit to Nepal coincided with the Fourth Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between Nepal and Canada.

He remarked that diplomacy has never been more relevant than it is today as the world navigates significant geopolitical shifts, emerging technologies, climate challenges, and changing economic realities. Maintaining dialogue, trust, and people-to-people connections, he noted, will remain fundamental to building peaceful and prosperous international partnerships.

He was accompanied by Dr. Buddha Basnyat, Honorary Consul of Canada to Nepal, and Tejdeep Kaur.

Dr. Allen was welcomed by Dr. Sharmila Parajuli Dhakal, President of Ambassadors Club Nepal, as well as International Relations Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), Diplomat Nepal, and Diplomatic Academy Nepal (DAN).

She noted that the previous year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Canada, a partnership built on mutual respect, democratic values, friendship, and development cooperation since 1965.

"Over the past year, we have dedicated ourselves to bridging worlds through dialogue, diplomacy, and partnership. Today, we continue this journey with greater enthusiasm, stronger commitment, and a shared vision of creating meaningful international cooperation that benefits nations and people alike."

Dr. Parajuli also highlighted the vibrant and growing Nepali community in Canada, describing it as a living bridge connecting the peoples of both countries through education, entrepreneurship, culture, innovation, and people-to-people relations. She welcomed Canada's recognition of Nepal Heritage Day, calling it a meaningful acknowledgement of Nepal's rich cultural heritage and the valuable contributions of the Nepali diaspora.

Govt, microfinance victims ink 5-point agreement

 Kathmandu, July 31

The dialogue between the government and the team comprising the struggle committee against microfinance and financial exploitation concluded with 5-point agreement that included the implementation of the report prepared in 2024 by the task force established to propose appropriate options for resolving the problems faced by microfinance.

Responding to the protests and hunger strikes organised by the microfinance victims, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, through a ministerial decision, had formed a committee on Thursday to hold talks with protestors. The two sides negotiated for two days to reach the agreement. 

With the positive conclusion of the negotiation, all protest programmes and hunger strikes being conducted across the country are called off on Friday.

The two sides agreed that a recommendation would be submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for the execution of the report prepared by the task force in August 2024, together with an implementation plan, within 15 days.

"The report shall recommend practical and implementable measures, including a rehabilitation programme for distressed microfinance borrowers and a review of the existing provisions relating to blacklisting and the auction of collateral," read the agreement.

Likewise, the two parties agreed to fully implement the Operational Guidelines, 2081issued by the NRB for Class 'D' licensed microfinance financial institutions, and the central bank will strictly monitor compliance with these guidelines.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will instruct the District Administration Offices to initiate legal proceedings, in accordance with prevailing laws, against unlawful debt recovery practices by MFIs. Such practices include subjecting borrowers to harassment, removing household goods from their homes, and stationing staff at borrowers' residences to intimidate or coerce them until loan instalments are paid, read the agreement.

Making a ministerial decision on Thursday, FM Dr. Wagle had constituted a negotiation team under the coordination of Mahesh Acharya, Joint Secretary at MoF.

The committee comprised Binod Kumar Bhattarai, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Suresh Panthi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ramu Paudel, Executive Director at the Nepal Rastra Bank, and Bolraj Acharya, Under Secretary at the MoF.

Microfinance victims had been organising demonstrations and hunger strikes since Tuesday demanding the government to implement study reports prepared on microfinance regulations and reforms.

They were also demanding to cease the auction of land collateral, fair judicial resolution for predatory loan recovery by the microfinance institutions, bring the interest rates down and remove hidden service charges.

 

Recommendations of the task force

The task force in 2024 led by then Deputy Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina had recommendations actions that were to be addressed by the government, the central bank, the microfinance institutions (MFIs), and the members of the MFIs.

The government was recommended to make arrangements to manage the financial transactions of the Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACOS) as their borrowers of the MFIs were facing difficulties due to the loans taken from the SACOS and MFIs. According to it, no other organisations should be allowed to do business related to microfinance except the MFIs licensed by the NRB.

It suggested the central bank to ask the MFIs to collect data of their borrowers who are in trouble and have defaulted their loans. It was to be performed within a maximum of 60 days.

Likewise, the task force suggested the MFIs not to apply any form of pressure or mental torture on the members who failed to pay the principal and interest of loans. Recommendations for the members of the MFIs included obtaining loan from only one company, utilise the loan for the said purpose and pay the instalments regularly from the cash flow of the project.

Earlier, on March 2, 2024, similar negotiation was made between a committee led by senior MoF Official and the representatives of microfinance and financial institution victims which was concluded with 6-point agreement.

The task force led by Dr. Timsina was formed to find solutions to the agreement.

Currently, there are 51 MFIs in Nepal with 4,982 branches (about 44% of all banks and financial institutions) by mid-April this year.  They have mobilised above Rs. 181 billion in deposits and savings and above Rs. 212 billion in borrowings. More than 3.2 million people have obtained loan from the MFIs. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 August 2026.         

Passport Department to open applications until Monday

Kathmandu, July 30

The Department of Passports (DoP) has decided to keep passport application forms open until Monday, August 3, to facilitate public service delivery. It has extended the application period to cover the public holidays on Saturday and Sunday, accordingly, ensuring that applicants continue to have access to the service.

The decision also takes into account the notice issued by the Department of Foreign Employment on Thursday extending the application deadline under South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS). In view of the extension, the DoP has decided to continue accepting passport applications for the time being, it said in a statement.

The DoP had previously opened additional passport application slots in response to the high number of Nepali applicants seeking passports for EPS applications. According to it, applicants who secure an appointment under the current arrangement must visit the department on the date and at the time specified in their application to receive passport services.

The department has requested all applicants to attend the DoP strictly on the date and at the time stated in their application forms.

It said the arrangement has been introduced to streamline service delivery while addressing the needs and convenience of service seekers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 July 2026.